EOS 10D Camera Settings by Chuck Westfall

[Scottes]

Just stumbled across this...

Tips for the 10D Setting, by Chuck Westfall (Director of Technical Operations for Canon - or something like that).

http://www.cps.canon-europe.com/articles/products/eos10D/settings.jsp

How often do we re-read the manul? I haven't in two months. Even more important, how often do you understand it enough to put some things together?


What I just learned while waiting for coffee (Chuck's choice in Red):

Custom Function 3: Flash sync speed in Av mode
0: Auto
1: 1/200 sec. (fixed)

Use option 0 for fill-flash in low light. Option 1 works well for wedding candids in low light. Side note: Option 1 shuts off the camera's exposure meter, and can cause massive overexposure if used in bright daylight. Be Careful!


Custom Function 14: Auto reduction of fill flash
0: Enable
1: Disable

This one has also been around for years with previous high-end EOS cameras dating back to the 1N. I still strongly recommend option 1 for anybody who wants to set their own flash exposure compensation settings. It's especially effective for backlit fill-flash portraits.


So I learned that if I want to do fill-flash in bright light and change FEC then I have to set CF 3 to 0, and CF 14 to 1.

Given that I had BOTH options the other way, I'm glad I saw this since I was planning to do some fill-flash trials tomorrow.


Another great tip - and I haven't even read it all yet:

Custom Function 1: SET button function when shooting
0: Default (no function)
1: Change quality
2: Change parameters
3: Menu display
4: Image replay

For most pros, option 1 is the best choice because it lets you change image quality settings (RAW or JPEG) using the top LCD data panel, which is much easier to see in bright daylight than the LCD monitor.

And I was going to do some more birds-in-flight tomorrow, I was thinking about trying JPG Large Fine since many say it writes to the CF card so much faster. Yet I usually shoot RAW in case (when) I screw up the shot, so the ability to flip back and forth easily is nice.

[slejhamer]

Great reference. I've seen it before, but it's good to review it once in a while - just like the manual. :D Thanks for posting.

[maderito]

Scottes - Great link. Someone here once recommended that we have a "best custom functions" thread that never really got very far. Westfall's guide is much more useful.

I immediately focused on this one -- which has always confused me (and it still does) although I now understand why one would make his choice, #3.


CF 04: Shutter button/AE lock button
0: AF/AE lock
1: AE lock/AF
2: AF/AF lock, no AE lock
3: AE/AF, no AE lock

This is the same Custom Function that most long-time EOS shooters have used since the days of the EOS 630 and the original EOS-1 back in 1989. The variety of settings has expanded over the years, but as always the right choice is a matter of personal taste. I now prefer option 3, which lets the ambient metering continue to update in real time while I recompose the scene.

[Scottes]

I immediately focused on this one -- which has always confused me (and it still does) although I now understand why one would make his choice, #3.

CF 04: Shutter button/AE lock button


Well, I'm *still* confused by this one.

Care to explain this more?

[maderito]

I immediately focused on this one -- which has always confused me (and it still does) although I now understand why one would make his choice, #3.

CF 04: Shutter button/AE lock button


Well, I'm *still* confused by this one.

Care to explain this more?
Yea ... I thought I had it figured out. Not sure.

His CF4: #3 recommendation seems to work as follows:

- Press shutter button 1/2: exposure metering activated and changes as you compose various parts of the scene.

- Press the AE lock button: focus is locked and metering continues.

Thus you're using the AE lock button to lock the focus, not the exposure (the opposite of its normal use). Might be appropriate for landscapes when you want to lock the focus near a hyperfocal distance but cotinue to meter the scene as you compose.

I think I have that right -- corrections/additions welcomed!

[Scottes]

Yea ... I thought I had it figured out. Not sure.

His CF4: #3 recommendation seems to work as follows:


Nope, doesn't help. Nor did reading the section in the manual, as well as CF17. CF4 just seems to talk about AI Focus in the manual...

