Canon PowerShot A550 Assembly instructions

DIGITAL CAMERA Advanced Camera User Guide
Before Using the Camera
Shooting
Playback/Erasing
Print/Transfer Settings
Troubleshooting
List of Messages
Appendix
Advanced
ENGLISH
CDI-E281-010 © 2007 CANON INC. PRINTED IN MALAYSIA
Camera User Guide
This guide explains camera features and procedures in detail.

Main Features
Shooting
zAvoid the effects of camera shake or blurry subjects when
shooting by using a high ISO speed
zAutomatically adjusts shooting settings to match particular
conditions
zAutomatically detects camera orientation with an Intelligent
Orientation sensor
Playback
zPlays movies with sound
zPlays back automatically
using the Auto Play
Editing
zRecords sound memos
for still images
Printing
zMakes printing easy with
the Print/Share button
zAlso supports non-
Canon brand PictBridge
compliant printers
Uses of Recorded Images
zEffortlessly transfer them to a computer with the Print/Share
button

1
Conventions Used in this Guide
Icons appearing next to, or below titles indicate the shooting
modes in which the procedure can be used.
: This mark denotes issues that may affect the camera’s
operation.
: This mark denotes additional topics that complement the
basic operating procedures.
You can use SD memory cards, SDHC memory cards
and MultiMediaCards with this camera. These cards
are collectively called memory cards in this guide.
Use of genuine Canon accessories is recommended.
This product is designed to achieve excellent performance when
used with genuine Canon accessories. Canon shall not be liable
for any damage to this product and/or accidents such as fire, etc.,
caused by the malfunction of non-genuine Canon accessories
(e.g., a leakage and/or explosion of a battery pack). Please note
that this warranty does not apply to repairs arising out of the
malfunction of non-genuine Canon accessories, although you
may request such repairs on a chargeable basis.
• Unavailable shooting modes are shown grayed out.
Postcard Mode
Shooting Mode
See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 119).
zIn this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is referred to as the
Basic Guide, and the Advanced Camera User Guide is referred
to as the Advanced Guide.
Shooting/ Playback Mode

2
Table of Contents
Items marked with a are lists or charts that summarize camera
functions or procedures.
Please Read. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Preventing Malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Using the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Information Displayed on the LCD Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Using the Viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Power Saving Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Menus and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Menu List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Resetting Settings to Their Default Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Formatting Memory Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Changing the Recording Pixels and Compression (Still Images) 26
Using the Digital Zoom/ Digital Tele-Converter . . . . . . . . . . .28
Continuous Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Postcard Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Embedding the Date in the Image Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Setting the Display Overlays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Movie Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Selecting an AF Frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF Lock) . . .40
Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock) . . . . . . . . . . .43
Switching between Metering Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Adjusting the Exposure Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Shooting in Long Shutter Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Conventions Used in this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Handling Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Before Using the Camera – Basic Operations . . . . . . . . 12
Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26



3
Adjusting the Tone (White Balance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Shooting in a My Colors Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Adjusting the ISO Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Setting the Auto Rotate Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Creating an Image Destination (Folder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Resetting the File Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Magnifying Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Viewing Images in Sets of Nine (Index Playback) . . . . . . 59
Jumping to Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Viewing Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Rotating Images in the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Attaching Sound Memos to Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Automated Playback (Auto Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Protecting Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Viewing Images on a TV Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Erasing All Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Setting the DPOF Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Setting the DPOF Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
When the power is turned on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
LCD monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Shooting Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
TV monitor output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Printing with a direct print compatible printer . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Playback/Erasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Print Settings/Transfer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
List of Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

4
Battery Handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Handling the Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Using the Power Kits (Sold Separately) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Using an Externally Mounted Flash (Sold Separately). . . . . .99
Replacing the Date Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Camera Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode . . . . . 119


