Canon 70D: First set-up and usage

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Setting up the Canon 70D to start taking pictures is simple. I'll write a post afterwards on setting up the Canon software on the Mac, I found that slightly more complicated.

Canon included almost everything you need in the box, but there are two things you will need to make sure you have:

 

- a SD memory card

- a Canon compatible lens

 

For the memory card I bought the Sandisk Extreme Pro 64Gbs. Sandisk as to not compromise on reliability, would´t want to loose pictures because of a cheap SD, and extreme pro as to have no slowdown while recording High res video or shooting sports Photography with a high fps rate. I think this cards´ speed is overkill for the 70D, but can´t hurt and the cost difference isn´t that much to the lower tier cards.

 

For the lens if you bought a Canon kit of 70D body and the 18-55mm or 18-135mm it will be in the box. I have the 18-135mm.

 

1) First thing to do is fully charge the Canon battery pack. Insert the supplied power cable into the battery charger and leave it to charge to 100%. First charge took about 1 hour, The light on the charger will turn constant green when it is done

 

2) Add the SD card. If you are looking to the back of the camera ( the LCD ), On the left of the camera is a hinged door, you need to slide the door backwards and it will pop open. Insert the SD card with the label facing the back of the camera, push it in until it clicks. Close the door again.

 

3) Insert the battery into the bottom of the Canon 70D. You need to unlock the latch by sliding and the door will pop open. Insert the battery pack until it clicks and close the door.

 

4) Add the lens to the body.  Remove the supplied sensor plastic cap by unscrewing from the body. When inserting the lens, match the little color spot on the lens (either white or red) to the color spot on the body of the camera.  Turn the lens until the lock clicks.

 

Lens' with a red dot are made for cropped sensor cameras such as the Canon 70D or the entry range (550D / 600D / 650D) and you will have the focal range stated on them I.e. a 40mm will be 40mm) whilst the lens' with a white dot are developed for full frame cameras ( such as the 5D or 1D ) and on a cropped sensor camera will show a different focal length. A 70D has a crop factor of 1.6x, meaning a full sensor 50mm lens will appear 50 x 1.6 = 80mm, an 80mm equivalent on a full sensor camera.

 

 

The order of the above isn't particularly important. Just make sure the camera switch is Off while performing any of the tasks. After the steps above are completed, hinge out the LCD and turn it so it faces you. Turn in the 70D for the first time. A screen appears for you to adjust the time. Use the job dial and buttons inside it to navigate this menu. Set the time, date, if you want automatic daylight saving time and your time zone. Press OK and you are ready to take pictures.

 

For the first picture I just set the camera to fully automatic, turned on automatic focus and image stabilizer on the lens and started shooting away!

 

Below a video!