In Scene Intelligent Auto mode (represented by the green A+ on the camera’s Mode dial), Creative Auto (CA), as well as in some of the SCN (Scene) and Creative Filter modes, the built-in flash may pop up; ignore it for now and close the unit after you finish adjusting the viewfinder.
2. Rotate the diopter adjustment dial until the data appears sharpest.
Adjusting the Monitor Position
One of the many cool features of the 80D is its articulating monitor. When you first take the camera out of its box, the monitor is positioned with the screen facing the back of the body, as shown on the left in Figure 1-6, protecting the screen from scratches and smudges. (It’s a good idea to place the monitor in this position when you’re not using the camera.) When you’re ready to start shooting or reviewing your photos, you can place the monitor in the traditional position on the camera back, as shown on the right in Figure 1-6. Or for more flexibility, you can swing the monitor out and away from the camera body and then rotate it to find the best viewing angle, as shown in Figure 1-7.
FIGURE 1-6: Here you see two possible monitor positions.
FIGURE 1-7: You also can unlock the monitor from the body and then rotate the screen to get the best view of things.
Because playing with the monitor is no doubt one of the first things you did after unpacking your camera, we won’t waste space walking you through the process of adjusting the screen. (If you need help, the camera manual shows you what to do.) But we want to offer a few monitor-related tips:
❯❯ Don’t force things. The monitor twists only in certain directions, and it’s easy to forget which way it’s supposed to move. So if you feel resistance, don’t force things; instead, rely on that feeling of resistance to remind you to turn the screen the other way.
❯❯ Watch the crunch factor. Before positioning the monitor back into the camera, use a lens brush or soft cloth to clean the monitor housing so there’s nothing in the way that could damage the screen.
❯❯ Clean smart. To clean the screen, use only the special cloths and cleaning solutions made for this purpose. Do not use paper products such as paper towels because they can contain wood fibers that can scratch the monitor. And never use a can of compressed air to blow dust off the camera – the air is cold and can crack the monitor.
Using the Touchscreen
Just as cool as the monitor’s flexibility is its touchscreen interface. You can choose menu options, change picture settings, and scroll through your pictures by touching one or two fingers to the screen, just as you can with a tablet, smartphone, or other touchscreen device.
Throughout the book, we tell you exactly where and how to touch the screen to accomplish specific actions. For now, get acquainted with the terminology used to indicate these touchscreen moves, called gestures by those who feel the need to assign names to things such as this.
❯❯ Tap: Tap your finger on a screen item to select it. Give it a try: First, press the Menu button to display the menu screen on the monitor, as shown on the left in Figure 1-8. Along the top of the screen, you see one highlighted icon, representing the current menu, and a row of dimmed icons representing other menu categories. On the left side of Figure 1-8, Shooting Menu 1 is the current menu. To switch to another menu, tap its icon. For example, tap the icon for the Playback menu, labeled on the left in the figure, and that menu appears, as shown on the right. Beneath the top row of icons are numbered menus (also called secondary tabs or submenus), which allow options to be grouped under their main tab. Tap a number to switch to that numbered menu.
❯❯ Drag: Drag your finger up, down, right, or left across the screen, according to our instruction. To try this gesture, first display Setup Menu 2 and tap LCD Brightness, shown on the left in Figure 1-9, to display the screen shown on the right. Now drag your finger across the scale at the bottom of the screen to adjust the screen brightness. Reset the marker to the middle of the bar after you’re done playing around – that setting gives you the most accurate indication of picture brightness.
On this particular screen, you also see icons at either end of the scale. You can tap those icons to raise or lower the value represented on the scale. Either way, tap the Set icon to implement the setting and return to the menu.
❯❯ Swipe: Drag a finger quickly across the screen. You use this gesture, known in some circles as a flick, to scroll through your pictures in Playback mode, a topic you can explore in Chapter 5.
❯❯ Pinch in/pinch out: To pinch in, place your thumb at one edge of the screen and your pointer finger at the other. Then drag both toward the center of the screen. To pinch out, start in the center of the screen and swipe both fingers outward. Pinching is how you zoom in and out on pictures during playback; again, Chapter 5 provides details.
FIGURE 1-8: Tap a menu icon to display its menu.
FIGURE 1-9: Tap the LCD Brightness item (left) and then drag left or right across a scale to adjust the setting (right).
❯❯ Touchscreen response: You can choose from three settings, accessed via the Touch Control option, found on Setup Menu 3 and shown in Figure 1-10.
● Standard: This setting is the default. The touchscreen is enabled and is set to respond to a “normal” amount of pressure. (Don’t ask us how the Powers That Be decided what that pressure level is – we don’t get invited to those conferences.)
● Sensitive: This setting makes the touchscreen more, er, touchy. That is, it responds to lighter pressure. Oddly, though, Canon says that the camera may be slower to respond to a very quick tap at this setting. Your mileage may vary.
● Disable: Select this setting to disable the touchscreen function.