40D tips and tricks...

Okay...I assume most of us new 40D owers are rookies coming from a Rebel...

It is such a large learning curve that I thought we could post tips and tricks as we find them.

I would start off...but I have to admit I am like a dear caught in the head lights at this point.

Jon

I was actually thinking of starting a thread like this last night...

Anyways, I just made a seperate post about my question, but here it is:

"Just fooling around with the new camera, but I cannot figure out how to expand my ISO. I set the Cfn for ISO expansion, but when I spin the wheel, I can only go up to 1600, I cant seem to get the "h" to come up for 3200...

I read the manual but it didnt really give a good explanation.

What am I doing wrong? (or not doing at all?)"

CHRISTIAN

crotter wrote in post #3874533
I was actually thinking of starting a thread like this last night...

Anyways, I just made a seperate post about my question, but here it is:

"Just fooling around with the new camera, but I cannot figure out how to expand my ISO. I set the Cfn for ISO expansion, but when I spin the wheel, I can only go up to 1600, I cant seem to get the "h" to come up for 3200...

I read the manual but it didnt really give a good explanation.

What am I doing wrong? (or not doing at all?)"

CHRISTIAN

Have you got highlight priority on? ISO can only go from 200-1600 in that mode.

I was wondering .. since ive only used a 20D once or twice previously

is there a difference between the 2 ON switches? ON and __/ ?

Yes. One enables to the scroll wheel on the back to do certain things.

Yep. With the switch to "ON" the Quick Dial is essentially non-functional while shooting (it still works for menus and review). At / it's activated so you can e.g. dial in exposure compensation.

^^^ got cha .. read that part in the manual but wasnt sure still. thanks

Everyone hates reading the manual, so I want to point a couple of things out:
1. If you enable the CFII-3 (Highlight tone priority), the ISO speed range will only be 200-1600. AND the zero's will be displayed in lower case on your LCD panels, i.e. "2oo" instead of "200". Just watch, someone will claim their camera is defective because it uses little bitty zero's!
2.If you turn on the "High ISO Speed Noise REduction" , you lose the maximum burst speed (p. 156). Just watch, someone will turn this on and then say they are getting nohere near 6.5 fps!
3. If you want the 3200 ISO, you have to enable it through CF I-3, and it will show up as "H", not 3200. People have already asked.
More to come. God I hate reading these manuals!

Indeed irish...

I think it is strange that you have to use the dial instead of the wheel on the grip to change burst mode....

Love these little tips.

Harleypugs wrote in post #3880546
Indeed irish...

I think it is strange that you have to use the dial instead of the wheel on the grip to change burst mode....

Love these little tips.

I never did get used to what wheel or dial controls what function on my 30D.
one i hit the button on top it was a 50/50 chance i would move the correct wheel. now we have more choices. I will be using C1,2,3 a lot i think.

First 40D tip - Find someone who has 2 40Ds and buy one of them (Hey Harleypugs !)

Second tip - if you hit the Info button twice to get into Shooting Functions display, then any of your Focus Point / White Balance, AF/Drive or ISO/Compensation setting changes (as you make them) will be shown on the rear LCD (If you aren't in Shooting Functions the changes are only shown on the top LCD)

Tom

dave_bass5 wrote in post #3880586
I never did get used to what wheel or dial controls what function on my 30D.
one i hit the button on top it was a 50/50 chance i would move the correct wheel. now we have more choices. I will be using C1,2,3 a lot i think.

Yep, me neither. The parameter that each changed is not consistent. Changing the shooting parameters on the top of the camera (AF-WB,Drive-ISO,MeterMode-FlashPower) follows left=thumbwheel & right=fingerwheel.
Then if you go to Manual thumbwheel=aperture & fingerwheel=shuttertim​e. Opposite to all the others.

how do i make the * button focus? I know the AF ON button seems more suitable for some, but im used to the * buttons location, and there is no AF-ON button on my grip, thanks!

yup talon wrote in post #3884503
how do i make the * button focus? I know the AF ON button seems more suitable for some, but im used to the * buttons location, and there is no AF-ON button on my grip, thanks!

lol yea i got used to the * for AF on my XT that i would have my thumb there pressing it and wondering why it wouldnt focus .. i dont have a grip yet and probably wont for awhile so ill get used to the AF-ON button

yup talon wrote in post #3884503
how do i make the * button focus? I know the AF ON button seems more suitable for some, but im used to the * buttons location, and there is no AF-ON button on my grip, thanks!

Someone posted in another thread so I'm not taking credit for it. But go to Custom function IV - 2 and flip it to Enabled.

What's the purpose of having a dedicated button to focus (other than for live view)? Is it so you can control focus and metering separately so the thumb button focuses and the shutter half-press meters?