RCN Camera Training Workshop

This workshop is a hands-on training programme for the RCN team, focused on getting confident with the Canon EOS R7 and Sigma 18–50mm f/2.8 lens.

We'll cover the camera functions and settings you actually need, then put them to work across four real RCN scenarios:

  • Headshots

  • Group shots

  • Product photography for the RCN shop

  • Event photography in an auditorium

This page is your reference after the workshop. Bookmark it and come back whenever you need a reminder of how to use the camera.

    • Turning the camera on

    • Using the screen

    • Using the viewfinder

    • Holding the camera

    • The shutter button

    • Main dial

    • Quick Control dial

    • Multi-controller

    • M-Fn button

    • AF-ON button

    • LOCK button

    • INFO button

    • Menu operations and settings

    • Quick Control

    • Touchscreen operation

    • Inserting and removing memory cards

    • A+ Scene Intelligent Auto (fully automatic)

    • Special Scene modes: Portrait, Group Photo, Landscape, Panoramic Shot, Sports, Kids, Panning, Close-up, Food, Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control, Silent Shutter

    • Creative Filters

    • Fv: Flexible-Priority AE

    • P: Program AE

    • Tv: Shutter-Priority AE

    • Av: Aperture-Priority AE

    • M: Manual Exposure

    • B: Bulb (long exposures)

Basic Camera Functions

Turning the camera on
Move the power switch to the camera icon for stills, or the video icon for movies. The battery icon on screen shows how much charge is left. Switch the camera off when you're not using it.

Using the screen
The screen flips out and can tilt up or down or turn to face the front, which helps with high and low angles. Close it facing the camera body when you've finished, to protect it.

Using the viewfinder
Look through the viewfinder and it switches on automatically. If the display looks blurry, turn the small dial beside the viewfinder until it's sharp. The viewfinder and screen can't be used at the same time, and the viewfinder won't work while the screen is flipped out.

Holding the camera
Hold the grip firmly with your right hand and support the lens from underneath with your left. Keep your elbows against your body and stand with one foot slightly forward. This keeps the camera steady and reduces blur.

The shutter button
The shutter button has two stages. Press halfway to focus and set the exposure. Press all the way down to take the picture. Pressing halfway also takes you out of the menus and back to shooting.

Main dial
Turn the Main dial to change settings such as shutter speed or aperture. It's also used after pressing a button, for example to change ISO, drive mode, focus mode or white balance.

Quick Control dial
Turn the Quick Control dial to set exposure compensation, or the aperture when shooting in Manual mode. Like the Main dial, it can also change a setting after you've pressed a button.

Multi-controller
The multi-controller is a small joystick that moves in eight directions and can also be pressed in. Use it to move the focus point, navigate menus and the Quick Control screen, and move around a magnified image during playback.

M-Fn button
Press the M-Fn button, then turn the Main dial to quickly change ISO, drive mode, focus operation, white balance or flash exposure compensation.

AF-ON button
Pressing AF-ON focuses the camera, the same as pressing the shutter button halfway.

LOCK button
The LOCK button stops settings being changed if you knock the dials, joystick or touchscreen by accident. Press it again to unlock.

INFO button
Each press of the INFO button changes how much information is shown on the screen or in the viewfinder.

Menu operations and settings

  1. Press MENU to open the menu.

  2. Press Q to move between the main tabs.

  3. Turn the Main dial to move between the pages within a tab.

  4. Turn the Quick Control dial to select an item and press SET.

  5. Choose an option (the current setting shows in blue) and press SET to confirm.

  6. Press MENU to return to shooting.

A greyed-out item means another setting is overriding it.

Quick Control
Press Q to bring up the most-used settings on one screen. Select a setting with the joystick and change it with the dials. It's the fastest way to adjust settings without going into the full menu.

Touchscreen operation
Tap the screen to select settings and menu items, and drag your finger to scroll. You can also tap the Q icon on screen to open Quick Control.

Inserting and removing memory cards
The camera holds two SD cards; Card 1 is the slot nearest the back. Insert the card with the label facing you until it clicks. To remove it, switch the camera off, wait for the access light to go out, then push the card in gently to release it. Never open the card door while the access light is on.

