Canon Rebel Buttons Explained! (t3i)

Summary

Jon provides a beginner’s guide to the Canon Rebel T3i’s buttons, shooting modes, and basic operation.

Shooting Modes

• Full Auto (green): The camera makes nearly all exposure decisions. Only a few options, such as drive mode and timer settings, are available.
• Program (P): The camera sets the aperture and shutter speed while allowing more settings to be changed.
• Tv / Av: Shutter-priority and aperture-priority modes. The photographer chooses the shutter speed in Tv or the aperture in Av, and the camera selects the other setting.
• M: The photographer sets both the shutter speed and aperture.
• A-DEP: Attempts to keep multiple subjects or objects in focus.
• Flash-off Auto: Similar to Full Auto, but the pop-up flash will not fire.
• Creative Auto: Offers simplified controls for effects such as background blur and color ambience.
• Scene presets: Include portrait, landscape, macro, sports, and low-light settings.
• Movie mode: Automatically enables Live View.

Controls and Basic Operation

• The Q button opens an on-screen quick menu. Use the arrow keys to select settings and the Set button to open or confirm them.
• The shutter button focuses when pressed halfway and takes a picture when fully pressed. Live View provides an alternative to composing through the viewfinder.
• The Play button opens image review. The zoom buttons magnify images or show multiple thumbnails, while the Info button cycles through photo information.
• In playback, the Q menu includes options for protecting, rotating, rating, filtering, and navigating images.
• The ISO button changes ISO using the arrow keys or control dial. In Manual mode, the control dial adjusts shutter speed; holding the Av button lets it adjust aperture.
• Shortcut controls provide access to white balance, autofocus mode, picture style, and drive mode. Autofocus options include One-Shot and Servo for tracking subjects.
• Exposure compensation brightens or darkens images in supported automatic and semi-automatic modes. The presenter explains that one stop represents a doubling or halving of light.
• The Display button turns the rear screen off or on. Turning it off can help conserve battery power.

Files and Setup

The camera takes SD cards. The tutorial demonstrates formatting a card through the menu and warns that formatting erases its contents.

RAW files retain extensive image information but require compatible editing software. JPEGs are easier to view and share. The camera also supports RAW plus JPEG; beginners are advised to consider the largest, highest-quality JPEG setting.

Other Features

• The built-in flash can act as a commander for compatible off-camera Canon flashes.
• The depth-of-field preview button stops down the lens aperture to preview focus depth.
• The lens’s autofocus/manual-focus switch and image stabilizer are explained. The presenter recommends turning stabilization off when using a tripod to save battery.
• The camera has connections for a wired shutter remote, external microphone, AV/USB, and mini-HDMI output.
• The diopter adjusts viewfinder clarity to suit the user’s eyesight.

Guide Coverage

1. Identify the mode dial and understand the main exposure modes.
2. Navigate the Q menu and change settings.
3. Insert and format an SD card.
4. Focus and take a photo, including using Live View.
5. Review and navigate photos.
6. Choose RAW, JPEG, or RAW+JPEG quality settings.
7. Locate the camera’s key controls, lens switches, ports, and viewfinder adjustment.

Main speaker/source: Jon, presenting a Canon Rebel T3i tutorial for Prime Studios.