internal sensor-cleaning mechanism. These work like so:Auto Cleaning: By default, the camera’s sensor-cleaning mechanism activates each time you turn the camera on and off. This process helps keep the image sensor — which is the part of the camera that captures the image — free of dust and other particles that can mar your photos. You can disable this option, but it’s hard to imagine why you would choose to do so.Clean Now: Select this option and press Set to initiate a cleaning cycle. For best results, set the camera on a flat surface during cleaning.Clean Manually: When the Mode dial is set to P, Tv, Av, or M, you can access this third option, which prepares the camera for manual cleaning of the sensor. Because you can easily damage the image sensor, rendering your camera a paperweight, use extreme caution if you decide to try cleaning the sensor yourself. You’re really better off taking the camera to a good service center for cleaning.
Setup Menu 4
Figure 1-37 shows Setup Menu 4, which you can access only in the advanced exposure modes: P, Tv, Av, and M.
FIGURE 1-37: To display Setup Menu 4, you must set the Mode dial to P, Tv, Av, or M.
Viewfinder Display: Here’s where you find the options that add a grid, electronic level, and/or a flicker detection warning to the viewfinder display. See the earlier section “Decoding viewfinder data” for details. You don’t see this option on the menu when using Live View or Movie mode, both of which disable the viewfinder.
Info Button Display Options: Select this menu item to tell the camera what information you want to see on the monitor when you press the Info button when the camera is in shooting mode. By default, pressing the button cycles the display through three views: Off, the Quick Control display, and the electronic level. You can reduce the possible displays to just two by disabling either the electronic level or the Quick Control display through this option.
Grid When Shooting: This option doesn’t appear in Figure 1-37 because it shows up only when the camera is set in Live View or Movie mode. In those modes, select Grid When Shooting to add a grid to the screen. Refer to the earlier section “Customizing the Live View display” for more information about this and other Live View screen features.
Shutter Btn Function for Movies: Another movie-related feature (and also not shown in Figure 1-37), this menu item lets you tell the camera what you want it to do when you press the shutter button halfway or completely. Chapter 8 offers details.
Switch AF Point Selection and AE Lock Button: In the menu itself, this item appears as shown on the third line in Figure 1-37, with symbols replacing the words AF Point Selection and AE Lock. Through this menu option, you can customize the functions of the two buttons; Chapter 11 has details. (But don’t swap them now, or later instructions that involve the buttons won’t work.)
HDMI Resolution: If you decide to connect your camera to an HDTV in order to view your photos and movies, you may experience smoother playback if you change this menu option from the default setting, Auto, to 1080p. Chapter 12 explains more about this setting and other steps involved in connecting your camera to an HDMI display. (You don’t need to worry about this menu option until you’re ready to screen your work; it doesn’t affect how your pictures and movies are recorded.)
Multi Function Lock: I detail this option earlier in this chapter, in the section “Back-of-the-body controls.” Look for the specifics in the bullet point devoted to the Erase/Lock button.
Setup Menu 5
Bring up Setup Menu 5, shown in Figure 1-38, to access the following items:
FIGURE 1-38: Setup Menu 5 is home to the Custom Functions options, among other items.
Custom Functions: Selecting this option opens the door to Custom Functions, which are a set of advanced features. See “Navigating Custom Functions,” earlier in this chapter, for tips on making your way through these screens.
Clear Settings: Via this option, you can restore the default menu settings. You also can reset all the Custom Functions settings to their defaults.
Copyright Information: Using this option, explained in Chapter 11, you can embed copyright information in your files.
Manual/software URL: Canon provides a printed camera manual in the T8i/850D shipping box. But the print version doesn’t tell you the whole story about the camera. If you want the full manual, you can download it in an electronic format (PDF, to be specific) and then read it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.To make finding the download site easy, choosing this menu option displays a QR code (Quick Response code). If your smartphone or tablet has an app that can read these codes, you simply aim the device’s camera at the code to display the download site’s web address (URL, or Universal Resource Locator). The site also provides access to the Canon software that’s available for free download to purchasers of the camera.
Certification Logo Display: You have permission to ignore this screen, which simply displays logos for a couple electronics-industry certifications claimed by the camera. You can find additional logos on the bottom of the camera.
Firmware: This item tells you the version number of the camera firmware (internal operating software). At the time of publication, the current firmware version was 1.0.0. Keeping your camera firmware up-to-date is important, so visit the Canon website (www.canon.com) regularly to find out whether your camera sports the latest version. Follow the instructions given on the website to download and install updated firmware if needed.
A few other critical menu options before you go
Before moving on to other parts of the book, I suggest that you also consider a few final options not found on the Setup menus:
Network menu 1, Airplane mode: By default, all of the camera’s wireless connection functions are enabled. My theory is that Canon wanted the wireless functions on from the get-go to make it easier for new users to share photos online. Problem is, all that connectivity stuff eats battery power. So I suggest that you turn it off until you need it. The easiest method is to enable Airplane mode, as shown on the left in Figure 1-39. It works just like the Airplane mode on your smartphone or tablet, disabling all wireless signals. When it’s enabled, you see an airplane symbol on the Quick Control screen, as shown on the right in the figure.
