Canon EOS 1200D User manual

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
ENGLISH
The “Quick Reference Guide” is included at the end of this manual.

2
The EOS 1200D is a high-performance, digital single-lens reflex
camera featuring a fine-detail CMOS sensor with approx. 18.0 effective
megapixels, DIGIC 4, high-precision and high-speed 9-point AF,
approx. 3.0 fps continuous shooting, Live View shooting, and Full
High-Definition (Full HD) movie shooting.
The camera is highly responsive to any shooting situation, and provides
many features for demanding shots.
Refer to This Manual While Using the Camera to Further
Familiarize Yourself with the Camera
With a digital camera, you can immediately view the image you have
captured. While reading this manual, take a few test shots and see how
they come out. You can then better understand the camera.
To avoid botched pictures and accidents, first read the “Safety
Warnings” (p.307-309) and “Handling Precautions” (p.20, 21).
Testing the Camera Before Use and Liability
After shooting, play images back and check whether they have been
properly recorded. If the camera or memory card is faulty and the
images cannot be recorded or downloaded to a computer, Canon
cannot be held liable for any loss or inconvenience caused.
Copyrights
Copyright laws in your country may prohibit the use of your recorded
images or copyrighted music and images with music in the memory
card for anything other than private enjoyment. Also be aware that
certain public performances, exhibitions, etc., may prohibit photography
even for private enjoyment.
Introduction

3
Before starting, check that all the following items have been included
with your camera. If anything is missing, contact your dealer.
* Battery Charger LC-E10 or LC-E10E is provided. (The LC-E10E comes with a
power cord.)
The Instruction Manual and DVD/CD-ROMs provided are listed on the next
page.
If you purchased a Lens Kit, check that the lenses are included.
Depending on the Lens Kit type, lens instruction manuals may also be
included.
Be careful not to lose any of the above items.
Item Check List
Battery Pack LP-E10
(with protective cover)
Battery Charger
LC-E10/LC-E10E*
Wide Strap
Camera
(with eyecup and body cap)
Interface Cable

4
The instruction manual consists of a booklet and PDF manuals in
electronic form (provided on the DVD-ROM).
EOS Camera Instruction Manuals Disk (DVD-ROM)
Contains the following PDF manuals:
• Instruction Manual (Detailed version)
• Software Instruction Manuals for the software on the
EOS Solution Disk
* Instructions for viewing the Instruction Manuals on the DVD-ROM are on pages
315-316.
EOS Solution Disk
Contains various software. For outlines and
installation
procedure for the software, see pages 319-321
.
Instruction Manual and DVD/CD-ROMs
Basic Instruction
Manual
EOS Camera Instruction Manuals Disk XXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
CEL-XXX XXX
©
C
A
N
O
N
I
N
C
.
2
0
X
X
.
M
a
d
e
i
n
t
h
e
E
U
.
EOS Solution Disk XXX
CEL-XXX XXX
©
C
A
N
O
N
I
N
C
.
2
0
X
X
.
M
a
d
e
i
n
t
h
e
E
U
.
Windows XXX XXX
Mac OS X XXX XXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX

5
The camera can use the following cards regardless of capacity: If the
card is new or was previously formatted by another camera or
computer, it is recommended that you format the card with this
camera (p.50).
• SD memory cards
• SDHC memory cards
• SDXC memory cards
When shooting movies, use a large-capacity SD card rated SD
Speed Class 6 “ ” or higher.
If you use a slow-writing card when shooting movies, the movie may
not be recorded properly. Also, if you play back a movie on a card
with a slow reading speed, the movie may not play back properly.
If you want to shoot still photos while shooting a movie, you will need
an even faster card.
To check the card’s reading/writing speed, refer to the card
manufacturer’s website.
Compatible Cards
Cards that Can Record Movies
The camera can use UHS-I cards, but since it is not compatible with the
UHS-I standard, reading/writing speeds will be equivalent to SD Speed
Class 10 at most.
In this manual, “card” refers to SD memory cards, SDHC memory
cards, and SDXC memory cards.
*The camera does not come with a card for recording images/
movies. Please purchase it separately.

