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Part I: Getting Started
Getting familiar with all this new technology might seem daunting, even to a
seasoned photographer. I was impressed, albeit a tad flummoxed, when I saw
the first reviews for this camera. Even though I’m a seasoned Canon dSLR
user — my first digital SLR was the EOS 10D — I still had a bit of a learning
curve when I first started experimenting with the SL1/100D. But it’s my job to
get down to brass tacks with new technology and show you how to master it.
The fact that you’re reading this probably means that you want to know how
to use all the bells and whistles Canon has built into the camera. In this chap-
ter, I begin at the beginning: the buttons, knobs, and other controls on the
outside of the camera. Getting to know the camera controls like the back of
your hand is the first step to taking gorgeous pictures with this new addition
to Canon’s line of dSLR cameras.
Getting in Touch with the Camera Controls
Think of the SL1/100D like a hybrid car: It has all the features, just not where
you find them on your family sedan. Other Canon cameras have a plethora
of controls on the outside of the camera. At first glance, it appears as though
you’ve been shortchanged with the SL1/100D, but that’s not the case. You do
have to go to the menu to access some features typically provided by but-
tons on a Canon camera body, but access to menu options has never been
easier thanks to the Quick Control button, which you push to display shoot-
ing settings on the LCD monitor. From this menu, you can specify settings
with your finger on the touchscreen, or you can use the cross keys to navi-
gate and specify settings.
The controls for this camera are easy to reach and give you access to many
powerful camera features. Try to avoid becoming overwhelmed knowing
which button does what. After you use the camera for a while, you’ll auto-
matically know which control gives you your desired result and then reach
for it instinctively without taking your eye from the viewfinder. But first, you
need to know what each control does. I explain the controls you find on the
outside of the camera in the upcoming sections.
Exploring the top of the camera
The top of the camera (as shown in Figure 1-1) is where you find the con-
trols you use most when creating images. The top of the camera is where
you change settings like ISO (how sensitive the camera sensor is to light),
aperture, and shutter speed; choose a shooting mode; and press the shutter
button to take a picture. In my humble opinion, the top of the camera is the
most important piece of real estate on the camera, except of course for the
lens, which is your window to your world as you photograph it.
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