30 Steps to the Ultimate Canon PowerShot V1 Setup

I have a fresh-from-the-factory Canon PowerShot V1 in my hands, and it is time to set it up. I use the following steps to prepare a factory-initialized V1 for use.

1. Record serial number, and add camera to the insurance policy
2. Open the box, find the battery, insert it into camera, plug the camera into a USB-C cable that supports (Power Delivery), and connect the cable to a power adapter.
3. Consider downloading and installing the latest Canon imaging software to gain support for the latest camera model(s). Canon Digital Photo Pro (DPP), EOS Utility, and Lens Registration Utility are the options I install.
4. Insert a memory card (we'll format the card in a later step), and power the camera on.
5. The date, time, and time zone setup display will show at the first startup. Use the rear control dial and set button to update this information.
6. If your PowerShot V1 arrives with the wrong language selected, navigate to the second tools tab and select the second menu option on the list.
7. The camera will prompt to connect your phone running the Canon Connect App. Follow the prompts as desired.
8. Set the camera's mode to Av, Tv, or M (some modes may provide only a subset of available menu options) and press the menu button.
9. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Image quality: Use the lens ring to set RAW to "RAW", and use the rear direction keys or dial to set JPEG to "-" (RAW image files provide the highest quality and are especially valuable for post-processing work)
10. Shooting Menu, Tab 3: Picture Style: Neutral with Sharpness = 1 (Note: the low contrast "Neutral" picture style provides a histogram that best shows the available dynamic range. I usually change the Picture Style to "Standard" in DPP after capture.)
11. Shooting Menu, Tab 4: White balance: AWB W (White) (I seldom use another white balance setting while shooting stills, though I often adjust white balance as needed during post-processing)
12. Shooting Menu, Tab 4: High ISO speed NR: Low (noise reduction is destructive to images details, so I prefer to add noise reduction sparingly during post-processing)
13. Shooting Menu, Tab 6: Image review: Review duration: 4 sec. (the Viewfinder review option is disabled by default, speeding the shooting process)
14. Shooting Menu, Tab 7: Shooting info. disp.: Screen info. settings: Edit screen 2 to show only: Basic shooting info and Electronic level; edit screen 3 to show only: Basic shooting info, Histogram, and Electronic level
15. Shooting Menu, Tab 7: Shooting info. disp.: Grid display: 3x3 (sometimes the 3x3 grid is helpful for alignment checking while not complicating the view)
16. Shooting Menu, Tab 7: Shooting info. disp.: Histogram disp: RGB, Small (show the brightness levels of each channel separately and do not let the graph to take up much space in the display as it can affect the perceived composition)
17. AF Menu, Tab 2: Subject to detect: Select Auto, People, Animals, Vehicles, or No priority as makes sense for your current shooting scenario
18. AF Menu, Tab 2: Preview AF: Disable
19. AF Menu, Tab 3: MF peaking settings: On
20. Playback Menu, Tab 4: Highlight alert: Enable
21. Set-up Menu, Tab 1: Format card (always format a memory card in-camera before using it — all data on the card will be lost)
22. Set-up Menu, Tab 1: Auto Rotate: On computer (images are properly rotated when viewed on a computer, but are always oriented to fill the LCD when viewed on the camera)
23. Set-up Menu, Tab 2: Feature guide: Disable (novices may appreciate this feature)
24. Set-up Menu, Tab 2: Beep: Disable
25. Set-up Menu, Tab 5: Power saving: Screen dimmer: Disable (I found the dimmer annoying — the LCD is as useful off as dimmed)
26. Set-up Menu, Tab 5: Power saving: Screen Off: Disable
27. Set-up Menu, Tab 5: Power saving: Auto power off: Disable (the focal length is reset when the camera powers off, highly annoying when carefully composing a scene (or test chart))
28. Set-up Menu, Tab 6: Custom shooting mode (C1-C3): Auto uodate set.: Enable (saves changes made to C modes
29. Custom Functions Menu, Tab 2: Default Erase option: [Erase] selected
30. My Menu: Add My Menu 1; Register your most-used menu options, such as Format card

I make additional menu and other setting changes based on current shooting scenarios, especially for video, but this list covers my initial camera setup process.

To copy this configuration means you intend to shoot as I do, including in RAW-only format. While this setup works optimally for me, you should adjust the camera setup to your needs.

If you can't remember your menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a great idea. Anytime the camera is set to the factory state, such as when serviced or when acquiring an additional camera, the list will ensure all settings are quickly re-established.

More Information

Canon PowerShot V1 Review.

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