Our love of Canon cameras is hardly anything we keep under wraps. The longevity of the brand speaks for itself; what's the company's secret?
Canon cameras are, of course, stellar in terms of picture quality, but that's far from everything that they have to offer. They're famous for being user-friendly, with a relatively short learning curve even for first-time photographers; two of the first things that you'll learn are how to change the camera's shutter speed and aperture.
Shutter Speed and Aperture Settings on Canon Cameras
Canon cameras, historically, are well-regarded in their usability. Nearly all Canon cameras are designed in a way that makes using them one-handed extremely easy. Any digital Canon camera of the last three decades is a living testament to this practicality.
The controls for changing various aspects of a Canon camera's performance—shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, to name three of the most commonly-adjusted camera settings—can all be done right from your physical UI, no digital controls required.
Before we begin, let's call out two of the most important controls that you'll find on the body of your camera:
- The Main Dial; the click wheel on the top of the camera near the shutter button.
- The Rear AE Lock button, also known as the Asterisk button; found at the top of the operator's side of the body.
Together, you'll use these controls to change your shutter speed and your aperture independently.
How to Change the Shutter Speed on Canon Cameras
If you need to adjust your shutter speed on the fly, Canon makes it incredibly easy, even when your hands are full.
To adjust the shutter speed on a Canon camera:
- Fire it up.
- Ensure that you're in Manual Exposure mode or any other mode that doesn't determine your shutter speed procedurally and automatically.
- Click the Main Dial left or right until you've found your final destination.
Clicking it to the left decreases your shutter speed, and clicking it to the right makes it faster. It's one of the simplest controls to remember on any Canon camera; DSLR, mirrorless, and even several retro point-and-shoot models.
Many newer mirrorless Canon cameras also include a touchscreen display; if you happen to be the lucky owner of a camera that fits this description, you can change these settings by tapping directly on each icon in the digital viewport. The same goes for your aperture settings.
Even if your camera's screen is not touch-sensitive, changing your aperture is easy; the command is very similar to the one described above, albeit with one twist...
How to Change the Aperture on Canon Cameras
Changing the aperture on a Canon camera is almost as simple as changing your shutter speed—almost.
To adjust the F-stop of the lens' aperture, we turn back to our Rear AE Lock button, labeled with a huge asterisk. Some non-EOS Canon cameras may employ a different button or scroll wheel when differentiating between shutter speed and aperture control, but the principle will remain the same. When in doubt, consult your user manual for all of the specifics.
To change the aperture settings on a Canon camera:
- Flip it on.
- Choose Manual Exposure mode or any shooting mode that lets you adjust the aperture manually.
- Press and hold the Asterisk button while clicking the Main Dial on top simultaneously.
On the screen, you should see an asterisk symbol appear whenever this button is depressed. Clicking the wheel left widens the aperture while clicking it to the right shuts it down.
Adjusting the Aperture and Shutter Speed on Canon Cameras Is Easy
As far as we're concerned, Canon's claim to fame has got to be elegance in design. You've got the entire world in one palm. Once you're able to master every command, the device becomes an extension of your arm. Changing things like your shutter speed and aperture will eventually take no thinking at all.
When your gear is easy to use, you're usually more compelled to pick it up and use it. As Canon fans since day one, we can heartily recommend any Canon DSLR or mirrorless camera for this reason alone.