You’d be surprised at how much you can achieve when you understand the basics of operating your camera. And it’s not difficult, when you have a camera like the Canon EOS 850D that’s both powerful and user-friendly at the same time. We’ll share useful tips below to help you get the most out of your shooting partner – the EOS 850D.
Let’s get started!
Mission 1: Locking on Your Target
LIVE VIEW EYE DETECTION AF
One of the perks of a DSLR like the EOS 850D is that you can shoot either by looking through the optical viewfinder, or by looking at the LCD screen in Live View mode – whichever suits you best.
If you are trying to take a photo of your friend in Live View mode, the EOS 850D, with its approximately 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor, can give you sharp and clear portraits with eyes clearly in focused.
Using Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology and Eye Detection AF in Live View mode, the EOS 850D can detect and track a person’s eye to ensure your shots stay in focus even if you’re capturing a moving subject. Just remember to enable the Eye Detection AF feature in Live View mode. It’s as simple as that.
Read more about using Eye Detection AF in portrait shots:
It's All in the Eyes: A Quick Way to Create Mesmerizing Portraits
Mission 2: Capturing the Right Moment, Every Moment
VIEWFINDER CONTINUOUS SHOOTING
Whether it’s a jump shot or your friends in action, you’ll never miss a picture-perfect opportunity with the EOS 850D’s continuous shooting feature. First, switch to Shutter Priority mode (indicated as TV on the mode dial), which is the ideal camera mode for action shots. The faster the action you’re trying to capture (like a jump shot), the higher the shutter speed you should select.
If you have Feature Guide turned on, your camera will provide you with useful tips on selecting the right shutter speed and explanations of the various camera features.
In the menu selection, make sure to set the focusing method to AI Servo so that the camera’s autofocus system can track your subject as he or she moves. Next, choose your focusing positions. In the scenario where you are shooting a jump shot – your subject will be moving across a vertical plane – it is recommended to choose Auto Selection AF so that the camera detects and automatically tracks the jumping motion.
Learn more about camera AF modes:
Camera Basics #9: AF Modes
When you’re ready to shoot, look through the viewfinder and the 45-point all cross-type AF system will come into action as you half-press the shutter button to focus and track the moving subject. The EOS 850D can take continuous shots at up to 7 frames per second (fps) in viewfinder mode, so you will be able to capture that perfect mid-air shot.
Learn more ways you can utilise continuous shooting:
Camera FAQ #18: How to Use High-speed Continuous Shooting to Freeze Moments Skilfully
How to Take Creative Party Photos using Your Camera's Continuous Shooting Mode
3 Creative Ways to Use Your Camera’s Continuous Shooting Mode
Mission 3: Creating 4K Cinematic Videos
4K VIDEO
With super high 4K UHD resolution, you can amaze your viewers with life-like imagery. Create 4K videos that retain the stunning details of your subject in the foreground, as well as rich details in the background. Canon’s unique colour science also gives you naturally pleasing skin tones, which saves you the effort on editing your videos to their natural colour.
4K videos have a resolution that is 4 times higher than that of regular full HD videos. This gives you greater flexibility in your video editing as you can crop your videos without major loss in image quality. This is especially useful for social media platforms that favour a tighter square or vertical crop. However, do note that a high performance SD card (UHS-I/UHS Speed Class 3 or higher) is required when recording 4K videos.
There’s also so much more you can do with the video features on the EOS 850D! For handheld recording, camera movement shake is greatly reduced with Movie digital IS backing you up for more steady footages.
Experiment with other fun and useful features such as 4K time-lapses to capture breathtaking changes in the night sky or landscapes. If you love a specific frame in your video, do a frame grab from your footage to get a 8-megapixel still image. Print the shots you love up to A3 size!
Learn more about videomaking:
Introduction to Filmmaking on Your Canon EOS (1): What Every Beginner Must Know
Mission 4: Sharing Everything You See Instantly
WI-FI CONNECTIVITY
Can’t wait to share your photos as soon as you snap them? The EOS 850D lets you transfer photos to your smart device wirelessly, thanks to its in-built 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Just download the Canon Camera Connect app (available on iOS and Android) and pair your camera with your smart device. You only need to do this once.
Once connected, just select the photos you want to transfer into your smart device. Now, you can edit and post your high quality photos on the go, anytime, anywhere!
Knowing these easy steps and tips will help you kick-start your amazing journey with the Canon EOS 850D. But of course, the best way to learn is to explore as much as possible and don’t be afraid to try out all the other modes. You’ll take your photography to a whole new level in no time!
