Canon EOS REBEL T6i Technical specifications

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UMKC Communication Studies Dept
Canon DSLR Basic Operating Instructions
(This is for a T6i model, but other Canon DSLR’s will have
similar settings)
Power & Shooting Mode settings
●Power switch should be set to movie mode = camera icon.
●Shooting mode should be set to M for manual on the mode dial.

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Recording Mode settings & SD Card Format
●Go to the main menu, then to movie record size. Set it to the 1920x1080 resolution,
23.98P fps (frames per second) frame rate.
●The go to the menu, and set picture style. Generally, set to either N for neutral or
S for standard. Neutral will be a flat image. Standard will be more saturated.
●Insert an SD card into the slot on the right side of the camera. Go to the menu, then
to format card. Click OK. Do this every time when using a NEW card. This
function deletes all data and footage from the card, leaving it completely blank for
new recordings.

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ISO and White Balance Settings
●The ISO selects the sensitivity of the image sensor and is set by pressing the ISO
button which brings up a menu of numbers from 100 to 6400. 100 or 200 are
typical ISO settings for sunny exteriors. Interiors would likely require a higher
setting like 400 or 800. Try to keep the ISO at no more than 800. Settings higher
than 400-800 introduce visual noise to the picture. Also avoid using the AUTO
function, as it will likely push the ISO past 800 causing a noisy picture.
●White balance is the next thing to set. It can be set a couple of ways: a Quick
White Balance Preset, or a Custom White Balance setting.
○Quick WB Preset
■First select the quick control button on the back of the camera & then
select an appropriate preset white balance for the lighting condition
for which you’re shooting, using the touch screen.

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●Custom WB Preset
○For the most accurate white balance, use the custom setting.
■Take a picture of something white like a piece of paper or a wall in
the area you’re shooting and under the lighting you plan to use.
■Then go to the menu and find custom white balance.
■Open it and select your white image.
●Then using the quick control button, select the WB setting and
choose the custom white balance.

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Setting Exposure (the amount and time duration of light the camera
is allowed to see).
●First, set the shutter speed. The current shutter speed is indicated at the bottom on
the live view display.
●Shutter speed should be about twice the number of the frame rate. If the frame rate
is set to 23.98P, the shutter speed should be approximately 1/50th of a second. Set
it using the touch screen or with the main dial with . The green “quotes”
indicate what can actively be changed with the main dial.
●Next is to set the Aperture of the lens. Setting the aperture means how much or
little light the lens is allowing to pass through. This is measured in f-stops. Adjust
the aperture by holding down the button on the back of the camera
(usually with your thumb). This will switch the green “quotes” from the shutter
speed to the f-stop indicator. Simultaneously switching between f-stops with
, the main dial. Be careful you don’t change the Shutter Speed from
1/50. It’s real easy to do by mistake!
●You can also change the Aperture using touch screen by selecting the f-stop
indicator and scrolling through the f-stops.
●As a reminder, the lower the f-stop number, the wider the aperture, which lets more
light into the lens.

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Focusing the Lens
●Focusing the lens. If using a kit lens, switch to manual focus or MF.
●Next point the camera at your subject and bring it into focus by turning the focus
ring at the end of the lens.

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●Another way to get sharp focus is by using the digital magnifier to closely look at a
specific part of the subject. To do this you must point the camera at the subject,
press the magnifying button which has two (2) intervals (x5) and (x10)
magnification. Once the subject is taking up a large part of the view screen turn the
focus ring until the subject is in focus.