Canon PowerShot SD1000 Operation

Operating the SD1000 in Auto mode is straightforward and simple, albeit with limited access to some of the camera's controls. Manual mode offers more options and is relatively intuitive and, with the user guide in hand, easy to master. Most controls are no more than a button push away via the 4-way controller (ISO, Flash, Single/Continuous Shooting and Self-Timer, and Macro/Normal/Infinity), a Function Menu (Shooting Mode, Exposure Compensation, White Balance, My Colors, Metering, JPEG compression, and Resolution) or the full system menu, with set-up options and settings that generally do not have to be changed very often. There are a few exceptions, however, including the need to activate Face Detection or AiAF, red-eye reduction and slow synchro flash settings and Grid Overlay via the system menu. Although there are no dedicated control buttons per se, the Print/Share button can be programmed for one of a number of controls for direct access.

 

Canon SD1000 Modes and Menus

Auto Record Mode: In this mode, the camera automatically selects the settings for image capture, although compression and image size options are available in the Function menu. Limited options are also available for ISO, Flash, Self-Timer and Macro.

Manual Mode: Since the camera lacks manual aperture and shutter speed controls, the SD1000's "Manual" mode provides access to various settings and features like Exposure Compensation, White Balance, ISO and other options via the Function menu and 4-way controller.

Scene Mode: A variety of scene modes are available in the Function menu, including Digital Macro, Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, and Underwater.

Movie Mode: Accessed via the mode switch, this mode records movies with sound. Movie options include Standard (640 x 480 or 320 x 240; both resolutions can be recorded at either 30 frames per second or 15fps), with a 4GB size maximum, although the camera will stop recording after 1 hour of continuous shooting regardless of whether or not the SD card has been filled. Fast Frame Rate, which is limited to a 1 minute clip, is designed to photograph action such as a sporting event. The Compact mode records a clip of up to 3 minutes and is small enough to be e-mailed. Color Accent and Color Swap modes, which allow you to shoot in black and white maintaining one color as an accent or you can change (swap) one color for another. Recording pixels and frame rate (640 x 480 or 320 x 240 at 30fps or 15fps) are selectable and movies can be recorded up to 4GB, although recording will stop after 1 hour of continuous shooting even if the 4GB maximum as not been reached. In Time Lapse mode, the camera can be set to capture an image every 1 or 2 seconds for up to 2 hours. When played back, the final "movie" will be compressed to 4 or 8 minutes, depending on the interval set (2 second intervals will net a 4 minute movie after two hours; 1 second intervals will net an 8 minute movie after two hours). Although sound recording is not available in this mode, you can create interesting clips such as tracking the progress of a house being built, a dinner being prepared (and consumed) or plants blooming. Note: Standard and Color Accent/Color Swap modes require a high speed and high capacity SD card to reach maximum recording time.

Playback Mode: Also accessed via the mode switch, playback allows you to review images for content and quality, arrange them into categories, mark them for printing and deletion. Movies can also be viewed an edited in this mode. .

Record Menu System: This menu is displayed when the Menu button is pressed. Available options may change according to shooting mode but are arranged according to three tabs: Record, Setup and My Camera.

• Ai/AF: Sets the camera's 9-point AiAF focus system on and off. Can also be used to select automatic Face Detection, which detects subjects' faces, focuses and adjusts exposure/flash intensity according to the scene. When AiAF or Face Detection are not selected, the camera sets the focus point at the center of the frame.
• Digital Zoom: Turns the camera's 4x digital zoom on and off. When on, the digital zoom engages after the optical zoom has reached the maximum telephoto focal length. The digital zoom can also be set to a fixed 1.5x or 1.9x zoom. The digital zoom can also be utilized for the Standard movie mode.
• Slow Synchro: Sets the flash synchro option on and off. When on, shutter stays open longer (slower shutter speed) to record more ambient light so the areas not reached by the flash are more visible and better exposed.
• Red-Eye: Sets the flash red-eye reduction on and off.
• Self-Timer: Sets the Self-Timer delay from 0-10 seconds, or 15, 20, or 30 seconds. Sets the number of consecutive shots taken from 1-10; the default setting is 3 shots.
• Auto ISO Shift: Turns the Auto ISO Shift on and off. When on, depress the shutter button halfway and press the Print/Share Button to automatically boost the ISO to an appropriate setting up to ISO 800. Press the Print/Share button again and the ISO will return to its previous setting.
  
• AF Assist Beam: Turns the AF Assist Beam on and off. When on, a small lamp on the front of the camera illuminates to assist in low light focusing.
• Review: Turns instant review on and off. Sets the number of seconds, from 1-10 an image is displayed on the LCD immediately after capture. A Hold option displays the image until the shutter button is pressed halfway.
• Save Original: Available only when Color Swap or Color Accent modes are selected. When on, you have the option of saving the original image as well as the image that has been altered.
• Auto Category: On/Off options sets whether or not images are automatically assigned to categories during shooting, i.e., people, scenery, events.
• Display Overlay: Sets Grid Overlay and/or 3:2 aspect ratio guide displays on and off. Only grid lines can be displayed in Movie mode.
• Date Stamp: Available in Postcard mode only. Sets whether or not the date or date and time appear on the image.
  
• Set Print/Share Button: Assigns a specific function to the Print/Share button: None, Exposure Compensation, White Balance (Auto, presets, and custom), Custom White Balance only, Digital Teleconverter, Display Overlay, Record Movie, Display Off, and Play Sound Effect.
• Stitch Assist: Provides visual guides to shoot up to 26 consecutive images for a panorama. Shots can be taken from left-to-right or right-to-left.

