Julie Adair King - Canon EOS 70D For Dummies

Introduction

I n 2003, Canon revolutionized the photography world by introducing the first digital SLR camera (dSLR) to sell for less than $1,000, the EOS Digital Rebel/300D. And even at that then-unheard-of price, the camera delivered exceptional performance and picture quality, earning it rave reviews and multiple industry awards. No wonder it quickly became a best seller.

That tradition of excellence and value lives on in the EOS Rebel 70D. Like its ancestors, this baby offers the range of advanced controls that experienced photographers demand plus an assortment of tools designed to help beginners be successful as well. Adding to the fun, this Rebel also offers the option to record full high-definition video, plus an articulating, touchscreen monitor thats not only useful but also just plain cool.

The 70D is so feature-packed, in fact, that sorting out everything can be a challenge, especially if youre new to digital photography or SLR photography, or both. For starters, you may not even be sure what SLR means, let alone have a clue about all the other terms you encounter in your camera manual resolution, aperture, and ISO, for example. And if youre like many people, you may be so overwhelmed by all the controls on your camera that you havent yet ventured beyond fully automatic picture-taking mode. Thats a shame because its sort of like buying a Porsche Turbo and never pushing it past 50 miles per hour.

Therein lies the point of Canon EOS 70D For Dummies. In this book, you can discover not only what each bell and whistle on your camera does but also when, where, why, and how to put it to best use. Unlike many photography books, this one doesnt require any previous knowledge of photography or digital imaging to make sense of concepts, either. In classic For Dummies style, everything is explained in easy-to-understand language, with lots of illustrations to help clear up any confusion.

In short, what you have in your hands is the paperback version of an in-depth photography workshop tailored specifically to your Canon picture-taking powerhouse. Whether your interests lie in taking family photos, exploring nature and travel photography, or snapping product shots for your business, youll get the information you need to capture the images you envision.

A Quick Look at Whats Ahead

This book is organized into four parts, each devoted to a different aspect of using your camera. Although chapters flow in a sequence thats designed to take you from absolute beginner to experienced user, I also tried to make each chapter as self-standing as possible so that you can explore topics that interest you in any order you please.

Heres a quick look at what you can find in each part:

Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps: This part contains four chapters that help you get up and running. explains the ins and outs of using Live View, the feature that lets you compose pictures on the monitor, and also covers movie recording.

Part II: Working with Picture Files: As its title implies, this part discusses after-the-shot topics..

Part III: Taking Creative Control: Chapters in this part help you unleash the full creative power of your camera by moving into semi-automatic or manual photography modes. provides a quick-reference guide to shooting strategies for specific types of pictures: portraits, action shots, landscape scenes, and close-ups.

Part IV: The Part of Tens: In famous For Dummies tradition, the book concludes with two top-ten lists containing additional bits of information. closes things out with ten ways to customize your camera not covered in earlier chapters.

Icons and Other Stuff to Note

If this isnt your first For Dummies book, you may be familiar with the large round icons that decorate its margins. If not, heres your very own icon-decoder ring: