Canon PowerShot A85: manual and user guide

A 4 MP compact with AA batteries and manual modes. Its official PDF manual, then the essentials for using it.

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Getting started

Batteries It takes 4 AA alkaline batteries or 4 Canon AA NiMH rechargeables. With the camera off, slide the cover lock, insert the batteries as shown and close. Never use a battery with a damaged wrapper.
Charging Nothing to charge with alkalines. With NiMH, the CBK4-200 charger recharges all 4 batteries together. When you first get it, leave charged batteries inside for about 4 hours: this recharges the date backup battery.
Card It uses a CompactFlash card, label facing out, pushed in until the eject button pops up. Format any new card in the camera: this erases everything.
Switching on for the first time Press ON/OFF until the green lamp lights up. The Date/Time menu opens the first time you switch on. Set the language in the Set up menu. Left without batteries for more than three weeks, it forgets its settings.
Your first photo Set the dial to Auto and frame with the zoom. Press halfway: two beeps and a green or orange lamp. Then press all the way and don’t move until you hear the shutter.

About 140 shots with the supplied alkalines, screen on (CIPA standard). With NB-2AH NiMH batteries, Canon’s tests give about 500 shots with the screen on and 1,200 using the viewfinder.
Never mix new and used batteries, or batteries of different types or brands.
In very cold weather or for a long day, Canon recommends AA NiMH batteries (NB4-200 kit) rather than alkalines.
If you put it away for a long time, take the batteries out: they can leak and damage the camera.

It offers Auto, P, Tv, Av, M, scenes (foliage, snow, beach, fireworks, underwater, indoor), stitch assist and video.
Underwater mode is designed for the WP-DC30 waterproof case, sold separately.
To save the batteries, switch off the screen and use the viewfinder. Up close, the viewfinder framing differs slightly from the photo.
Video up to 640 × 480, about 30 s per clip at that size, 3 min at 320 × 240.

Sensor: 1/2.7-inch CCD, 4 MP
Lens: 3× zoom, 35-105 mm (35 mm equivalent), f/2.8-4.8
Screen: 4.6 cm (1.8 inches), plus an optical viewfinder
Video: 640 × 480 (about 30 s per clip), 320 × 240 (3 min)
Power: 4 AA alkaline or NiMH batteries, about 140 shots on alkalines with the screen on
Card: CompactFlash Type I
Modes: Auto, P, Tv, Av, M, scenes, stitch assist, video
Weight: about 200 g, body only
Factory reset: MENU button held for more than 5 s, then OK (date, language and video system are kept)