Canon PowerShot A720 IS User manual

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
CDI-E334
Camera User Guide

Workflow and Reference Guides
The following guides are available. Refer to them as necessary according to the
flowchart below.
: Contents of This Guide
Prepare the camera for use
Using the camera
C
IConnect the camera
to other devices
•Connecting to a printer
• Connecting to a TV set
• Connecting to a computer
Camera User Guide
_irect Print User
Guide
_GuideS°ftwareStarter
ZoomBrowser EX/
ImageBrowser
Software User Guide
• PDF manuals available
on the Canon website.
http:/iweb.canon.jptlmaging/information-e.html

I1
Checking the Package Contents
The following items are included in the package. If something is missing,
please contact the retail outlet at which you purchased the product.
o O @2?
O
Camera AAAlkalineBatteries(x2) MemoryCard
(16MB)
Interface Cable AM Cable Wrist Strap
IFC-400PCU AVC-DC300 WS-200
OO
Canon Digital Camera Warranty Card
Solution Disk
OUser Guides
Camera User Guide
.Direct Print User Guide
Software StarterGuide
._Canon Customer Support"Leaflet
You may not be able to achieve the full performance of this camera
with the included memory card.
You can use SD memory cards, SDHC (SD High
._'_p_ Capacity) memory cards, MultiMediaCards, MMCplus
cards and HC MMCptus cards in this camera. These
cards are collectively referred to as memory cards in
this guide.

I 3
Shooting Using the Mode Dial 73
Mode Dial ....................................... 73
Shooting Modes for Specific Scenes .................. 74
r_ Shooting Panoramic Images (Stitch Assist) ........ 77
=Ira Movie Shooting ............................... 79
pProgram AE .................................. 82
Tv Setting the Shutter Speed ....................... 83
Av Setting the Aperture ........................... 85
iManually Setting the Shutter Speed and Aperture ..... 86
Various Shooting Methods 87
Continuous Shooting .............................. 87
Setting the Red-Eye Reduction Function ............... 88
Setting the Stow Synchro Function ................... 89
Selecting an AF Frame Mode ....................... 90
Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock,AF Lock, Manual
Focus, Safety MF) .................................... 94
Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock) ............... 98
Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock) .......... 99
Adjusting the ISO Speed .......................... 100
[] Adjusting the Exposure Compensation ............ 101
Switching between Metering Modes ................. 102
Adjusting the Tone (White Batance) ................. 104
Shooting in a My Colors Mode ...................... 107
Switching between Flash Adjustment Settings ......... 109
Adjusting Flash Compensation Settings .............. 110
Setting the Flash Output .......................... 111
Switching the Timing at which the Flash Fires .......... 112
Adjusting Exposure for Built-in Flash Shooting (Safety FE) 113
_,,v Registering Settings to the Print/Share Button .... 114
Setting the Auto Rotate Function .................... 115
Setting the Display Overlays ....................... 117

41Creating an Image Destination (Folder) ............... 118
Resetting the File Number ......................... 120
Playback/Erasing 122
O. Magnifying Images ............................ 122
='; Viewing Images in Sets of Nine (Index Playback) .... 123
Jumping to Images ............................ 124
Viewing Movies (Operating the Movie Control Panel) ... 125
Rotating Images in the Display ..................... 127
Playback with Transition Effects .................... 128
Automated Playback (Auto Play) .................... 129
Red-Eye Correction Function ....................... 130
Resizing Images ................................ 134
Attaching Sound Memos to Images .................. 136
Protecting Images ............................... 137
Erasing All Images ............................... 138
Print Settings/Transfer Settings 139
Setting the DPOF Print Settings .................... 139
Setting the DPOF Transfer Settings ................. 144

I5
Symbol Conventions in this Guide
Mode switch position:
jRec. ([_)lPlay ([_)
Available shooting modes
These modes are available
_This mark denotes issues that maY affect the
camera!s operaUon,
This mark denotes additional topics that
complement the basic operating procedures.
Explanations in this guide are based on the camera's default settings
at t me of purchase.

61
Please Read
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 awarranty claim to a Canon Customer Supporf Help
Desk.
For Canon Customer Support contacts, please see the customer support
list supplied with your camera.
Video Format
Please set the camera's video signal format to the one used in your region before
using it with a TV monitor.
Language Setting
Please see Setting the Display Language (p. 13) to change the language setting.

