Camera Menus
The EOS 550D's menus are more or less identical to the EOS 500D's, and will be immediately familiar to anyone who has used a Canon SLR in recent years. As is usual for Canon, there are simpler versions of the menu that are encountered when you switch away from the manual and semi-manual modes. In these simplified menus, the order of the options tends to be the same but the additional pages with more complex options have been hidden.
![]() |
![]() |
Full menu (P, Tv, Av, M, A-DEP) | Movie menu. |
---|
Shooting section (red)
![]() |
||
---|---|---|
Option |
Values / Actions |
Notes |
Quality | Large Fine Large Normal Medium Fine Medium Normal Small Fine Small Normal RAW + Large Fine RAW |
- JPEG Large = 5184 x 3456 |
Beep | On Off |
Enables auto focus confirmation beep. Also used for self timer. |
Release shutter without card | On Off |
Allow shot to be taken without SD card inserted. |
Image Review | Off 2 sec 4 sec 8 sec Hold |
|
Peripheral illum. correct. | Enable Disable |
Corrects vignetting depending on the attached lens. |
Red-eye on/off | Off On |
Enables the use of the AF / red-eye lamp just before a flash shot. |
Flash control | Flash firing![]() ![]() Built-in flash function setting ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() External flash function setting ![]() External flash C.Fn setting ![]() Clear external flash C.Fn setting ![]() |
|
![]() |
||
Expo. comp./AEB | +/-2 EV 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps |
Configures auto exposure bracketing. |
Auto Lighting Optimizer | • Disable • Low • Standard • Strong |
This is no longer a custom function. |
Metering mode | Evaluative metering Partial metering Spot metering Center-weighted average |
|
Custom WB | Set custom WB | Select image for custom WB. |
WB Shift / BKT | Shift: B9-A9, M9-G9 Bracket: BA+/-3, MG+/-3 |
Configures WB shift and WB bracketing. |
Color space | sRGB Adobe RGB |
|
Picture Style | Standard Portrait Landscape Neutral Faithful Monochrome User Def. 1 User Def. 2 USer Def. 3 |
|
Dust Delete Data | OK Cancel |
|
ISO Auto | • Max 400 • Max 800 • Max 1600 • Max 3200 • Max 6400 |
define the maximum auto ISO setting |
Metering mode weights
The diagram below (provided by Canon) shows the area of the frame measured in different metering modes.
Picture Style
The picture styles are accessible via a direct button but, like the EOS 500D, can only be edited and tweaked via the main menu. It's possible to configure up to three custom styles, though, either via the camera or the 'Picture Styles Utility' software that comes with the camera, and these can be selected from the direct access button.
Playback Section (Blue)
![]() |
|
---|---|
Option |
Notes |
Protect images |
Protect mode, allows you to browse images either in a single image or thumbnail view and mark each image as protected (or un-protect). This simply sets the read-only flag on the CF card file system. |
Rotate |
Rotate mode, again, this can be performed in either single image or thumbnail index view. This option allows you to rotate an image on-screen by 90 or 270 degrees. It doesn't actually rotate the JPEG file, but marks its orientation. |
Erase images |
Select and erase images All images in folder All images on card |
Print order | Allows you to create a DPOF print order file, for use with compatible printers or photo finishers. ![]() Select images By folder ![]() ![]() All images Set up ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slide show | Select the images and set the Display time and Repeat settings for automatic playback |
![]() |
|
Histogram | Brightness RGB |
Image jump | 1 image |
Crtl over HDMI | Disable/enable |
Setup Section (Yellow)
![]() |
||
---|---|---|
Option |
Values / Actions |
Notes |
Auto power off | 30 sec 1 min 2 min 4 min 8 min 15 min Off |
Sets camera power off time, this is the amount of "idle time" before the camera powers itself off. In the power off state the camera can be woken by half or fully depressing the shutter release (or turning the power switch to Off and back to On). |
Auto rotate | On (play mode and EXIF) On (EXIF) Off |
Chooses whether orientation information is recorded and if the camera should rotate in play mode. |
Format | OK Cancel |
Format the CF card |
File numbering | Continuous Auto reset Manual reset |
Controls the numbering method used for filenames. |
LCD auto off | Enable Disable |
|
Screen color | 1 (Black on White) 2 (White on Black) 3 (Cream on Burgundy) 4 (Green on Black) |
|
Eye-Fi settings* *only visible when Eye-Fi card in use. |
• Eye-Fi Trans.![]() ![]() • Connection info. |
- enable automatic transmission - displays access point and MAC address information |
![]() |
||
LCD Brightness | 1 to 7 | |
Date/Time | Set Date & Time Set Date format |
|
Language | English |
Select menu language. |
Video system | NTSC PAL |
Select video system for video out connector. |
Sensor cleaning |
Auto cleaning![]() ![]() Clean now ![]() ![]() Clean manually ![]() ![]() |
Defines the settings for the built-in cleaning system, by default the system is enabled and cleans at startup and shutdown (although can be interrupted). The 'clean manually' option locks the mirror and shutter up. |
Live View function settings |
Live View shooting |
Defines parameters for Live View. |
![]() |
||
Custom Functions (C.Fn) | Enters C.Fn menu | |
Copyright information | • Display copyright info • Enter Author's name • Enter copyright details • Delete copyright information |
When you set the copyright information, it will be appended to the image as Exif information. |
Clear settings | Clear all camera settings Clear all Custom Func. (C.Fn) Cancel |
|
Firmware | Select to load new firmware from CF card | Also shows current version |
Comments