Canon PowerShot A550 User manual

ENGLISH
The Components Guide
Preparations
Shooting
Single Playback/Erasing
Menus and Settings
Printing
Basic
Downloading Images
to a Computer
CDI-E280-010 © 2007 CANON INC. PRINTED IN MALAYSIA
Camera User Guide
Please Read This First
This guide explains how to prepare the camera and use its basic features.

The following guides are available. Refer to them as necessary
according to the flowchart below.
In this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is called the Basic Guide,
and the Advanced Camera User Guide is called the Advanced Guide.
Flowchart and Reference Guides
For information on included items
and items sold separately
The Components Guide
Preparations
• Installing the batteries and memory card
• Setting the date, time and language
Shooting
Playback/Erasing
Menus and Settings
Handling precautions, references
to the various shooting and
playback functions
Printing
• Installing the software
• Downloading images to a
computer
• Using the software
System Map
Basic Camera User
Guide (This Guide)
• Read this first.
Advanced Camera User
Guide
Direct Print User Guide
Basic Camera User
Guide (This Guide)
Software Starter Guide
ZoomBrowser EX/
ImageBrowser
Software User Guide
• PDF manuals available on
the Canon website.
http://web.canon.jp/
Imaging/information-e.html
You may not be able to achieve the
full performance of this camera with
the included memory card.

1
The Components Guide
Front View
aMicrophone (Advanced Guide pp. 37, 64)
bAF-assist Beam (Advanced Guide p. 21)
cRed-Eye Reduction Lamp (p. 15)
dSelf-Timer Lamp (p. 17)
eViewfinder Window (Advanced Guide p. 16)
fFlash (p. 14)
gTerminal Cover
hA/V OUT (Audio/Video output) Terminal (Advanced Guide p. 67)
iDIGITAL Terminal (p. 27)
jDC IN (Power input) Terminal (Advanced Guide p. 98)
kLens
The Components Guide

2
Back View
aLCD Monitor (Advanced Guide p. 12)
bViewfinder (Advanced Guide p. 16)
cSpeaker
dWrist Strap Mount
eMemory Card Slot / Battery Cover Lock (p. 5)
fMemory Card Slot / Battery Cover (p. 5)
gTripod Socket
In order to avoid dropping the camera, we recommend
attaching the wrist strap before using the camera.
The LCD monitor may be covered with a thin plastic film for
protection against scratches during shipment. If so, remove
the film before using the camera.
Attaching the
Wrist Strap

3
The Components Guide
Controls
aIndicators (p. 4)
bPower Button (p. 9)
cZoom Lever (p. 14, Advanced Guide p. 58)
Shooting: (Wide Angle)/ (Telephoto)
Playback: (Index)/ (Magnify)
dShutter Button (p. 10)
eShooting Mode Dial (pp. 9, 11)
f(Print/Share) Button (p. 22)
g
FUNC./SET (Function/Set) Button (p. 20 ,Advanced Guide p. 18)
hMENU Button (p. 21, Advanced Guide p. 19)
iDISP. (Display) Button (Advanced Guide p. 12)
j(Playback)/ (Shooting) Button (p. 7)
k(Macro)/ Button (p. 16)
l/ (Jump)/ Button (Advanced Guide pp. 52, 60)
m(Flash)/ Button (p. 14)
n(Continuous)/ (Self-timer)/ (Single Image Erase)/
Button (pp. 17, 19, Advanced Guide p. 31)

4
Indicators
The camera indicators will light or blink under the following conditions.
z
Upper Indicator
z
Lower Indicator
Never do the following while the indicator blinks green. These
actions may corrupt image data.
- Shake or jolt the camera
- Shut off the power, or open the memory card slot/battery
cover
Green: Ready to shoot (camera beeps twice)/when
connected to a computer
Blinking Green: During camera startup/image recording/reading/
erasing/transferring (when connected to a
computer/printer)
Orange: Ready to shoot (flash on)
Blinking Orange: Ready to shoot (camera shake warning),
charging flash
Yellow: Macro mode/AF lock mode
Blinking Yellow: Focusing difficulty (camera beeps once)

5
Preparations
1. Installing the batteries.
1. Slide the memory card slot/battery cover lock (
a
) and
open the cover (
b
).
2. Insert the 2 supplied AA-size alkaline batteries, or
separately sold AA-size NiMH batteries.
2. Inserting the memory card.
1. Insert the memory card until it clicks into place.
2. Close the memory card slot/battery cover (
a
), pressing
down and sliding it until it clicks into place (
b
).
Preparations
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Battery Handling (p. 91)
Positive end (+)Negative
end (–)
Front

6
To Remove the Memory Card
Push the memory card with your finger until the memory card clicks
and then release it.
Ensure that the memory card is correctly oriented before
inserting it in the camera. It may damage the camera, or
the camera may not recognize the card, if it is inserted
incorrectly.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Handling the Memory Card (p. 93).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Formatting Memory Cards (p. 25).
You can use SD memory cards, SDHC memory cards and
MultiMediaCards with this camera. These cards are
collectively called memory cards in this guide.

7
Preparations
Turning the Power On/Off
Turning the Camera On/Off in Shooting Mode
1. Press the power button.
The indicators blink while the
camera turns on.
2. Pressing the power button again
turns the power off.
Turning the Camera On/Off in Playback Mode
1. Press the / button.
The indicators blink while the
camera turns on.
2. Press the power button to turn
the power off.
Switching between Shooting Mode and Playback
Mode
Power Button
Indicators
/ ButtonIndicators
Press the
/ button.
Press the power button.
Press the shutter
button halfway.
Press the
/ button.
Shooting
Mode
Playback
Mode
Power Off
Press the power
button.

8
First Time Settings
Setting the Date/Time
1. Press the power button (
a
).
2. Use the or button to select an item and the or
button to change its value (
b
).
3. Confirm that the correct time is displayed and press the
FUNC./SET button (
c
).
The date and time can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 21).
Setting the Display Language
1. Press the / button.
2. Hold down the FUNC./SET button and press the MENU button.
3. Use the , , or button to select a language and
press the FUNC./SET button.
The display language can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 21).
The date/time setting screen will appear when the camera
power is turned on for the first time, or when the capacity
of the lithium date battery is depleted.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Replacing the Date Battery (p. 101).