I'm confused, and hoping that this function isn't The One Thing that would make me the World's Greatest Photographer. :)

[maderito]

I'm confused, and hoping that this function isn't The One Thing that would make me the World's Greatest Photographer. :)
Keep working on those Canadian Geese shots. I'm sure you're develop a devoted following. :P

Re: CF 04:

The default #0 is what we're used to doing - Pressing the shutter button commits focus and exposure. If you want to commit a different exposure, use the AE lock button (at any time) to lock a different exposure while maintaining focus or refocusing with the shutter button. This mode is compatible with "focus and recompose."

In One Shot mode, option #3 works as I've suggested: Pressing the shutter button activates exposure metering. Pressing the AE lock button locks the focus while metering continues. You can refocus again and again by hitting the AE button.

I don't know about AI Servo mode. I use it frequently but I haven't played with these CF 04 options while in AI Servo. Perhaps you can experiment on those geese that seem to fly by your way so often. :)

I'm retiring from this thread until I have time on the weekend to experiment.

[Scottes]

Perhaps you can experiment on those geese that seem to fly by your way so often.

Don't tell anyone, but here's my secret: I just threaten to send them to IanD and they pose for me. :)

For the geese & gulls and flying stuff, I use AI Servo, center focus-point only, partial exposure. After a couple/few pictures I do a histogram check, adjust EC, and start blasting like a madman.

For a relatively dark bird against a relatively bright sky there's no real need to change - the exposure will only change if the bird is very far or very close.

So I don't think that this AE lock even has a place in this type of shooting.


But I too am off this subject until I learn some more and experiment.

If anyone has the answer and logical scenario(s) I'm willing to listen though....

[PacAce]

I'm confused, and hoping that this function isn't The One Thing that would make me the World's Greatest Photographer. :)
Keep working on those Canadian Geese shots. I'm sure you're develop a devoted following. :P

Re: CF 04:

The default #0 is what we're used to doing - Pressing the shutter button commits focus and exposure. If you want to commit a different exposure, use the AE lock button (at any time) to lock a different exposure while maintaining focus or refocusing with the shutter button. This mode is compatible with "focus and recompose."

In One Shot mode, option #3 works as I've suggested: Pressing the shutter button activates exposure metering. Pressing the AE lock button locks the focus while metering continues. You can refocus again and again by hitting the AE button.

I don't know about AI Servo mode. I use it frequently but I haven't played with these CF 04 options while in AI Servo. Perhaps you can experiment on those geese that seem to fly by your way so often. :)

I'm retiring from this thread until I have time on the weekend to experiment.

Your explanation holds true for AI Servo and AI Focus, as well. So, if you use AI Servo and want to keep tracking a moving subject, you have to keep your thumb on the "*" button if you have CF04 set to 3.

I tried shooting this way once but after a while of holding the "*" button with my thumb while in AI Servo mode, I found the my thumb was starting to hurt so I gave up on it. Even when not in AI Servo mode, pressing the "*" button every time I wanted to focus on something just put too much trauma on my poor thumb. :(

[rodbunn]

About CF14= O..... leave it at 1 ALL THE TIME.... Especially if you
are outdoors in bright daylight, with CF14 set to 0 it's almost
impossible to get the subject filled at the right exposure. Even
if you crank the 550ex up as far over as you can, it's hard to get
the right fill with CF14=0.
I tested the 10D indoors and I couldn't see any difference with CF14 set to
1 or 0 inside so I leave it at 1 allways.

The above is only with the 550ex in my case...

Rod

[slejhamer]

For the geese & gulls and flying stuff, I use AI Servo, center focus-point only, partial exposure.

(Off topic, slightly): To track a moving subject, you might want to try using all seven AF points. When in AI Servo mode, focus will initiate with the center point. But, if your subject moves to a different AF point, the camera will track it (I think they call this "predictive AF" ?) It's a nifty tool, but only works when you have all 7 points active. This is the only time I find it useful to use all seven.

