Canon PowerShot A300 User manual

ENGLISH
DIGITAL CAMERA Camera User Guide
Camera User Guide
• Please read the "Read this First" section (p. 11).
• Please refer to the Software Starter Guide for
information on installing the software and
downloading images.
• Please read the "Quick Start" section on the
following page for a simple explanation of
shooting, replaying and erasing.
• Please also read the printer user guide included
with your Canon printer.
CDI-E078-010 © 2003 CANON INC. PRINTED IN CHINA

2
Quick Start
Install the batteries and CF card (p. 18)
Open the CF card slot / battery cover and insert
a CF card and batteries.
Open the lens cover and slide it
in the direction of the arrow to turn
the power on. (p. 26)
The indicator next to the viewfinder starts blinking
green.
• When the date / time set up menu is displayed,
refer to page 23.
• For information about how to
change the language, see "Setting
the Language" (p. 24).
Set the shooting mode switch to
(Still image) and set the focus. (p. 33)
Aim the camera at the subject, and lightly press the
shutter button half way. The camera beeps twice when it
is focused.

3
Shoot the image (p. 33)
Press the shutter button all the way down.
The shutter sound will sound, indicating that the
image has been shot.
View the image
The recorded image will be displayed for
approximately 3 seconds (p. 34). Refer to “Replaying”
section (p. 66) for viewing other images the already
shot.
To erase
Press the button
while the image is
displayed.
Confirm that [Erase] is
selected and press the
SET button.
When you have finished
shooting photos
➀ Installing the software ➾ Software Starter Guide
➁ Connecting the camera to a computer ➾ This guide
➂ Downloading images to a computer ➾ Software Starter Guide

4
Components Guide
Front View
* Computer: USB Interface Cable IFC-300PCU (supplied with camera)
Direct Print Compatible Printer (CP series, optional): Direct Interface Cable DIF-100 (supplied with printer)
Bubble Jet Printer with the direct print function (optional): Please refer to your Bubble Jet Printer user guide.
(For a list of printers that work with this camera, please refer to the System Map.)
Shutter Button (p. 33)
Shooting Mode Switch (p. 46)
Optical Viewfinder Window (p. 32)
Microphone (p. 73)
AF-assist Beam (p. 33)
Red-Eye Reduction Lamp (p. 49)
Self-Timer Lamp (p. 52)
Flash (p. 49)
Terminal Cover (p. 83)
DIGITAL Terminal* (p. 83)
DC IN Terminal (p. 121)
Lens
Lens Cover (p. 26)

5
●Components Guide ●
Back View
* Be careful when carrying the camera by the strap. Don’t swing the camera on the strap, and keep
the strap and camera body clear of obstacles.
Date Battery Holder (p. 117)
Viewfinder (p. 32)
Tripod Socket
LCD Monitor (p. 28)
CF Card Slot / Battery Cover (p. 18)
Strap Mount*
Speaker

6
●Components Guide ●
Operation Panel
MENU Button (p. 36)
DISP. (Display) Button (p. 28)
FUNC. (Function) (p. 35)/
(Single Image Erase) Button (p. 77)
Zoom Button (p. 34)
Power / Replay Button (p. 26)
Omni Selector (p. 58, 49, 52, 51)
(Light Metering) / , (Flash) /
(Continuous) (Self-Timer) /
(Macro) / (Infinity) /
SET Button
The indicators light or blink when you open the lens cover or whenever you press the shutter button.
Upper Indicator
Green: Ready to shoot, or ready to communicate
with your computer.
Blinking Green: Camera is starting up, reading the
CF card, erasing data on the CF card, or
transmitting data to your computer.
Orange: Ready to shoot, using the flash.
Blinking Orange: Ready to shoot, (camera shake
warning) / charging the flash (at LCD ON).
Lower Indicator
Yellow: Macro / Infinity modes
Blinking Yellow: Focusing difficulty (Although you
can press the shutter button, it is
recommended to use the focus lock to
shoot (p. 56)).