6
Quick Start Guide
1Insert the battery (p.32).
To charge the battery, see page 30.
2Insert a card (p.32).
With the card’s label facing toward
the back of the camera, insert it into
the card slot.
3Attach the lens (p.40).
Align the lens’s white or red index
with the camera’s index in the
matching color.
4Set the lens focus mode switch
to <AF> (p.40).
5Set the power switch to <1>
(p.35).
When the LCD monitor displays the
date/time/zone setting screens, see
page 37.
White index Red index

7
Quick Start Guide
6Set the Mode Dial to <A>
(Scene Intelligent Auto) (p.56).
All the necessary camera settings
will be set automatically.
7Focus on the subject (p.45).
Look through the viewfinder and
aim the viewfinder center over the
subject.
Press the shutter button halfway, and
the camera will focus on the subject.
If necessary, the built-in flash will be
raised automatically.
8Take the picture (p.45).
Press the shutter button completely
to take the picture.
9Review the picture (p.180).
The image just captured will be
displayed for 2 sec. on the LCD
monitor.
To display the image again, press
the <x> button (p.80).
To shoot while looking at the LCD monitor, see “Live View
Shooting” (p.133).
To view the images captured so far, see “Image Playback” (p.80).
To delete an image, see “Erasing Images” (p.227).

8
Icons in this Manual
<6> : Indicates the Main Dial.
<W><X><Y><Z> : Indicates the <S> cross keys on the top,
bottom, left, and right.
<0> : Indicates the Setting button.
0, 9, 7, 8: Indicates that the corresponding function
remains active for 4 sec., 6 sec., 10 sec., or 16
sec. respectively after you let go of the button.
* In this manual, the icons and markings indicating the camera’s buttons, dials,
and settings correspond to the icons and markings on the camera and on the
LCD monitor.
3: Indicates a function that can be changed by pressing the
<M> button and changing the setting.
M: Shown at the upper right of a page title to indicate a
function that is available only in the Creative Zone modes
(p.26).
(p.**) : Reference page numbers for more information.
: Warning to prevent shooting problems.
: Supplemental information.
: Tips or advice for better shooting.
: Problem-solving advice.
Basic Assumptions
All operations explained in this manual assume that the power switch
is <1> (p.35).
It is assumed that all the menu settings and Custom Functions are
set to their defaults.
The illustrations in this manual show the camera attached with the
EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens as an example.
Conventions Used in this Manual

9
For first-time DSLR users, Chapters 1 and 2 explain the camera’s
basic operations and shooting procedures.
Chapters
Introduction 2
Getting Started 29
Basic Shooting and Image Playback 55
Creative Shooting 81
Advanced Shooting 103
Shooting with the LCD Monitor (Live View Shooting)
133
Shooting Movies 153
Handy Features 179
Image Playback 203
Post-Processing Images 233
Printing Images 239
Customizing the Camera 255
Reference 267
Viewing the DVD-ROM Instruction Manuals /
Downloading Images to Your Computer 313
Quick Reference Guide and Index 323
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

10
Contents at a Glance
Shooting
Shoot automatically Î p.55-79 (Basic Zone modes)
Shoot continuously Î p.98 (iContinuous shooting)
Take a picture of yourself in a group Î p.100 (jSelf-timer)
Freeze the action Î p.104 (sShutter-priority AE)
Blur the action
Blur the background Î p.62 (CCreative Auto)
Keep the background in sharp focus Î p.106 (fAperture-priority AE)
Adjust the image brightness (exposure) Î p.112 (Exposure compensation)
Shoot in low light Î p.56, 101 (DFlash photography)
p.88 (ISO speed setting)
Shoot without flash Î p.61 (7Flash Off)
p.64, 72 (bFlash off)
Shoot fireworks at night Î p.110 (Bulb exposure)
Shoot while viewing the LCD monitor Î p.133 (ALive View shooting)
Shoot movies Î p.153 (kMovie shooting)
Image Quality
Shoot with image effects Î p.91 (Picture Style)
matching the subject
Make a large-size print of the picture Î p.84 (73, 83, 1)