Canon PowerShot G15 User Guide

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Camera Basics
Practical	guide	that	introduces	other	camera	basics	and	
describes	shooting	and	playback	options
1
Advanced 
Guide
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On/Off
Shooting	Mode
zzPress	the	power	button	to	turn	the	camera	on	and	prepare	for	shooting.
zzTo	turn	the	camera	off,	press	the	power	button	again.
Playback	Mode
zzPress	the		button	to	turn	the	camera	on	and	view	your	shots.
zzTo	turn	the	camera	off,	press	the		button	again.
•	To	switch	to	Playback	mode	from	Shooting	mode,	press	the		button.
•	 To	switch	to	Shooting	mode	from	Playback	mode,	press	the	shutter	button	halfway	(=		43).
•	 The	lens	will	be	retracted	after	about	one	minute	once	the	camera	is	in	Playback	mode.	You	can	turn	the	camera	off	when	the	lens	is	retracted	by	pressing	the		button.
Power-Saving Features (Auto Power Down)
As	a	way	to	conserve	battery	power,	the	camera	automatically	deactivates	the	screen	(Display	Off)	and	then	turns	itself	off	after	a	specific	period	of	inactivity.
Power	Saving	in	Shooting	ModeThe	screen	is	automatically	deactivated	after	about	one	minute	of	inactivity.	In	about	two	more	minutes,	the	lens	is	retracted	and	the	camera	turns	itself	off.	To	activate	the	screen	and	prepare	for	shooting	when	the	screen	is	off	but	the	lens	is	still	out,	press	the	shutter	button	halfway	(=		43).
Power	Saving	in	Playback	ModeThe	camera	turns	itself	off	automatically	after	about	five	minutes	of	inactivity.
•	 Adjust	the	timing	of	automatic	camera	and	screen	deactivation	as	needed	(=		226).
•	 Power	saving	is	not	active	while	the	camera	is	connected	to	a	computer	(=		33).
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Shutter Button
To	ensure	your	shots	are	in	focus,	always	press	the	shutter	button	lightly	(halfway)	initially.	Once	the	subject	is	in	focus,	press	the	button	all	the	way	down	to	shoot.
In	this	manual,	shutter	button	operations	are	described	as	pressing	the	button	halfway	or	all the way down .
1	 Press	halfway.	(Press	lightly	to	
focus.)
zzPress	the	shutter	button	halfway.	The	camera	beeps	twice,	and	AF	frames	are	displayed	around	image	areas	in	focus.
2	 Press	all	the	way	down.	(From	
the	halfway	position,	press	fully	
to	shoot.)
XXThe	camera	shoots,	as	a	shutter	sound	is	played.
zzKeep	the	camera	still	until	the	shutter	sound	ends.
•	Images	may	be	out	of	focus	if	you	shoot	without	initially	pressing	the	shutter	button	halfway.
•	 Length	of	shutter	sound	playback	varies	depending	on	the	time	required	for	the	shot.	It	may	take	longer	in	some	shooting	scenes,	and	images	will	be	blurry	if	you	move	the	camera	(or	the	subject	moves)	before	the	shutter	sound	ends. 
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Optical Viewfinder
To	conserve	battery	power	when	shooting,	you	can	use	the	optical	viewfinder	instead	of	the	screen.	Shoot	the	same	way	as	when	using	the	screen.
1	 Deactivate	the	screen.
zzPress	the		button	to	turn	the	screen	off	(=		46).
2	 Adjust	the	diopter.
zzAs	you	look	through	the	optical	viewfinder,	turn	the	dial	one	way	or	the	other	so	that	images	look	sharp.
•	The	area	visible	in	the	optical	viewfinder	may	differ	slightly	from	the	image	area	in	your	shots.
•	 At	aspect	ratios	other	than	4:3,	the	area	visible	in	the	optical	viewfinder	differs	from	the	image	area	in	your	shots.	Check	the	settings	before	shooting.
•	 The	lens	may	be	partially	visible	through	the	optical	viewfinder	at	some	zoom	positions.
•	 Although	the	camera	automatically	focuses	on	subjects,	face	detection	and	focusing	is	not	possible.
•	 Continuous	shooting	is	not	supported	in		mode,	because	the	camera	will	not	determine	the	shooting	scene.
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Shooting Modes
Use	the	mode	dial	to	access	each	shooting	mode.P,	Tv,	Av,	M,	C1,	and	C2	Modes
Take	a	variety	of	shots	using	your	preferred	settings	(=		123,	161).
Movie
	Mode
For	shooting	movies	(=		119).
You	can	also	shoot	movies	when	the	mode	dial	is	not	set	to	Movie	mode,	simply	by	pressing	the	movie	button.