7
About this Camera User Guide
Symbols Used
Icons on the right end of title bars show the
operations mode. As in the example below, the
shooting mode should be set to , , or .
This mark indicates that you must press
either , , or on the omni selector.
This mark denotes issues that may
affect the camera’s operation.
This mark denotes additional topics that
complement the basic operating
procedures.
Question? Look here first.
● Shooting ●
Adjusting the Exposure
How do I navigate the menus? Selecting Menus and Settings (p. 35)
What settings are available under each function?
and Functions Available in Each Shooting
Will my settings remain in effect even after I've turned the Mode (p. 142)
camera off?
How do I go about printing? About Printing (p. 79)
FUNC. Menu (p. 105)
Rec.Menu (p. 106)
What functions are available through the menus? Play Menu (p. 107)
Set up Menu (p. 109)
My Camera Menu (p. 111)

8
Table of Contents
:Functions and operations tables.
Quick Start 2
Components Guide 4
Front View .................................................... 4
Back View..................................................... 5
Operation Panel............................................ 6
About this Camera User Guide 7
Read this First 11
Preparing the Camera 18
Installing the Battery and CF Card ............. 18
Setting the Date / Time............................... 23
Setting the Language ................................. 24
Basic Functions 26
Turning the Power ON / OFF...................... 26
Using the LCD Monitor ...............................28
Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor.30
Using the Viewfinder...................................32
Pressing the Shutter Button........................33
Using the Digital Zoom ...............................34
Selecting Menus and Settings....................35
Menu Settings and Default Settings ...........38
Customizing the Camera (My Camera
Settings)..................................................41
Shooting 46
Selecting the Shooting Mode......................46
Changing the Resolution / Compression ...47
Using the Flash ......................................49
Macro / Infinity Modes ......................51
Continuous Mode .................................52
Self-Timer .............................................52
Stitch Assist Mode .....................................53

9
●Table of Contents ●
Movie Mode ............................................... 55
Using the Focus Lock ................................ 56
Switching between AF Modes ................... 57
Switching between Light Metering Modes . 58
Adjusting the Exposure .............................. 59
Setting the White Balance ......................... 60
Changing the Photo Effect ......................... 63
Changing the ISO Speed ........................... 64
Resetting the File Number ......................... 65
Replaying 66
Displaying Images Individually ................... 66
Viewing Images in Sets of Nine.................. 67
Viewing Movies .......................................... 68
Editing Movies ............................................ 69
Rotating Images in the Display................... 72
Attaching Sound Memos to Image ............. 73
Auto Play .................................................... 75
Protecting Images....................................... 76
Erasing 77
Erasing Single Images................................77
Erasing All Images...................................... 77
Formatting a CF Card ................................78
Printing 79
About Printing .............................................79
Selecting from the Print Order Menu..........81
Connecting the Camera to a Printer ...........82
Printing........................................................85
Print Settings (Direct Print Function) ..........87
Print Settings (DPOF Print Settings)...........92
Printing with DPOF Print Settings...............96
Image Transfer Settings
(DPOF Transfer Order) 98
Setting the Image Transfer .........................98

10
●Table of Contents ●
Downloading Images to a Computer 100
Connecting the camera to a computer via the
USB Cable ............................................ 101
Downloading directly from a CF card ....... 104
List of Menu Options and Messages 105
FUNC. Menu ............................................ 105
Rec. Menu................................................ 106
Play Menu ................................................ 107
Set up Menu............................................. 109
My Camera Menu .................................... 111
Resetting the Settings to Default .............. 112
List of Messages....................................... 113
Appendices 117
Replacing the Date Battery....................... 117
Using the Optional Battery Kits................. 118
Camera Care and Maintenance ............... 122
Troubleshooting........................................ 123
Specifications 128
Index 135
Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode 142