Some 7D Questions

1) How and when should I use AE Lock ?

2) Should I disable the "Auto lightning optimizer" ? Now it's set to "strong" but in the manuel it says that it can increase noises.

3) Should I use "Landscape" instead of "Standard" in User-Def Picture Style ? It boost greens, blues, and is sharper and crispier than Standard (from the manual), I don't want the pictures to be unbalanced (And sharpness is already to +7)

4) Should I turn the High Iso Noise Reduction to Off or reduce the strenght ? (can't remember where it is)

5) How can I make HDR Picture from AEB ? (Do I have to merge them in a software ?)

6) I'm using AV w/ F/2.8. Should I use Auto ISO, or try to find the right one ? It's convenient but, I don't know if it will put iso sky-high for nothing (like in Point&Shoot Cameras)

Thanks!

1) Uh... that depends... (maybe someone can give a more elaborate answer on situations)

2) I have it off. I also have highlight tone priority off as well.

3) This only matters when you're shooting in *.jpg. Shoot in RAW and you can pic whatever style you want later with DPP (and other RAW converter/editor).

4) Again, this only matters if you're shooting in *.jpg. Shoot in RAW and you can adjust noise reduction in DPP (and other RAW converter/editor).

5) You will need a photo-editing software that will allow you to merge/process them on your laptop/desktop.

Thanks. I thought that the sharpness and noise NR affected RAW files, my Raws were noisier, so I have to apply NR from a software then !

It only affects RAW files if you open up with DPP. Canon will take the settings you set on the camera and apply the effects (reversible) on screen. You can still go into the menus/tools in DPP to change/alter the files (change picture style, WB, sharpening, etc...) before you convert it to *.jpg (or whatever you want to export as).

+7 sharpness is IMO too high

1) How and when should I use AE Lock ?
When you want to expose for something but point the camera somewhere else!
Say select center weighted, point it at a person, lock the exposure, then shift so the sun is in the frame. Otherwise the camera would meeter for the sun and under expose the person.

2) Should I disable the "Auto lightning optimizer" ? Now it's set to "strong" but in the manuel it says that it can increase noises.
I dont use it with raw sorry, prolly have it off.

3) Should I use "Landscape" instead of "Standard" in User-Def Picture Style ? It boost greens, blues, and is sharper and crispier than Standard (from the manual), I don't want the pictures to be unbalanced (And sharpness is already to +7)

I shoot raw and have my picture styelset to neutral with -4 contrast, this gives a more accurate histograme (which is a jpg processed with the picture style even for raw!)

4) Should I turn the High Iso Noise Reduction to Off or reduce the strenght ? (can't remember where it is)
Depends if your going to do NR in software later.

5) How can I make HDR Picture from AEB ? (Do I have to merge them in a software ?)
Photomatix or CS5 etc.

6) I'm using AV w/ F/2.8. Should I use Auto ISO, or try to find the right one ? It's convenient but, I don't know if it will put iso sky-high for nothing (like in Point&Shoot Cameras)

I use Auto ISO when light is iffy for shutter speed and is changing. I'd rather a nosier photo than one with blur. One is easy to fix with software...