Chapter 2. Camera Setup and Image Playback

The time you spend setting up the EOS 7D pays off in greater ease of use and enjoyment while you're shooting. While some setup options can be set once and forgotten, other options require more frequent changes, depending on the shooting situation. This chapter gives you a look at the settings you'll want to set up on the 7D to ensure great image quality and a smooth workflow.

Camera Setup and Image Playback

Choosing Image Format and Quality

Among the first setup considerations are setting up the image file format and quality level, file numbering, and folder organization. Your choices for these camera settings should support the way you work with images on the computer and the way you organize and store images.

One of your first choices should be whether you will shoot JPEG and/or RAW images. Before you choose, consider the options the camera provides for each format and how they affect your image workflow and the overall printed image quality and the size.

JPEG format

JPEG is the most common file format used for digital images, and it is the default file format on the 7D. JPEG offers efficient, high-quality file compression that saves space on the memory card. It also offers quick display of image files on the camera's LCD monitor and on the computer.

The small file sizes that JPEG produces allow you to store many images on the CompactFlash (CF) card. To reduce image file size, ...

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