(Back on topic): The custom function 04-3 simply allows you to set exposure at the last moment, when the shutter is pressed. This is useful if the light is changing as you track your subject.

Also, don't forget that if you change the * to AF instead of AE lock, you must also set CFn 13 to 4 if you want to use FEL (which will now be done with the Assist button.)

[Tom W]

Thanks for the link, Scottes. I believe that CF-14 may have been helpful for me when I shot flash with extreme back-lit subjects. I suspect that the camera went into auto-fill flash mode and reduced output. I've since disabled that feature.

[Scottes]

For the geese & gulls and flying stuff, I use AI Servo, center focus-point only, partial exposure.

(Off topic, slightly): To track a moving subject, you might want to try using all seven AF points. When in AI Servo mode, focus will initiate with the center point. But, if your subject moves to a different AF point, the camera will track it (I think they call this "predictive AF" ?) It's a nifty tool, but only works when you have all 7 points active. This is the only time I find it useful to use all seven.

I didn't have much luck with all 7, so I'm sticking to center until i get a bit better.


(Back on topic): The custom function 04-3 simply allows you to set exposure at the last moment, when the shutter is pressed. This is useful if the light is changing as you track your subject.

Exposure is set once you hit the shutter halfway, of course. But what you're saying implies that normally the same exposure is kept during the entire tracking session??? ???


Correct me where I'm wrong:
So, normally ie; by default, I see a bird flying across empty blue sky at dawn and I press halfway and exposure sets, and I start blasting. But in frame 3 he flies in front of some dark trees in shade, and now exposure will be incorrect. Then in frame 6 he flies up in front of a cloud and exposure is again incorrect. And finally in frame 9 he flies right in front of me, the sun lighting him beautifully from beneath, but again the exposure is incorrect since it is still stuck at the "empty blue sky" setting when I first saw him??? ??? ???

[slejhamer]

Exposure is set once you hit the shutter halfway, of course. But what you're saying implies that normally the same exposure is kept during the entire tracking session??? ???




Sorry if I was confusing.

What you have said is correct for one-shot mode with the default setting (C.Fn-04-0.)

In AI Servo mode, however, I believe pressing the shutter half-way will get the focus tracking going but exposure is not set until you press the shutter all the way. From your post it sounds like this is what you are doing.

But now you might be thinking, hmmm, that sounds like what he said C.Fn-04-3 does? Well yes. Of course, with 04-3 you are using the * to set focus. But it's similar in the result.

For those who prefer the added control of using the * to set focus when in one-shot mode, C.Fn-04-03 becomes more natural when using AI Servo than reverting back to the default method of holding down the shutter. Just a different way to skin the cat, really.

Sorry, this is not going to be the magic bullet you were looking for. But if you are getting good shots with what you are doing, keep at it! :)

[PacAce]

Exposure is set once you hit the shutter halfway, of course. But what you're saying implies that normally the same exposure is kept during the entire tracking session??? ???




Sorry if I was confusing.

What you have said is correct for one-shot mode with the default setting (C.Fn-04-0.)

In AI Servo mode, however, I believe pressing the shutter half-way will get the focus tracking going but exposure is not set until you press the shutter all the way. From your post it sounds like this is what you are doing.

But now you might be thinking, hmmm, that sounds like what he said C.Fn-04-3 does? Well yes. Of course, with 04-3 you are using the * to set focus. But it's similar in the result.

For those who prefer the added control of using the * to set focus when in one-shot mode, C.Fn-04-03 becomes more natural when using AI Servo than reverting back to the default method of holding down the shutter. Just a different way to skin the cat, really.

Sorry, this is not going to be the magic bullet you were looking for. But if you are getting good shots with what you are doing, keep at it! :)

The exposure is ALWAYS set at the moment you full press the shutter button. The only time exposure is locked is when the "*" is set to AE lock and you press that button before releasing the shutter. Or when CF-04 is set to 1 in which case, the exposure is set when the shutter button is half-pressed the first time.