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I73
Mode Dial []
•Auto
_) The camera automatically selects settings. (p. 14)
•Image zone
When ashooting mode appropriate for the shooting conditions is selected,
the camera automatically adjusts settings for optimal shooting. (p. 74)
_' Portrait
_L Landscape
[] Night Snapshot
mO_r Kids & Pets
J,_' Indoor
SeN special scene (p. 75)
E_I Stitch Assist (p. 77)
DjII Movie (p. 79)
•Creative zone
With these settings, you select parameters such as the shutter speed or
aperture stop to achieve a range of effects.
p Program AE (p. 82)
TV setting the Shutter Speed (p. 83)
A,V Setting the Aperture (p. 85)
MManually Setting the Shutter Speed and Aperture (p. 86)

74IShooting Using the Mode Dial
jShooting Modes for Specific Scenes []
[]See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 206).
When a shooting mode appropriate for the shooting conditions is
selected, the camera automaticalIy adjusts settings for optimal
shooting.
_!' Portrait
Produces a soft effect when photographing people.
Landscape
Optimized for shooting landscape scenes which
contain both near and far subjects.
[] Night Snapshot
Allows you to take snapshots of people against
twilight or night backgrounds by reducing the effects
of camera shake even without using a tripod.
_. Kids&Pets
Allows you to capture subjects that move around,
such as children and pets, without missing photo
opportunities.

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I 75
J,{ Indoor
Prevents camera shake and maintains the subject's
true color when shooting under fluorescent or
tungsten lighting.
SCN (Special Scene)
You can shoot with the mostappropriate settingsfor the scene.
[] Night Scene
Allows you to capture human subjects against the
backdropof an evening sky or nightscene. The
flash is directed at the person and the shutter speed
is slow, so both the person and the background can
be beautifully shot.
[] Foliage
Shoots trees and leaves--such as new growth,
autumn leaves or blossoms--in vivid colors.
[] Snow
Shoots without a blue tinge and without making
people appear dark against a snowy background.

76IShooting Using the ModeDial
[] Beach
Shoots without making people appear dark near
water or sand where reflected sunlight is strong.
[] Fireworks
Captures fireworks in the sky sharply and at optimal
exposure.
[] Aquarium
Selects the optimal ISO speed, white balance and
color balance to capture fish and other items in an
indoor aquarium.
[] Underwater
Appropriate for shooting images with Waterproof
Case WP-DC16 (sold separately). This mode uses
an optimal white balance setting to reduce bluish
tones and record images with a natural hue.
_• The shutter speed ssow n [_]or [] mode Awaysusea
tripod to avoid camera shake.
• In [], _i j_, [] or [] mode, the ISO speed may
increase and cause noise in the image depending on the
scene being shot.
_] Install the camera in Waterproof Case WP-DC16 to shoot
underwater. You are also recommended to use this case for
shooting in rainy conditions, at the beach or on the ski slopes.

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I 77
l I::_1Shooting Panoramic Images (Stitch Assist) []
[] See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 206).
Stitch Assist can be used to shoot overlapping images that can later be
merged (stitched) to create one panoramic image on a computer.
The overlapping seams of several
adjacent images can be joined
into a single panoramic image.

78 Shooting Using the Mode Dial
sequence.
• The exposure and white balance are
set and locked with the first image.
a portion of the first and •hoot.
• You can press the ÷ or "l, button to return to the previously
recorded image to retake the shot.
• Minor discrepancies in the overlapping portions can be
corrected when the images are stitched together.
• A sequence may contain up to 26 images.
•You cannot display the images on a TV when shooting in
Stitch Assist mode.
• The settings for the first image are applied to the second
tmage onward (except for Macro setting).
_] images on a computer.
• When the [] button is pressed, you can switch between the
items which you can set.
- Exposure compensation/Shooting direction selection

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I 79
l,,m Movie Shooting []
[] See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 206).
The following movie modes are available.
The recording time will vary according to the capacity of the memory
card you use (p. 191).
[] Standard
You can select the recording pixels and record until the memory card
is full (when a super high-speed memory card is used, such as the
recommended SDC-512MSH). The digital zoom can be used while
shooting in this mode (p. 60).
Maximum Size: 4 GB*/movie
[] Compact
_r_
Ithis mode is convenient for sending movies as e-mail attachments or
_vhen the memory card capacity islow.
_- Maximum Clip Length: 3 minutes
*Even ifthe clip size has not reached 4 GB, recording will stop at the moment the clip
length reaches 1 hour. Depending on the volume and data writing speed of the
memory card, recording may stop before reaching 1 hour or before the recorded data
volume has reached 4 GB.
2
Set the mode dial to Dim
Select a shooting mode.
1. Use the ÷ or "I_ button to select a
shooting mode.

80 Shooting Using the Mode Dial
• Pressing the shutter button halfway automatically sets the
exposure, focus and white balance settings.
• Pressing the shutter button fully starts recording video and
sound simultaneously.
• During shooting, the recording time and [ORec] appear on the
LCD monitor.
• Pressing the shutter button fully again stops recording.
Recording will stop automatically under the following
circumstances.
- When the maximum recording time elapses
- When the built-in memory or memory card becomes full
We You recommended to card that has been
are use amemory
formatted in your camera to shoot movies (p. 56). The
memory card supplied with the camera may be used without
further formatting.
• Be careful of the following while recording.
- Do not touch the microphone (p. 38).
- Do not press any buttons other than the shutter button.
The sound that buttons make will be recorded in the
movie.
- The camera will automatically adjust the exposure and
white balance to suit the shooting conditions during
recording. Please note, however, that the sounds made
by the camera automatically adjusting the exposure may
also be recorded.
• The focus and optical zoom settings remain fixed for
subsequent frames at the values selected for the first frame.
_] uickTime is required to play back movies (Data type: AVI/
Compression method: Motion JPEG) on a computer (Only
Windows 2000).