Screenshot 2026-09-30 at 17.43.35.png
Screenshot 2026-09-30 at 17.43.52.png
Screenshot 2026-09-30 at 17.44.34.png
Screenshot 2026-09-30 at 17.44.45.png

Basic Zone

In the Basic Zone modes, the camera sets everything automatically. You just point and shoot.

A+ Scene Intelligent Auto Fully automatic. The camera reads the scene, chooses the best settings and adjusts focus for still or moving subjects. You can also tap a face on the screen to focus on it. The focus point turns green when a still subject is sharp, and blue when it's tracking a moving one.

Special Scene modes (SCN) Turn the Mode dial to SCN, then choose the scene that matches what you're photographing.

Portrait Blurs the background so the person stands out, and makes skin and hair look softer. For the best effect, leave plenty of space between your subject and the background, zoom in, and make sure the focus point is on the face.

Group Photo Keeps everyone in focus, from the front row to the back. Zoom out towards the wide end and take a few shots, as someone will usually blink.

Landscape Keeps everything sharp from near to far, with vivid blues and greens. Zoom out to the wide end. The flash is not available in this mode.

Panoramic Shot Creates one wide image from a series of shots. Hold the shutter button all the way down and move the camera steadily in the direction of the arrow on screen.

Sports For moving subjects. The camera tracks the subject and shoots continuously while you hold the shutter button down. The focus point turns blue while it's tracking.

Kids For active, fast-moving children. It tracks movement, shoots continuously and gives vibrant skin tones.

Panning Follow a moving subject with the camera as you shoot. The subject stays sharp while the background blurs, giving a sense of speed.

Close-up For small subjects such as flowers or objects. Use a simple background, get as close as the lens allows, and zoom in.

Food Makes food look bright and appetising, and reduces the orange tinge from indoor lighting. You can adjust the colour tone warmer or cooler.

Night Portrait For people against a night-time background. This mode needs an external flash, and a tripod is recommended.

Handheld Night Scene For night scenes without a tripod. The camera takes four shots and combines them into one to reduce blur. The flash is not available in this mode.

HDR Backlight Control For scenes with a bright background, such as a person in front of a window. The camera takes three shots at different exposures and combines them, so shadow detail isn't lost.

Silent Shutter Takes pictures with no shutter sound or beeps. Useful at events and in quiet settings. Continuous shooting and flash are not available, and fast-moving subjects may look distorted.

Creative Filters Applies effects as you shoot, which you can preview on screen first. The options include Grainy black and white, Soft focus, Fish-eye, Water painting, Toy camera, Miniature and HDR art. RAW files are not available in this mode.

Creative Zone

In the Creative Zone modes, you choose the settings yourself, which gives you more control over how your pictures look.

Fv: Flexible-Priority AE You choose which of shutter speed, aperture and ISO to set yourself and which to leave on Auto, and you can add exposure compensation. It can work like P, Tv, Av or M depending on what you set, so it's a flexible all-in-one mode once you're confident.

P: Program AE The camera sets the shutter speed and aperture for you, but unlike A+ you stay in control of things like focus area and white balance. To change the combination the camera has chosen, press the shutter button halfway and turn the Main dial.

Tv: Shutter-Priority AE You set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture. A fast shutter speed freezes movement, while a slow one blurs it. If the aperture value blinks, the picture will be too dark or too bright, so adjust the shutter speed or ISO until it stops.

Av: Aperture-Priority AE You set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed. A low f-number (such as f/2.8) blurs the background, which is ideal for headshots. A higher f-number keeps more of the scene in focus, which is better for groups. If the shutter speed blinks, adjust the aperture or ISO until it stops.

M: Manual Exposure You set both the shutter speed and the aperture: the Main dial sets shutter speed and the Quick Control dial sets aperture. Use the exposure level indicator on screen to check whether your picture will be too dark or too bright. If ISO is set to Auto, the camera will still adjust brightness for you.

B: Bulb (long exposures) The shutter stays open for as long as you hold the button down. It's used for night scenes and fireworks and needs a tripod, so you're unlikely to need it for RCN work.