Just did an experiment and it turns out that in AI Servo mode, the exposure is recalculated for each frame when shooting in burst mode. In one shot mode, the exposure set for the first frame is used for all the other frames in the burst.

[PacAce]

Hmmm. I just did another experiment and, to my surprise, when the camera is set to one shot mode, pressing the shutter button halfway locks the exposure! :shock: Now I KNOW that's not how it behaved before they upgraded my firmware to 2.0.1. I always had to use the "*" button to lock the exposure when I wanted to expose at the certain spot and then recompose the frame. Now, the exposure just locks in so I can recompose the frame without even pressing the "*" button.

At this point I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I'll have to think about it before sending an email off to Canon tech support about this new "enhancement".

OK, just checked the manual and it looks like that's how it's supposed to behave. :? Oh, well!

[maderito]

For those of you planning to shoot an NCAA tournament game, here's Sports Illustrated guide on how to set up your camera and its custom functions. (They're a bit different that Mr. Westfall's.)

- On how to set up the 10D: http://www.siphoto.com/?canon10D.inc

- On other issues/topics: http://www.siphoto.com/

And don't forget to post your pics back here. :P

[slejhamer]

The exposure is ALWAYS set at the moment you full press the shutter button.
Hmmm. I just did another experiment and, to my surprise, when the camera is set to one shot mode, pressing the shutter button halfway locks the exposure! :shock:

PacAce, as you later found out, your first statement is incorrect. Just to clarify, when using the default of C.Fn-04-0 with one-shot mode, pressing the shutter halfway sets exposure lock but only if you are using evaluative metering.

The appeal of C.Fn-04-1 and 04-3 is that you can lock focus on your subject, recompose, and then use evaluative metering for the scene, without locking AE at the selected AF point.

[Someone yawns and says, ' who cares? I use partial all the time ...' ]
;)

[TonyKInTexas]

Thanks. I just changed CF 1 and CF 14 (CF 3 was already set).

Just stumbled across this...

Tips for the 10D Setting, by Chuck Westfall (Director of Technical Operations for Canon - or something like that).

http://www.cps.canon-europe.com/articles/products/eos10D/settings.jsp

...

[PacAce]

The exposure is ALWAYS set at the moment you full press the shutter button.
Hmmm. I just did another experiment and, to my surprise, when the camera is set to one shot mode, pressing the shutter button halfway locks the exposure! :shock:

PacAce, as you later found out, your first statement is incorrect. Just to clarify, when using the default of C.Fn-04-0 with one-shot mode, pressing the shutter halfway sets exposure lock but only if you are using evaluative metering.

The appeal of C.Fn-04-1 and 04-3 is that you can lock focus on your subject, recompose, and then use evaluative metering for the scene, without locking AE at the selected AF point.

[Someone yawns and says, ' who cares? I use partial all the time ...' ]
;)

Thanks, slejhamer. Just as soon as you think you've got the hang of how things work with the 10D, you go and change one parameter and all of sudden, it's all bets off. Hmm, seems like we should have a list of "This is how the 10D works except when you do this or change that"! :)

[dennykyser]

Great links and post, very helpful.
Denny

[Scottes]

Just as soon as you think you've got the hang of how things work with the 10D, you go and change one parameter and all of sudden, it's all bets off. Hmm, seems like we should have a list of "This is how the 10D works except when you do this or change that"! :)

Just when you think you know what's going on another piece of info comes in and crumbles everything. Once again I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm gonna put it in "P" mode and just shoot.... :(

[PacAce]

Just as soon as you think you've got the hang of how things work with the 10D, you go and change one parameter and all of sudden, it's all bets off. Hmm, seems like we should have a list of "This is how the 10D works except when you do this or change that"! :)

Just when you think you know what's going on another piece of info comes in and crumbles everything. Once again I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm gonna put it in "P" mode and just shoot.... :(

Hey, nothing wrong with the "p" mode. I used it a lot myself. You just have to understand how it functions and where its weaknesses are so that when the occassion calls for it, you can switch out of P mode and use a more appropriate mode. Each mode has its purpose and, as far as I'm concerned, to say that one should only shoot in this mode or that mode, to me, is ludicrous.