Auto
	Mode
Fully	automatic	shooting,	with	camera-determined	settings	(=		24,	54).
Special
	Scene	Mode
Shoot	with	optimal	settings	for	specific	scenes	( =		95).
Creative
	Filters	Mode
Add	a	variety	of	effects	to	images	when	shooting	( =		99).
Movie
	Digest	Mode
You	can	make	a	short	movie	of	a	day	just	by	shooting	still	images	(=		94). 
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Shooting Display Options
Press	the		button	to	view	other	information	on	the	screen,	or	to	hide	the	information.	For	details	on	the	information	displayed,	see	=		286.
Display	1Display	2Display	Off
•	Even	if	the	screen	is	off,	it	will	turn	on	when	you	start	shooting	a	movie.
•	 Screen	brightness	is	automatically	increased	by	the	night	display	function	when	you	are	shooting	under	low	light,	making	it	easier	to	check	how	shots	are	composed.	However,	on-screen	image	brightness	may	not	match	the	brightness	of	your	shots.	Note	that	any	on-screen	image	distortion	or	jerky	subject	motion	will	not	affect	recorded	images.
•	 For	playback	display	options,	see	=		176.
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FUNC. Menu
Configure	commonly	used	shooting	functions	through	the	FUNC.	menu	as	follows.
Note	that	menu	items	and	options	vary	depending	on	the	shooting	mode	(=		292	–	295).
1	 Access	the	FUNC.	menu.
zzPress	the		button.
Menu	ItemsOptions
2	 Choose	a	menu	item.
zzPress	the		buttons	to	choose	a	menu	item.
XXAvailable	options	are	shown	at	the	bottom	of	the	screen.
3	 Choose	an	option.
zzPress	the		buttons	or	turn	the		dial	to	choose	an	option.
zzOptions	labeled	with	a	[]	icon	can	be	configured	by	pressing	the	<
n>	button.
4	 Finish	the	setup	process.
zzPress	the		button.
XXThe	screen	before	you	pressed	the		button	in	step	1	is	displayed	again,	showing	the	option	you	configured.
•	 To	undo	any	accidental	setting	changes,	you	can	restore	the	camera’s	default	settings	(=		231). 
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MENU Menu
Configure	a	variety	of	camera	functions	through	other	menus	as	follows.	Menu	items	are	grouped	by	purpose	on	tabs,	such	as	shooting	[4],	playback	[1],	and	so	on.	Note	that	available	settings	vary	depending	on	the	selected	shooting	or	playback	mode	( =		296	–	301).
1	 Access	the	menu.
zzPress	the		button.
2	 Choose	a	tab.
zzMove	the	zoom	lever	to	choose	a	tab.
zzAfter	you	have	pressed	the		buttons	or	turned	the		dial	to	choose	a	tab	initially,	you	can	switch	between	tabs	by	pressing	the	
	buttons.		
You	can	also	choose	a	tab	by	pressing	the		button.
3	 Choose	a	setting.
zzPress	the		buttons	or	turn	the		dial	to	choose	a	setting.
zzTo	choose	settings	with	options	not	shown,	first	press	the		or		button	to	switch	screens,	and	then	either	press	the	
	buttons	or	turn	the		dial	to	select	the	setting.
zzTo	return	to	the	previous	screen,	press	the		button.
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MENU	Menu
4	 Choose	an	option.
zzPress	the		buttons	to	choose	an	option.
5	 Finish	the	setup	process.
zzPress	the		button	to	return	to	the	screen	displayed	before	you	pressed	the		button	in	step	1.
•	To	undo	any	accidental	setting	changes,	you	can	restore	the	camera’s	default	settings	(=		231).  
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Indicator Display
The	power	lamp	and	indicator	on	the	back	of	the	camera	(=		5)	will	light	or	blink	depending	on	the	camera	status.
Indicator Color Indicator	StatusCamera	Status
Power
	Lamp Green On Camera	on
Blinking Low
	battery
Indicator Green
On Ready
	to	shoot	(when	the	flash	is	deactivated)
Blinking Recording/reading/transmitting
	images
Distance	warning	( =		279),	or	cannot	focus	(when	the	flash	is	deactivated)	(=		279)
Orange On Ready
	to	shoot	(when	the	flash	is	activated)
Blinking Distance
	warning	(
=		279),	or	cannot	focus	(when	the	flash	is	activated)	(=		279)
•	 When	the	indicator	blinks	green,	never	turn	the	camera	off,	open	the	memory	card/battery	cover,	or	shake	or	jolt	the	camera,	which	may	corrupt	images	or	damage	the	camera	or	memory	card.
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