Setup Menu:.

• Mute: Turns the camera's sounds on and off., except for warning sounds.
• Volume: Adjusts the volume in 5 steps of individual camera sounds, i.e., start-up, operation, self-timer, shutter, and playback.
• LCD Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the LCD monitor from -7 to + 7. You can track how the adjustment affects the brightness in real time.
• Power Saving: Sets whether or not the camera powers automatically powers down after a period of inactivity. The number of seconds before the LCD display turns off can also be set to 10, 20 or 30 seconds, or 1, 2, or 3 minutes.
• Time Zone: Selects two time zones: Home and World (i.e., for when you're on vacation) for tracking the date and time images were captured.
• Date/Time: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar. Date format can also be selected (mm/dd/yy, dd/mm/yy, yy/mm/dd).
  
• Clock Display: Sets the duration the camera's clock will appear on the LCD when the Function button is pressed and held for 2 seconds or more. Display duration options include 0-10 seconds, 20 or 30 seconds, 1, 2 , or 3 minutes.
• Format: Formats the SD card and erases all data from the card. A low level format option is available, which may help increase the speed of a card that seems to have slowed down when recording/reading image data.
• File Numbering: Sets whether or not the camera uses a continuous numbering format, even when you switch SD cards or begins the numbering sequence from 1 when a new SD card is used (Auto Reset).
• Create Folder: Creates a new folder immediately for the next set of images captured or can be set to automatically create a folder at a specified (future) date (daily, by day, monthly) and time.
• Auto Rotate: Sets whether or not the camera automatically rotates to the correct orientation for viewing on the LCD.
• Lens Retract: Sets the amount of time, either 1 minute or 0 seconds, before the lens retracts when switching from Record to Playback.
  
• Language: Sets the language to any one of 25 languages, including English.
• Video System: Switches the video output signal to either NTSC or PAL in order to playback images on a TV. The U.S. uses NTSC.
• Print Method: Choose between Auto and a special setting for printing widescreen images on one of a number of Canon SELPHY compact photo printers.
• Reset All: Resets all non-custom camera settings to their default values.

My Camera Menu:

• Theme: Selects a common theme for each My Camera setting including none (black screen), the Canon logo with a blue background, the Canon logo with a sunset background and a photograph of a bird (which comes complete with chirping sound).
• Start-Up Image: Selects a start-up image that is displayed when the camera is turned on or off from the above listed options. Your own image can be substituted using Canon software.
• Start-Up Sound: Selects a start-up sound that plays when you the camera is powered on. Options include no sound, one of two musical tones and a chirping bird. You can substitute your own sound using Canon software.
• Operation Sound: Selects a sound that plays whenever any button other than the shutter button is pressed.
• Self-Timer Sound: Selects the sound played 2 seconds before the shutter is released in the Self-Timer mode as a warning that the picture is about to be taken.
• Shutter Sound: Selects the sound played when the shutter button is pressed.
• My Camera Menu Contents: Shows any custom sounds or images that have been registered in My Camera. This sub-menu is not available unless sounds/images have been added.

Playback Menu:. Accessed by switching the camera to Playback and pressing the Menu button. Like the Record mode, the Playback menu is arranged by tabs but includes Play and Print menus, in addition to the same Setup and My Camera menus available in the Record Menu

Play Menu: This menu is available in Playback mode and occupies the first tab in general Playback menu.

• Slide Show: Automatically plays back images in a slide show. In addition to setting timing and transitions, you can choose the images to be played: all images on a memory card, images from a specific date, images pre-assigned to categories, images in a single folder or images that have been assigned to one of 3 custom groups.
• My Category: Allows you to tag or associate images to one of several categories including, people, scenery and events. .
• Erase: Erases all images on a memory card or those selected individually or selected by date, category or folder. Protected images (see below) will not be erased unless/until they are "un"-protected.
• Protect: Applies or removes a tag that protects the image from being changed or deleted except when the card is reformatted.
• Red-Eye Correction: Automatically or manually correct red-eye in-camera.
• My Colors: Applies My Colors effects to still images and movies.
  
• Sound Memo: Records a sound memo for up to 1 minute and attaches it to an individual image.
• Sound Recorder: Records sound only for up to 2 hours without taking a picture. Sound quality is adjustable.
• Rotate: Manually rotate the image in 90 degree increments. The change in rotation may not transfer to your computer unless you use a software program that recognizes the tag that indicates the change in orientation.
• Transfer Order: Selects and marks images for transfer from camera to computer.
• Transition: Selects the transition from image to image when reviewing photos in Playback. Choices include none, dark-to-light fade, and the direction from which the image is displayed.

Print Menu: Accessed via the second tab in the general Playback menu.

• Print: Sends tagged images to the printer.
• Select Images & Quantity: Selects images for printing and the number of prints to be output for each image.
• Select by Date: Selects images and configure print settings by date.
• Select by Category: Selects images and configures print settings by category.
• Select by Folder: Selects images and configures print settings by folder.
  
• Select All Images: Selects all images on a memory card and configures print settings for them.
• Clear All Selections: Clears all print settings from the images.
• Print Settings: Displays a menu for various print setting options:

• Print Type: Select a Standard print (one image per page) or an Index print of multiple images on a page or both.
• Date: This on/off option allows you to choose whether or not to have the date and time printed on the image(s).
• File Number: This on/off option allows you to choose whether or not the file number is printed on the image(s).
• Clear DPOF Data: This on/off option allows you to chose whether or not the DPOF (printing settings) are cleared from the images once they are printed.