[Tom W]

Just as soon as you think you've got the hang of how things work with the 10D, you go and change one parameter and all of sudden, it's all bets off. Hmm, seems like we should have a list of "This is how the 10D works except when you do this or change that"! :)

Just when you think you know what's going on another piece of info comes in and crumbles everything. Once again I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm gonna put it in "P" mode and just shoot.... :(

Hey, nothing wrong with the "p" mode. I used it a lot myself. You just have to understand how it functions and where its weaknesses are so that when the occassion calls for it, you can switch out of P mode and use a more appropriate mode. Each mode has its purpose and, as far as I'm concerned, to say that one should only shoot in this mode or that mode, to me, is ludicrous.

I'm actually starting to think that I should put the camera in "P" mode when I shut it off - just for the simple reason that it is ready to shoot when I turn it on. Maybe "P" stands for "Park", just like on a car.

[TonyKInTexas]

I put mine in Tv mode and work from there when I shut down.


I'm actually starting to think that I should put the camera in "P" mode when I shut it off - just for the simple reason that it is ready to shoot when I turn it on. Maybe "P" stands for "Park", just like on a car.

[Tom W]

I put mine in Tv mode and work from there when I shut down.



Actually, I'm more of an aperture-priority person (and I'm not sure if there's some hidden Freudian meaning there, but lets assume there is NOT) - that's where I use my camera the most. But, in the interest of not leaving the camera in "Manual" "Bulb" mode (yes, I did that once), or f/2.0 or f/22 when I shut it off, I'm thinking along the lines of making the camera as automatic and ready as possible upon shutdown just in case I have to pick it up and shoot quickly.

Maybe a checklist is in order, at least until I learn to check everything out at shutdown (and maybe startup).

[MediaMagic]

I shoot mostly AV mode as well, and I always drop the camera into P mode when I shut it off too. The one that kills me every time though, and I think I'll have to get a tatoo on the inside of my eyelids as a reminder, is the mirror lock. I always forget to turn it off, and worse, forgot I used it the day before (or earlier that day... whatever the case may be). My heart stops momentarily as the viewfinder freezes black, until that fraction of a second passes and I realize that it isn't a broken shutter, it's just me, yet again playing a practical joke on myself with the mirror lock up.



I put mine in Tv mode and work from there when I shut down.



Actually, I'm more of an aperture-priority person (and I'm not sure if there's some hidden Freudian meaning there, but lets assume there is NOT) - that's where I use my camera the most. But, in the interest of not leaving the camera in "Manual" "Bulb" mode (yes, I did that once), or f/2.0 or f/22 when I shut it off, I'm thinking along the lines of making the camera as automatic and ready as possible upon shutdown just in case I have to pick it up and shoot quickly.

Maybe a checklist is in order, at least until I learn to check everything out at shutdown (and maybe startup).

[Scottes]

The one that kills me every time though, and I think I'll have to get a tatoo on the inside of my eyelids as a reminder, is the mirror lock.

ROFLMAO

I one spent over an hour with my camera thinking it was busted because the shutter wouldn't close. Finally it hit me that I had MLU enabled. DOH!

[nosquare2003]

The appeal of C.Fn-04-1 and 04-3 is that you can lock focus on your subject, recompose, and then use evaluative metering for the scene, without locking AE at the selected AF point.

[Someone yawns and says, ' who cares? I use partial all the time ...' ]
;)

Slejhamer, this is a good description. Well, C.Fn 04-3 is very useful for lock focus and recompose when using FLASH.

[CyberDyneSystems]

ARTHUR MORRIS ON USING AI SERVO AND C.FN-04 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=28314)