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I 81
Changing Recording Pixels
You can change the recording pixels when the movie mode is set to
[] (Standard) (frame rate is fixed).
recording pixels,
1. Press the _ button.
2. Use the ,IF or _1.button to select
[] and the ÷ or "I, button to
change the option.
3. Press the _ button.
Recording Pixels and Frame Rates
Frame rates indicate the number of frames recorded or played back
each second. The higher the frame rate, the smoother the
appearance of motion.
[].1 640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames/sec.
[] Standard [].2 640 X480 pixels, 30 frames/sec. LP
[] 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec.
[] Compact [] 160 x 120 pixels, 15 frames/sec.
"1 Default setting.
*2 To give priodty to recording length over quality, select the option displaying [LP]
(Long Play). For the same file size, you can record approximately twice the
length.
_] • See Memory Cards and Estimated Capacities (p. 190).
• See Image Data Sizes (Estimated) (p. 192).

82IShooting Using the Mode Dial
_p Program AE []
[]See Functions Avai/able in Each Shooting Mode (p. 206).
The camera automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture value to
match the brightness of the subject. You can freely configure such
settings as the ISO speed, exposure compensation and white balance.
I_] he shutter speed and aperture values are shown in red on the
LCD monitor if a correct exposure cannot be obtained when
the shutter button is pressed halfway. Use the following
shooting methods to obtain the correct exposure and make
them show in white.
- Using the flash (p. 64)
- Changing the ISO speed (p. 100)
- Changing the metering method (p. 102)

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I 83
_Tv Setting the Shutter Speed []
[] See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 206).
When you set the shutter speed, the camera automatically selects an
aperture value to match the brightness of the subject. Faster shutter
speeds allow you to catch an instantaneous image of a moving subject,
while slower speeds create a flowing effect and allow you to shoot
without a flash in dark areas.
..... ........................................................................................i
fi e ih ...............................................................................................................................................................
_1. Use the ÷ or ,_ button to change the shutter speed.
• tf the aperture value is shown in red when the shutter button is
pressed halfway, the image is underexposed (insufficient light)
or overexposed (too much light). Use the ÷ or "F button to
adjust the shutter speed until the aperture value shows in
_ white.
The nature of CCD is such that noise in
image sensors the
recorded image increases at slow shutter speeds. This
camera, however, applies special processing to images shot at
shutter speeds of 1.3 seconds or slower to eliminate the noise ,
thereby producing high-quality images. (However, a certain
amount of processing time may be required befo[e the next
image can be shot.)

I
84 JShooting Using the Mode Dial
_] • The aperture value and shutter speed change according to
the zoom state as follows
Shooting
Mode
Maximum _1],TV
Wide Angle I_, TV
Maximum IMP,TV
Telephoto M, Tv
Aperture Shutter Speed
Value (seconds)
f/2.8 - 3.5 15 - 1/1500
f/4.0 - 8.0 15 - 1/2000
f/4.8 - 6.3 15 - 1/1500
f/7.1 - 8.0 15 - 1/2000
• The fastest shutter speed for flash synchronization is 1/500
second. The camera automatically resets the shutter speed
to 1/500 second if a faster speed is selected.
Shutter Speed Display
• The following shutter speeds can beset. 1/160 indicates 1/160
second. Also, 0"3 indicates 6.3 second and 2" indicates 2 seconds.
15" 13" 10"8"6" 5"4" 3"22"52" 1"6 1"3 1"0"80"60"50"40"3
1/4 1/5 1/6 1/8 1/10 1/13 1/15 1/20 1/25 1/30 1/40 1/50 1/60
1/80 1/100 1/125 1/160 1/200 1/250 1/320 1/400 1/500 1/640
1/800 1/1000 1/1250 1/1500 1/1600 1/2000

Shooting Using the Mode Dial I 85
Setting the Aperture []
[] See Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 206).
The aperture adjusts the amount of light entering through the lens.
When you set the aperture value, the camera automatically selects a
shutter speed to match the brightness.
Selecting a lower aperture value (opening the aperture) allows you to
blur the background and create a beautiful portrait. A higher aperture
value (closing it) brings the entire range from foreground to
background into focus. The larger the aperture value, the greater the
range of the image brought into clear focus.
_._ Some values not be lable th certain
aperture may ava wzoom
positions (p. 84).
_] • In this mode, the shutter speed rangewith synchronized flash is 1/
60 second to 1/500 second. The aperture value setting may
therefore be changed automatically to match the synchronized
flash speed even if its value was set previously.
Aperture Value Display
• The larger the aperture value, the smaller the lens aperture.
F2.8 F3.2 F3.5 F4.0 F4.5 F4.8 F5.0 F5.6 F6.3 F7.1 F8.0