5
Handling Precautions
Test Shots
Before you try to photograph important subjects, we highly
recommend that you shoot several trial images to confirm that the
camera is operating and being operated correctly.
Please note that Canon Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates, and its
distributors are not liable for any consequential damages arising
from any malfunction of a camera or accessory, including memory
cards, that results in the failure of an image to be recorded or to be
recorded in a way that is machine readable.
Warning Against Copyright Infringement
Please note that Canon digital cameras are intended for personal
use and should never be used in a manner that infringes upon or
contravenes international or domestic copyright laws and
regulations. Please be advised that in certain cases the copying of
images from performances, exhibitions, or commercial properties
by means of a camera or other device may contravene copyright or
other legal rights even if the image was shot for personal use.
Warranty Limitations
This camera’s warranty is only effective in the country of sale. If a
problem arises while the camera is in use abroad, please convey it
back to the country of sale before proceeding with a warranty claim
to a Canon Customer Support Help Desk.
For Canon Customer Support contacts, please see the
customer support list supplied with your camera.
Please Read

6
Video Format
Please set the camera’s video signal format to the one used in your
region before using it with a TV monitor (p. 67).
Language Setting
Please see the Basic Guide (p. 8) to change the language setting.
zBefore using the camera, please ensure that you read the safety
precautions described below and in the “Safety Precautions”
section of the Basic Camera User Guide. Always ensure that the
camera is operated correctly.
zThe safety precautions noted on the following pages are intended
to instruct you in the safe and correct operation of the camera and
its accessories to prevent injuries or damage to yourself, other
persons and equipment.
zEquipment refers to the camera, battery, battery charger (sold
separately) and compact power adapter (sold separately).
Camera Body Temperature
If your camera is used for prolonged periods, the camera body
may become warm. Please be aware of this and take care when
operating the camera for an extended period.
About the LCD Monitor
The LCD monitor is produced with extremely high-precision
manufacturing techniques. More than 99.99% of the pixels
operate to specification. Less than 0.01% of the pixels may
occasionally misfire or appear as red or black dots. This has no
effect on the recorded image and does not constitute a
malfunction.
Safety Precautions

7
Warnings
Equipment
z
Do not point the camera directly at the sun or bright light
sources.
Doing so could damage the camera’s CCD or your eyesight.
z
Store this equipment out of the reach of children and infants.
• Wrist strap: Placement of the strap around the child’s neck could
result in asphyxiation.
• Memory card: It may be swallowed accidentally. If this occurs,
contact a doctor immediately.
z
Do not attempt to disassemble or alter any part of the
equipment that is not expressly described in this guide.
z
To avoid the risk of high-voltage electrical shock, do not
touch the flash portion of the camera if it has been
damaged.
z
Stop operating the equipment immediately if it emits smoke
or noxious fumes.
z
Do not allow the equipment to come into contact with, or
become immersed in, water or other liquids. If the exterior
comes into contact with liquids or salt air, wipe it dry with a
soft, absorbent cloth.
Continued use of the equipment may result in fire or electrical
shock. Immediately turn the camera power off and remove the
camera batteries or unplug the battery charger or compact power
adapter from the power outlet.
Please consult your camera distributor or the closest Canon
Customer Support Help Desk.

8
z
Do not use substances containing alcohol, benzine,
thinners or other flammable substances to clean or
maintain the equipment.
z
Do not cut, damage, alter or place heavy items on the power
cord.
z
Use only recommended power accessories.
z
Remove the power cord on a regular periodic basis and
wipe away the dust and dirt that collects on the plug, the
exterior of the power outlet and the surrounding area.
z
Do not handle the power cord if your hands are wet.
Continued use of the equipment may result in fire or electrical
shock.
Battery
z
Do not place the batteries near a heat source or expose
them to direct flame or heat.
z
The batteries should not be immersed in water or sea water.
z
Do not attempt to disassemble, alter or apply heat to the
batteries.
z
Avoid dropping or subjecting the batteries to severe
impacts that could damage the casing.
z
Use only recommended batteries and accessories.
Use of batteries not expressly recommended for this equipment
may cause explosions or leaks, resulting in fire, injury and damage
to the surroundings. In the event that a battery leaks and the eyes,
mouth, skin or clothing contact these substances, immediately
flush with water and seek medical assistance.
z
Disconnect the battery charger and compact power adapter
from both the camera and the power outlet after recharging
or when not in use to avoid fire and other hazards.
z
Do not place anything, such as tablecloths, carpets,
bedding or cushions, on top of the battery charger while it
is charging.
Leaving the units plugged in for a long period of time may cause
them to overheat and distort, resulting in fire.