setting Custom Functions?

I wanted to shoot a local singer/songwriter on stage in a local art centre today with my 5D mark 2. Finding I needed extreme ISO'S (above the 6400 normally available) to get reasonable shutter speeds handheld, I tried and failed to set an extended high ISO. Its unheard of for me to come off ISO100 so I'm as green as grass on this.

Would be grateful if someone would talk me through how to get the H1 (ISO 12800) or H2 (ISO 25600) settings selected and then how to unselect either once I'm done to return to normal operations.

I find the instruction manual impossible to follow as usual!

Many thanks for any guidance.

Hi Richard

Not a 5D any flavour here but Googling is your friend and I found this:-

C.Fn I -3 – ISO expansion

By default the EOS 5D Mark II has an ISO range from 100 to 6400. However, switching C.Fn I -3 to option 1: ‘On’ will allow access to the expansion settings – ISO 50, ISO 12,800 and ISO 25,600, which are named L, H1 and H2 respectively.

At this site - http://cpn.canon-europe.com …om_functions_ex​plained.do where various custom functions are explained

Hope that helps and have fun with the venue/gig

Box Brownie,

Many thanks, but I can switch C.Fn 11-3 (note that its 11-3, NOT 1-3) on OK, its what to do next to get up the H1/H2 option and how to select one or the other that I am having trouble with.

It was very gloomy in there today, I thought we were due some sunny periods, but it seems not, at least not in Salisbury!

No, it's C.Fn I-3 you should switch to ON. Once that's done, you can roll through the ISO values in the normal manner, and when you do, you'll find that the list of available settings has grown in both ends.
Another way is to first press INFO as many times as you have the camera set to display the shooting information, then press the ISO button. The camera will list all possible values on the screen.

By the way, there is no C.Fn 11-3 (eleven dash three) at all. There is a C.Fn II-3, (roman two dash three), but that's highlight tone priority. It does have an effect on ISO setting too, though. With HTP enabled you can't go lower than ISO 200 and can't use the expanded settings either.

I'm looking at the 5DII manual, specifically page 191, and it clearly states that ISO Expansion is part of C.Fn I-3 with simply two options, Off (0) or On (1). It does state on page 193 where you will find the specific instructions, that if C.Fn II-3 Highlight Tone Priority is set to Enable (1) then "L", "H1", and "H2" can't be set. So check C.Fn II-3 Highlight Tone Priority and make sure it is disabled.

L = ISO 50

H1 = ISO 12800
H2 = ISO 25600

apersson850 wrote in post #16711098
No, it's C.Fn I-3 you should switch to ON. Once that's done, you can roll through the ISO values in the normal manner, and when you do, you'll find that the list of available settings has grown in both ends.
Another way is to first press INFO as many times as you have the camera set to display the shooting information, then press the ISO button. The camera will list all possible values on the screen.

By the way, there is no C.Fn 11-3 (eleven dash three) at all. There is a C.Fn II-3, (roman two dash three), but that's highlight tone priority. It does have an effect on ISO setting too, though. With HTP enabled you can't go lower than ISO 200 and can't use the expanded settings either.

Thanks, I'll try C.Fn 1-3. Curious, because its the Highlight Tone Priority that my manual refers to specifically!

But why Oh why don't Canon write their manuals properly, with full and complete instructions? It seems its written in some kind of shorthand, that only the chosen few ever understand.

I think their manuals are clear and informative. A lot of information inside.

I actually uploaded and printed a Canon A4 size manual, but its no better. Like the one that came with the camera, it still tends to assume everyone already knows what to do, so its written as if its a series of quick reminders rather than proper instructions.

Certainly seems succinct to me on page 58... They have a whole section about setting the ISO, then another section that describes the CFn settings as a reference list.

Cfn I-3 shouldn't be highlight priority, you keep going back to Cfn II - 3 for some reason? It has been stated a few times that you want Cfn I - 3.

The manual is indeed a manual, a reference of all the settings. Canon augments their manuals with a series of online whitepapers for various things like CF settings, AF, etc.

When all else fails, I use the index at the back of the manual to quickly locate things... It's google in book form.

I took the camera in to my local photo shop and Jim the manager has sorted it so that I can simply select H1 or H2 in the top plate LCD. The instructions I tried to follow do not explain that H1/H2 is only visible (and selectable) in that display. Simple soul that I am, I fully expected them to be selectable via the rear LCD unless told otherwise!

Lowner wrote in post #16713192
I took the camera in to my local photo shop and Jim the manager has sorted it so that I can simply select H1 or H2 in the top plate LCD. The instructions I tried to follow do not explain that H1/H2 is only visible (and selectable) in that display. Simple soul that I am, I fully expected them to be selectable via the rear LCD unless told otherwise!

I think Jim is wrong. Both these reviews show you can select H1 or H2 on the rear LCD with the 5D Mk II.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E5D​2/E5D2A5.HTM

Lowner wrote in post #16713192
I took the camera in to my local photo shop and Jim the manager has sorted it so that I can simply select H1 or H2 in the top plate LCD. The instructions I tried to follow do not explain that H1/H2 is only visible (and selectable) in that display. Simple soul that I am, I fully expected them to be selectable via the rear LCD unless told otherwise!

Are you sure you didn't leave Cfn II-3 in the "ON" state, and all Jim did was shut that off, and turned on Cfn I-3 to "ON"? Whatever is selectable in the top display would show up on the rear display.

Lowner wrote in post #16710914
I wanted to shoot a local singer/songwriter on stage in a local art centre today with my 5D mark 2. Finding I needed extreme ISO'S (above the 6400 normally available) to get reasonable shutter speeds handheld, I tried and failed to set an extended high ISO. Its unheard of for me to come off ISO100 so I'm as green as grass on this.

Would be grateful if someone would talk me through how to get the H1 (ISO 12800) or H2 (ISO 25600) settings selected and then how to unselect either once I'm done to return to normal operations.

I find the instruction manual impossible to follow as usual!

Many thanks for any guidance.

This is called a "learning curve".

Eventually the manual will make perfect sense. If they explained it fully and in great detail it would be a few thousand pages thick and the folks who write the guide books would be out of business!

TeamSpeed wrote in post #16713485
Are you sure you didn't leave Cfn II-3 in the "ON" state, and all Jim did was shut that off, and turned on Cfn I-3 to "ON"? Whatever is selectable in the top display would show up on the rear display.

I am sure of nothing! All I know is that I expect the manual to explain it all FULLY, even if it must be thousands of pages thick as another post claims. I never saw H1 or H2 in the rear display when I was struggling to follow the instructions I was reading.