Having lots of external buttons makes accessing the camera's functions easier.Some buttons have multiple "official" names because they serve multiple purposes depending on whether you're taking pictures, reviewing images, recording a movie, or performing some other function. This book refers to these buttons by the first label you see in the following list to simplify things. Again, though, the margin icons show you exactly which button to press.
Starting at the top-right corner of the camera back and working westward (well, assuming your lens is pointing north, anyway), here's an introduction to the buttons and other controls on this side of the camera:
- AF Point Selection/Magnify button: In certain shooting modes, you press this button to specify which autofocus points or zones you want the camera to use when establishing focus. You can also use it in Live View or Movie mode to magnify the display to check focus. In Playback mode you use this button to magnify the image display (thus the plus sign in the button's magnifying glass icon).
- AE Lock/FE Lock/Index/Reduce button: During shooting, press this button to lock autoexposure (AE) settings and to lock flash exposure (FE).
This button also serves two image-viewing functions: It switches the display to Index mode, enabling you to see multiple image thumbnails at once. And if you magnify a photo, pressing the button reduces the magnification level.
- Live View/Movie button: Press this button to shift to Live View mode, which enables you to compose your pictures using the monitor instead of the viewfinder. When shooting movies, press the button to start and stop recording. (You must first set the On/Off/Movie switch to the Movie position.)
- Aperture/Exposure Compensation button: When you shoot in the M (manual) exposure mode, press and hold this button, then rotate the Main dial to choose the aperture setting, also known as the f-stop. In the other advanced exposure modes (P, Tv, and Av), you instead use the button and dial to apply Exposure Compensation, a feature that enables you to adjust the exposure.
- Q (Quick Control) button: Press this button to shift to Quick Control mode, which enables you to adjust major shooting settings quickly.
- Wi-Fi button: Pressing this button enables certain wireless communication features; again, see the appendix for an explanation of Wi-Fi operations.
- Memory-card access light: This light glows while the camera is recording data to the memory card. Don't power off the camera while the light is lit, or you may damage the card or camera.
- Set button and cross keys: The figure points out the Set button and the four surrounding buttons, known as cross keys. These buttons team up to perform several functions, including choosing options from the camera menus. You use the cross keys to navigate through menus and then press the Set button to select a specific menu setting.
During viewfinder photography — that is, when you're using the viewfinder and not the monitor to frame your shots — the cross keys also have individual responsibilities, which are indicated by their labels:
- Press the up cross key to change the White Balance setting. The White Balance control enables you to ensure that colors are rendered accurately.
- Press the right cross key to adjust the AF Operation mode. This option controls one aspect of the camera's autofocus behavior.
- Press the left cross key to change the Drive mode. The Drive mode settings enable you to switch the camera from single-frame shooting to continuous capture or any of the other drive modes.
- Press the down cross key to change the Picture Style.
For Live View and Movie shooting, the cross keys perform different actions, all related to autofocusing.
- Playback button: Press this button to switch the camera into picture-review mode.
- Erase button: Sporting a trash can icon, the universal symbol for delete, this button lets you erase pictures from your memory card during playback.
- Info button: In Live View, Movie, and Playback modes, pressing this button changes the picture-display style.
During viewfinder photography, you can press the Info button to toggle between the Quick Control screen and electronic level.
- Menu button: Press this button to display camera menus; press a second time to exit the menus.