CHAPTER 1 Exploring t he Canon EOS 70D f you’ve used the Canon I70D for any length of time, you already know that it deliv- ers beautiful high-resolution images and snappy perfor- mance. Equally important are the creative controls, includ- ing a full range of exposure modes, shooting controls, and an extensive camera menu system. Externally, the controls on the back of the camera are streamlined, clearly labeled, and within easy reach during shooting. The touch LCD screen is a bonus, particularly when shooting in Live View ( ) and Movie ( ) modes. However, the stream- lined exterior belies the power under the hood with Canon’s latest COPYRIGHTEDautofocus MATERIAL technology, which promises to change the industry as a whole. Couple that with a The Canon EOS 70D offers a wealth of features to help sophisticated metering sys- you get the best images, even in bright lighting like this. Exposure: ISO 100, f/5.0, 1/3200 second. tem and the very fast DIGIC 5+ image processor, and you have everything you need to create stunning images. In this chapter, I cover the various controls and menus on the 70D. 004_9781118169124-ch01.indd4_9781118169124-ch01.indd 1 110/30/130/30/13 99:57:57 AAMM Canon EOS 70D Digital Field Guide The Camera Controls There are several primary controls that, when used together or separately, control many functions on the 70D. Once you learn these controls, you can make camera adjustments more effi ciently. Here is a summary of the controls: ▶ The Main ( ) and Quick Control ( ) dials. Use these controls to make changes to the four buttons located on top of the camera above the LCD 1.1 The Main dial. panel, such as the AF button (Autofocus mode). You can press the button, and then turn the Main dial ( ) or the Quick Control dial ( ) to change the Autofocus mode. This holds true for the Drive, ISO, and Metering mode buttons above the LCD panel as well. Some camera menu screens, such as Image Quality, use both the Main ( ) and Quick Control ( ) dials for select- ing different settings. ▶ Setting button ( ). You use this button to confi rm changes you make to many menu items and open submenus. On the Quick Control screen, accessed by pressing the Quick Control button ( ), you can select a setting using the Multi- controller ( ), and then press the Setting button ( ) to display all the options for the setting. ▶ Multi-controller ( ). This eight- way control functions as a joy- stick when it is pressed in any of the eight directions marked on the dial. The Multi-controller ( ) is the primary control on the Quick Control screen to choose different functions. You can also use the Multi-controller ( ) to manually select the AF point or zone, move through an image in magnifi ed view during playback, and move the autofocus point in Live View mode ( ). It also works to navigate through the camera menus and options. 1.2 The Quick Control dial, the Multi- controller, and the Setting button. 2 004_9781118169124-ch01.indd4_9781118169124-ch01.indd 2 110/30/130/30/13 99:57:57 AAMM Chapter 1 Exploring t he Canon EOS 70D NOTE To prevent unintentional setting changes, you can lock the Main ( ) and Quick Control ( ) dials, and the Multi-controller ( ) by using the Custom Function, C.Fn III-2: Multi-function Lock, and then by setting the Lock switch to the up position. 1 The front of the camera The front of the camera has very few (but still important) controls, including the self- timer lamp, the Depth-of-Field Preview button ( ), the lens mount, and the lens release button. The front of the camera is also where you fi nd the comfort grip, which provides good control and balance while using the camera. 1.3 The front of the Canon EOS 70D. 3 004_9781118169124-ch01.indd4_9781118169124-ch01.indd 3 110/30/130/30/13 99:57:57 AAMM Canon EOS 70D Digital Field Guide Here is a summary of the controls on the front of the camera: ▶ Remote control sensor. This sensor works with the accessory Remote Controller RC-6 for remote release of the shutter up to 16.4 feet (5 meters) from the camera. Alternately, you can use RC-1 and RC-5. With the Remote Controller, you can either shoot immediately or after a 2-second delay. To use the remote controller, set up the camera for the exposure and focus on the subject, and then point the remote control at the sensor and press the transmit button. You can also set the Drive mode to Self-timer 10-second ( ) or 2-second ( ) delay. ▶ Red-eye reduction/Self-timer