Chapter 1

Getting Up and Running

IN THIS CHAPTER

Preparing the camera for its first outing

Getting acquainted with camera features

Viewing and adjusting camera settings

Setting a few basic preferences

Shooting for the first time with a camera like the Canon EOS R50 can produce a blend of excitement and anxiety. On one hand, you can't wait to start using your new equipment, but on the other, you're a little intimidated by all its buttons, dials, and menu options.

Well, fear not: This chapter provides information you need to get comfortable with your R50. The first section walks you through the initial camera setup; following that, we provide an overview of camera controls, explain how to view and adjust settings, discuss the basics of using removable lenses, and offer advice on more setup options to consider before you start shooting.

Preparing the Camera for Initial Use

After unpacking your camera, you have to assemble a few parts. In addition to the camera body and the battery (charge it before the first use), you need two other items:

• Lens: Like other cameras in Canon's mirrorless lineup, your R50 accepts RF and RF-S mount lenses; the 18-45mm kit lens sold as a bundle with the camera body falls into the RF-S category. These are the only lenses you can attach directly to the camera. However, if you purchase Canon's Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, you can also connect EF and EF-S lenses. Flip to the later section "Familiarizing Yourself with the Lens" for details on this component of your camera.

• Secure Digital (SD) memory card: The R50 stores pictures and movies on SD memory cards. Figure 1-1 offers a look at this type of card. When handling the card, avoid touching the gold contacts on the back, labeled in Figure 1-1. Also make sure that the lock switch is in the unlocked position, as shown in the figure. When the card is locked, no data can be added to or deleted from the card.

  SD cards come in many speeds and capacities; see the later sidebar "Memory cards: How big, how fast" for tips on purchasing the proper cards for the type of shooting you want to do.

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FIGURE 1-1: Be sure that the card is unlocked, and avoid touching its gold contacts.

With camera, lens, battery, and card within reach, take these steps:

1. Make sure that the camera is turned off.

2. Install the battery and memory card into the compartment on the bottom of the camera, as shown in Figure 1-2.

   To open the compartment, slide the Open/Lock switch to the Open position. Orient the memory card as shown in the figure and then push the card gently into the slot. When inserting the battery, hold it with the contacts down and the Canon imprint facing in the direction shown in the figure. Push the battery in until the gray lock switch clicks into place. Close the compartment door and slide the lever to the Lock position.

   Canon India Pvt Ltd.

   FIGURE 1-2: The battery and memory card go into the compartment on the bottom of the camera.

3. Attach a lens.

   First, remove the caps that cover the front of the camera and the back of the lens. Then look for the red bars labeled Camera mounting index and Lens mounting index in Figure 1-3. After aligning the marks, place the lens on the camera mount and rotate the lens toward the side of the camera that has the EOS label - that is, away from the shutter button side. You should feel a solid click as the lens locks into place.

   These instructions assume that you're using an RF or RF-S type lens. If you're using a lens adapter to attach an EF or EF-S lens, follow the instructions that come with the adapter.

   On the back of the camera, a red light flashes briefly to let you know that the camera recognizes the card. The light is located to the right of the Info button.

   Canon India Pvt Ltd.

   FIGURE 1-3: Align the red mounting index on the lens with the one on the camera body.

4. Rotate the monitor to the position shown on the left in Figure 1-4.

   When you first take the camera out of its box, the monitor is positioned with the screen facing inward, protecting it from scratches and smudges. To open the monitor, put your finger in the notch just above the upper-right corner of the monitor. You can then rotate the monitor to move it into the traditional position on the camera back, as shown on the left in Figure 1-4, or swing the monitor out to get a different viewing angle, as shown on the right. You can even rotate the monitor so that it faces the front of the camera, enabling you to see yourself on the screen as you take selfies or record a vlog (video blog).

   For this initial setup process, keep the monitor flat against the camera back. When the monitor isn't in that position, the viewfinder becomes inoperable and you need it to complete an upcoming step.

   Canon India Pvt Ltd.

   FIGURE 1-4: Here are two possible monitor positions.

5. Turn on the camera.

6. Set the language, time zone, and date.

   When you power up the camera for the first time, you're asked to set the date, time, and time zone. The easiest way to adjust these settings is to use the touchscreen: Just tap an option to select it. Small triangles appear above and below the option to let you know that it's active, but don't tap those triangles to change the value. Instead, look for the up and down triangles in the lower-left corner of the screen, and tap those arrows to set the value. Lather, rinse, and repeat until you complete all the adjustments you want to make. Finally, tap OK to exit the screen.

   The date/time information is included as metadata (hidden data) in the picture file. You can view metadata in some playback display modes (see Chapter 9) and in certain photo programs, including Canon Digital Photo Professional 4. (Refer to Chapter 12.) Also note the sun symbol to the left of the Time Zone option. That symbol represents the option that automatically adjusts the camera's clock when daylight saving time begins and ends, if that's a thing in your part of the globe. If the word Off appears by the sun, the feature is disabled.

7. Dismiss the Welcome screen shown on the left in Figure 1-5.

   This screen invites you to begin the process of connecting your camera to a smartphone. The message shows up every time you start the camera, whether or not you have any interest in making this connection. To stop this nonsense, press the Info button on the back of the camera or tap the empty Info box on the screen to fill it with a check mark, as shown on the right in the figure. See the appendix for details on connecting your camera to a smartphone, including when and why you may want to do so.

8. If you're using a retractable lens, extend the lens.

   Some lenses, including the one featured in this book, are retractable - you can collapse them when you're not shooting, saving space in your camera bag. Figure 1-6 shows the 18-45mm kit lens in its retracted and extended positions. Notice the white dot and white line on this lens; when the lens is fully retracted, the two are aligned, as shown on the left side of the figure.

   FIGURE 1-5: To prevent the camera from nagging you to connect to a smartphone every time you turn on the camera (left), select the Hide Next Time option (right).

   Canon India Pvt Ltd.

   FIGURE 1-6: Here's a look at the 18-45mm kit lens in its retracted position (left) and extended position (right).

   When you turn on the camera and the lens is retracted, the camera asks you to extend the lens. To do so, rotate the zoom barrel, labeled on the right in the figure, until at least one of the numbers on the lens aligns with the white line on the base of the barrel. To retract the lens, rotate in the opposite direction. You need to apply a little pressure - just a little! - to extend and retract the lens. (That resistance is a good thing because you can't accidentally extend the lens from the retracted position, or vice versa.)

   The white line on the base of the lens barrel is the focal length indicator. When you use a zoom lens (the 18-45mm kit lens is a zoom lens), the number that aligns with the indicator represents the current focal length. In the figure, the focal length is 35mm, for example. For details on focal length and using your lens, see "Familiarizing Yourself with the Lens," later in this chapter.

9. Remove the lens cap.

   Now the monitor displays a preview of what the lens is seeing, along with a bunch of data that you can ignore at the moment.

10. Adjust the viewfinder to your eyesight.

    This step is critical; if you don't set the viewfinder to your eyesight, subjects that appear out of focus in the viewfinder might actually be in focus, and vice versa. If you wear glasses while shooting, adjust the viewfinder with your glasses on.

    Adjust the viewfinder focus by moving the...