Newbie Question- What are Custom Functions.? And how to use

[leo11877]

Hi
I am a newbie with DSLRs. Can someone tell what are custom functions and how they are used.

I aleady have searched Google but couldnt find any good articles.

Thanks
Leo.

[Jon]

They're just what they sound like - settings you can use to customize your camera to the way you work. They differ from camera to camera; some are mostly standard within a line, like Canon's CF4 which controls AF and AE lock. Others include whether to make a noise or not, whether to use 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments in adjusting settings, . . . Your best reference for what your camera has for CF is your manual. If you have questions about specific ones, feel free to ask about them. There's a thread around here about CF 4 and 13 as "must haves", for instance.

[Sam North]

Hello Leo

Custom functions enable you to set up the camera to best suit your preferences and shooting style. For example, when I use my EOS 50 I have custom functions set to leave a little of the film out (the leader) after a rewind, and to allow me to focus with the exposure lock button rather than the shutter button (very useful).

Here's the full list of custom functions on the current EOS 30V:

1. FILM REWIND SPEED
0: Low speed (silent)
1: High speed
2. FILM LEADER POSITION AFTER FILM REWIND
0: Rewinds film leader into the cartridge
1: Leaves film leader outside the cartridge
3. DX-CODED FILM SPEED SETTING METHOD
0: Enabled
1: Disabled
4. (O) SHUTTER BUTTON AND
AE LOCK BUTTON FUNCTIONS
0: (O): AF and AE start, (): AE lock
1: (O): AE lock, (): AF and AE start
2: (O): AF and AE start, (): AF stop
5. MIRROR LOCKUP
0: Disabled (Normal operation)
1: Enabled
6. SHUTTER CURTAIN SYNC W/ BUILT-IN/
EXTERNAL FLASH
0: 1st-curtain sync (Normal operation)
1: 2nd-curtain sync
7. AF-ASSIST LIGHT EMISSION/
MAIN FLASH FIRING
0: Built-in/ external flash: emits
AF-assist/ fires main flash
1: Built-in/ external flash: no AF-assist/ fires main flash
2: Built-in flash: No AF-assist, external flash:
AF-assist emitted
Built-in/external flash: fires main flash
3: Built-in/ external flash: emits AF-assist/ no main flash
8. PARTIAL METERING LINKAGE WITH
FOCUSING POINT/ FE LOCK
0: Disabled (partial metering and FE lock at centre
focusing point)
1: Enabled
9. FLASH SYNC SPEED IN
APERTURE-PRIORITY AE MODE
0: Set automatically
1: Set to 1/125 sec
10. IN-FOCUS FOCUSING POINT FLASHING
0: Enabled (superimposed)
1: Disabled
11. FOCUSING POINT SELECTION METHOD
0: Focusing point selector and keys
1: Directly with keys
2: Focusing point selector and Main/ Quick Control Dials
12. SWITCH TO CENTRE FOCUSING POINT WITH
FOCUSING POINT SELECTOR
0: Disabled
1: Enabled (starts from centre focusing point)
13. LENS AF STOP BUTTON FUNCTION
0: AF stop
1: AF start
2: AE lock during metering
3: Focusing point selection mode switching
(Auto/ Manual)
4: AF mode switching
(between One-Shot AF and AI Servo AF)
5: Start Image Stabilizer


Sam

[leo11877]

Thanks A lot
I am using a D30. I understand that I can set all CF from menu. But once I set them do I have to do something else or thats it. For eg if I have a CF for Noise Removal in Long Exposers, does it mean that for each photo this setting will be applied, or does it mean that I have to push some button before I take a photo in order to use that setting. That is my main concern. Apart from that there is an ICON on top LCD which shows CFn what is the meaning of that.

Thanks
LEO

[Jon]

Once you set a custom function, it will stay on until you clear it. This is something to be wary of if you use the Mirror Lockup function. Your D30 will apply the noise reduction custom function (in your example) whenever you take a long exposure. The CF 4 for the AF and AE lock will always work that way until you change it. The CF display on the top LCD is just a reminder that you have set one or more custom functions. They should show up when you press the "Info" button.