40D tips and tricks...

Plan-B wrote in post #3885822
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?

You have answered your own question correctly!
The purpose and benefit of C.Fn. 4-1/3 is better control of both focusing and exposure metering.

TomPierce wrote in post #3883362
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

Nice one Tom...

Jon

TomPierce wrote in post #3883362
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

I dont exactly remember where it is in the menu (but i dont believe its a custom function) You can change the info button to show this information after only pressing it once (i hated having to press it twice everytime, and ive been used to keeping an eye on my settings via the LCD screen like on the 400D)

I'm at work right now, but if i can find out exactly how to change this ill post it. (or someone else at home with there cam can comfirm it )

You can make the "set" button (button inside the large wheel) a custom setting. Right now I have mine as the menu button since reaching to the top for the actual menu button is not easy to me.

The 40D might not offer much more than the 30D in its ability to take pictures but the flexibility it gives you to customize your camera is worth the upgrade to me. Being a sports photographer the extra frames per second are imprtant but I am finding the custom capabilities to be the best part ...JMO

Quick tip (obvious really), when using liveview remember to set the auto power off to a higher value or suddenly everything goes dark.

Can't wait for the grid focus screen to become avail in the UK, for me that will be a must have.

Rob.

Another use for the LCD, if you've got a scene that's a bit hard to expose you can use Live View and the live histogram to adjust the exposure for the part of the scene that's most important, then hit the exposure lock button when you're happy, then focus where ever you want to and take the picture.

To enable the live histogram use C Fn IV-7 (enable live view exposure simulation) or press the dof button in live view - also see additional notes / provisos on p 163 of the manual.

thanks