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Canon Rebel DSLRs

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The Canon EOS Rebel T6i an T7i are DSLR cameras that allow you to take photos and video. The two models are very similar and so many of the articles for one may apply to the other.

Photo Modes

Basic Zone Modes

All the settings necessary for shooting are set automatically. You just press the shutter button, and the camera does the rest.

Photo mode dial on DSLR with a blue arrow around the Basic Zone modes

Creative Zone Modes

You can change the camera settings as desired to shoot in various ways.

Photo mode dial on DSLR with a blue arrow around the Creative Zone modes

Program AE (P)

Most similar to Auto mode but allows you to adjust settings like focus, flash, white balance, etc.

Aperture-Priority AE

You adjust aperture and the camera adjust other exposure settings. Good for controlling depth-of-field.

First image caption: Blurred background with a low aperature. Second image caption: Sharp foreground and background with a high aperture

Shutter-Priority AE (TV)

You adjust the shutter speed and the camera adjusts other exposure settings. Good for shoots with motion.

First image caption: Blurred motion with slow shutter speed. Second image caption: Frozen motion with fast shutter speed.

Manual (M)

You adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO manually.

Focusing
  1. To manually focus, set the lens focus mode to MF. ​
  1. Press the button that has an icon of a magnifying glass with a plus symbol in the center.  You will see a square frame (magnifying frame) appear on the screen.
  1. Use the arrow buttons to move the magnifying frame over the subject you want to focus on.
  1. Press the magnifying glass button to zoom in closer to your subject. This makes it easier for you to see if the subject is in focus. You can zoom in 1x, 5x, or 10x.
  1. While looking at the magnified image, turn the lens focusing ring to focus. After achieving focus, press the magnifying button until you return to the normal view.
Custom White Balance
  1. Take a photo of a white object.
  2. In the Menu, go to the second tab with an icon of a camera. Select Custom White Balance.
  1. Select the white image you took earlier.
  1. Press the WB button and select the last icon that looks like a square in between two inward-facing triangles.

This video provides an in-depth explanation of white balance settings on Canon EOS cameras.

Using Video Mode
  1. Switch DSLR setting to video mode (video camera icon).
Diagram of mode dial on the Canon DSLR with switch set to video mode
  1. To set movie recording size, enter Menu, arrow over to the 2nd video menu and enter Movie rec. size. ​For full HD, use the setting FHD 1920x1080 29.97P.
  1. Press the button with a camera icon to start and stop recording.

Keep in mind that while DSLRs can record video, they have a 30 minute recording limit. You will not be able to record continuously past that limit and will instead need to stop and resume recording.

Adjusting Audio on a Canon DSLR

The T6i and T7i don’t have headphone jacks, so you may want to use the following devices that do have headphone jacks so you can monitor your audio:

  • Sony UWP-D21 or D11 wireless lavs
  • Zoom H5 recorder (records audio separately and will need to be synced in post-production)
Using DSLR Mic with an Extension Cable

You can use the Rode shotgun microphones that come with the DSLR kit either by plugging them in directly and mounting them ontop of the camera, or by using the included extension cable and mounting the microphone on a light stand. The following explains how to use the latter method.

Plug the male end of 3.5mm extension cable into the mic input and plug the DSLR shotgun mic into the female end of the extension cable.

Canon Rebel T6i - Additional Guides

Use these links to read the corresponding manual instructions for the T6i.

The following video provides a general overview on T6i functions.

Canon Rebel T7i - Additional Guides

Use these links to read the corresponding manual instructions for the T7i.

The following video explains the new user interface and how to change it back to the old interface (used on the T6i).

Importing Footage/Images
  1. Insert SD card into computer or use a USB card reader
  2. SD card will appear on desktop (if it was formatted to the camera, it should be named CANON or something similar)
  3. Double click SD card to reveal contents
  4. Open DCIM folder to view/preview files
  5. Copy whichever files you need by selecting one or more and dragging them to your computer or external hard drive
Formatting SD Cards
  1. In the Menu under the first tab the has a wrench icon, select Format card, then press the SET button (circular button in the center of your arrow keys).
Rebel DSLR Menu with Format card highlighted with a yellow box
  1. Select OK, then press the SET button. The card will be formatted. When the formatting is completed, the menu will reappear.
Rebel DSLR menu with header "Format Card". Warning on screen reads "Format card, all data will be lost!"

Any other questions can be directed to Media Studio consultants during regular studio hours, or you can email [email protected].

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