lamp. When using the built-in fl ash, this light helps reduce the appearance of red in the pupils of the subject’s eyes if you’ve enabled Red-eye reduction on Shooting menu 2 ( ) menu. In the two Self-timer modes ( ), this lamp fl ashes to count down the seconds (either 10 or 2) to shut- ter release. Self-timer drive modes ( ) enable you to avoid blur from your fi nger pressing the shutter button at the beginning of long exposures, and the 10-sec- ond mode gives you time to get into the picture yourself. ▶ EF and EF-S lens mount index markers, lens mount, and contacts. The lens mount is compatible with Canon EF lenses and EF-S lenses. The lens mount has a red index and a white index mark. Use the red mark to line up EF-mount lenses. Use the white index mark to mount EF-S lenses. Always keep the rear lens cap handy to protect the lens contacts when the lens is off the camera. If there isn’t a lens on the camera, use the camera body cap to protect the contacts and inter- nal components of the camera. ▶ Flash and Flash button. Press this button to pop up and use the built-in fl ash in all exposure modes, except Flash Off ( ), Landscape ( ), Sports ( ), and HDR Backlight Control ( ). In the automatic, or Basic Zone exposure modes except the ones mentioned previously, the fl ash pops up and fi res automatically when the camera detects either low light or backlight (bright light behind the subject). To turn off the fl ash, press the fl ash head down. CROSS REF How to use the built-in flash and Speedlites is covered in Chapter 9. ▶ Lens release button and Lens lock pin. Pressing this button releases the lens from the lens mount. To disengage the lens, hold down the lens release button as you turn the lens so that the red or white index mark moves toward the top of the camera. The lens lock pin does what its name says: it engages and locks the lens in position. 4 004_9781118169124-ch01.indd4_9781118169124-ch01.indd 4 110/30/130/30/13 99:57:57 AAMM Chapter 1 Exploring t he Canon EOS 70D ▶ Refl ex mirror. When you use the viewfi nder for shooting, the refl ex mirror is in a down position so that it refl ects light from the lens to the pentaprism enabling you to see the scene in the viewfi nder. Through the viewfi nder, you see 98 per- cent of what will be captured by the imaging sensor. In the Movie ( ) and Live 1 View ( ) shooting modes, the mirror is fl ipped up to allow a current view of the scene on the LCD screen. If you are using Quick mode focusing in Live View, the mirror must fl ip down to focus, thereby suspending Live View momentarily. For some exposures (especially with a telephoto lens), you may want to lock up the mirror to prevent any vibration from it fl ipping up to make the exposure. Just enable Mirror lockup on Shooting menu 2 ( ). ▶ Depth-of-Field Preview button ( ). Press this button to stop down the lens diaphragm to the current aperture so that you can preview the depth of fi eld. As you look through the viewfi nder, the larger the area of darkness, the more exten- sive the depth of fi eld will be. The button can also be used during Live View shooting ( ) when the depth-of-fi eld preview is displayed on the LCD screen. If the lens is set to the maximum aperture, the depth-of-fi eld view does not change because the diaphragm is already fully open. You can also reassign the function of this and other camera controls using Custom Function, C.Fn III-4, Custom Controls, on the Custom Functions menu ( ). ▶ DC coupler cord hole. With the accessory AC Adapter Kit ACK-E6, you can power the camera with household electricity. Your movement range is limited, of course, by the length of the 7.5-foot cord. ▶ Grip/Battery compartment. The molded handgrip doubles as the housing for the Canon LP-E6 rechargeable lithium ion 7.2V DC battery. This battery is a workhorse with excellent performance. Be sure to use the battery until it is exhausted before recharging for the best and longest battery performance. If you are not using the camera for an extended period, take the battery out of the camera and put the cover on the battery. Then store it in a clean, dark area with moderate temperatures. Heat, humidity, cold temperatures, and exposure to direct sunlight can damage the battery. The top of the camera Dials and controls on the top of the camera provide access to frequently used shoot- ing functions. The top of the camera is also home to the hot shoe and diopter control.