Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D Setting Up page 16

3. To do a low-level format, press the Erase button to place a check mark next
to Low level format, and then press the right cross key to select OK.
4. Press the Set button. The camera formats the card, and then displays the
Setup 1 menu.
It is generally a good idea to format media cards every few weeks to keep them clean.
To avoid taking pictures when no memory card is in the camera, press the
Menu button, choose the Shooting 1 menu, and then press the down cross
NOTE
key to select Release shutter without card. Press the Set button, press the down
cross key to select Disable, and then press the Set button again. Now you cannot
release the shutter unless a media card is in the camera.
When the camera's red access light — located on the back of the camera — is
blinking, it means that the camera is recording or erasing image data. When the
access light is blinking, do not open the SD card slot cover, do not attempt to
remove the media card, and do not remove the camera battery. Any of these
actions can result in losing images and damage to the media card. There is an
audible warning to let you know that images are being written to the card, but
make it a habit to watch for the access light anyway to know not to open the
media card slot cover or turn off the camera.
Choosing the File Format and Quality
The fi le format, either JPEG or RAW, and the JPEG quality level that you choose deter-
mine not only the number of images that you can store on the media card, but also the
sizes at which you can later print images from the Rebel T2i/550D.
The Rebel T2i/550D delivers very high-quality images that make beautiful prints at
approximately 14.5 × 21.6 inches. Even if you don't foresee printing images any larger
than 4 × 5 inches, you may get a once-in-a-lifetime shot and want to print it as large as
possible. For this reason, and to take advantage of the Rebel T2i/550D's fi ne image
detail and high resolution, you'll want to choose a high-quality setting and leave it
there for all your shooting. The high image-quality settings take more space on the
media card, but the price of the card is small compared to missing out on a great
image that you can't print at the maximum image size.
16
Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D
Avoid Losing Images
Digital Field Guide