Get DigitalLibrary Camera Use and Tips

Canon PowerShot A430

Photo Release

• When it is needed

• When it is not needed

Rule of thumb:

Better safe than sorry.

Photo Release

Available from PLCMC Central: FormsPhotographic Release & Participation Form

Pixel (picture element)

Resolution

• Level of detail in picture

• Measured in pixels

• Determined by camera and settings– Recording pixels– Compression

Recording PixelsSetting Pixels Purpose

Large 2272 x 1704 8.5 x 11 prints

Medium 1 1600 x 1200 4 x 6 prints

Medium 2 1024 x 768 Credit card sizedprints

Small 640 x 480 Web or email

Postcard 1600 x 1200 Printed postcards

Wide 2272 x 1280 Wide angle 8.5 x11 prints (cropped)

Compression Settings

Compression Purpose

Superfine Shoot higherquality images

Fine Shoot normalquality images

Normal

High Quality

NormalShoot more

images

Capacity of 16 MB Memory Card

Size Superfine Fine NormalLarge 7 13 26Middle 1 14 26 50Middle 2 25 45 80Small 56 88 138Postcard - 26 -Wide 9 17 34

Sample Photos

Which one is high resolution and which one

is low resolution?

Low800 x 600

High 2272 x 1704

Sample Photos

• Note the recording pixels and compression settings used

• Note the resolution (pixels wide x pixels tall)

Large/Superfine 2272 x 1704 (sized down to fit screen)

Medium 1/Superfine 1600 x 1200 (sized down to fit screen)

Medium 2/Superfine 1024 x 768

Small/Superfine 640 x 480

Small/Superfine 640 x 480 (stretched to fit screen)

Wide/Superfine 2272 x 1280 (sized down to fit screen)

An Overview of Your Camera

What you have(that you will need)

• Digital camera– 2 AA batteries– 1 SD card– Basic Camera User Guide– Advanced Camera User Guide

• Digital Camera Card Reader

What you have (that you probably won’t need)

• Camera software

• Camera to computer cable

• Camera to TV/video cable

• Direct Print User Guide

• Software Started Guide

Shutter On/Off

ViewfinderAdvanced Guide pg. 19

LCD ScreenAdvanced Guide pg. 15

Mode DialBasic Guide pg. 5

Display ButtonAdvanced Guide pg. 15

FUNC/SET ButtonAdvanced Guide pg. 21

Menu ButtonAdvanced Guide pg. 22

Macro/InfinityBasic Guide pg. 9

Telephoto (Zoom In)Basic Guide pg. 8

Flash SettingsBasic Guide pg. 8

Wide Angle (Zoom Out)

Basic Guide pg. 8

Auto

ManualBasic Guide pg. 6

Special Scene Basic Guide pg. 7

MovieAdvanced Guide pg. 37

Shooting Modes

Movie Shooting

With 16 MB Card

• Standard - 23 seconds max

• Compact - 1 minute 47 seconds max

Movie Shooting: Standard

640 x 480 10 frames/second

Movie Shooting: Compact

160 x 120 15 frames/second

Using Your Camera

Taking a picture1. Turn the camera on

2. Set the mode dial to Auto

3. Press and hold shutter halfway to focus

4. Press shutter all the way to shoot

1. Press the FUNC/SET button

2. Arrow down to display:

L M1 M2 S W

3. Use the arrows to move

side to side

4. Press the FUNC/SET button to select

Setting the recording pixels

1. Press the FUNC/SET button

2. Arrow down to display:

L M1 M2 S W

3. Press MENU button to toggle between Compression and Recording Pixels

4. Press the FUNC/SET button to select

Setting the compression

1. Set the mode dial to playback

2. Use the left/right arrows

to scroll backwards

and forwards

3. Use the up/down arrows

to zoom in and out

Reviewing photos

1. Set the mode dial to playback

2. Use the left/right arrows

to select image to erase

3. Press the button

(the down arrow)

Erasing photos

Downloading photos1. Turn the camera off

2. Eject the SD card

3. Plug the card reader into your PC’s USB port

4. Insert the card into the card reader

5. Open Windows Explorer and browse to the “CANON_DC”

Card Reader

SD Card

MS Card

CF Card

XD/SM Card

Slide the open button down while pushing against the lip of the compartment

Ejecting the SD card

Card Reader

Plug the card reader into your PC’s USB port

Insert the SD card into the bottom left slot of the card reader

Option 1

Windows may pop up a window that will allow you to view the photos

Click OK

Option 2Use My Computer or Windows Explorer to browse to CANON_DC

Option 2

Select and view contents of DCIM folder

Viewing Files on Card

From View menu select Thumbnails to preview the pictures. Now copy and paste the ones you want to a permanent location.

Conserving batteries• Use the viewfinder rather than on screen

display

• Review the pictures on your PC using the card reader rather than on the camera

• If using the LCD screen adjust brightness to lowest possible (Advanced Guide pg. 25)

• When storing for long periods of time, remove the batteries

Picture Perfect

Tips for great photos

Composition• Rule of thirds

• Perspective

• Depth of field

• Leading Lines

• Framing

• Color

• Lock the focus

Rule of Thirds

kodak.com

kodak.com

Perspective

Photos courtesy of Lydia Leovic Towery

kodak.com

kodak.com

Depth of Field

Photos courtesy of Lydia Leovic Towery

Leading Lines

Photos courtesy of Lydia Leovic Towery

Frame your subject

Photos courtesy of Lydia Leovic Towery

Photo courtesy of Lydia Leovic Towery

Color

Photos courtesy of Lydia Leovic Towery

Lock the focus

How to lock the focus1. Center the subject in the viewfinder

2. Press the shutter button down halfway

3. While holding the shutter button down halfway, reposition the camera

4. Press the shutter button all the way down

Click to practice

To learn more

• Canon PowerShot A430 Web site

• Kodak Tips for Taking Pictures