Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D Setting Up page 15

At this writing, SDXC cards are not supported by all computer operating sys-
tems. If you insert the card into a computer or card reader and receive a mes-
CAUTION
sage asking you to format the card, choose Cancel to avoid overwriting the SDXC
format. For more information, visit the www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/sdxc/using_
sdxc Web site.
The type of fi le format that you choose also affects the speed of certain tasks. For
example, when writing images to the media card, JPEG image fi les write to the card
faster than RAW or RAW + Large JPEG fi les. JPEG and RAW fi le formats are dis-
cussed in detail later in this chapter.
As you take pictures, the LCD on the Rebel T2i/550D shows the approximate number
of images that remain on the media card. The number is approximate because each
image varies slightly, depending on the ISO setting, the fi le format and resolution, the
Picture Style, and the image itself (different images compress differently). And as you
shoot video, the Rebel displays the recording time on the LCD. Video recording shuts
off automatically when the size of the movie fi le reaches 4GB. For still and video
shooting, an 8GB card is a good size to consider.
When you buy a new memory card, always format it in the camera and never on your
computer. But fi rst off-load all images to the computer because formatting erases
images even if you've set protection on them. Also be sure to format cards that you've
used in other cameras when you begin using them in the Rebel T2i/550D. Formatting
a media card in the camera also cleans any image-related data freeing up space on the
card, and it manages the fi le structure on the card so the Rebel T2i/550D and media
card work properly together.
To format a card in the camera, be sure that you download all images to your com-
puter fi rst, and then follow these steps:
1. Press the Menu button, and then turn the Main dial to select the Setup 1
menu.
2. Press the down or up cross key to select Format, and then press the Set
button. The Format screen appears asking you to confi rm that you want to for-
mat the card and lose all data on the card.
You can optionally choose the Low-level format option that erases the record-
able sectors on the card. While Low-level format takes a bit longer, it can
improve the performance of the card, and it ensures that all information on the
card is permanently erased.
Chapter 1 Setting Up the EOS Rebel T2i/550D
15