AE/AF Lock - 10D

I'm spending this rather ugly, overcast day by slowly wading through the manual for my new 10D, and I'm running into a couple of questions.

Let's start with AF/AE lock. I'm following the manual, and I can figure out how to use it one shot at a time, but is there a way, other than going to full manual, that I can lock the AE and AF for as many photos as I like until I "unlock" them.

E.g. - I want to take a series of photos to composite into a panoramic, I want the exposures to match, and I don't want the focus to vary because of a utility pole in front of me. I want to push a button, take a picture, and have every subsequent photo match the first until I push the button again or turn off the camera. It might take me ten or twenty minutes to get the shots I want by the time people or vehicles pass through.

At the moment I can use the "half shutter" and "*" to lock them for one shot, but it clears when the shot's taken, or when the auto off kicks in. I can extend the auto off time, but it's not really doing what I want.

As a second question, I've set C.Fn.-13-1 so I just have to press the Assist Button to bring up the registered (center) focus area. Is there an easy way to get back to having all zones active? It seems like I ought to be able to hit the assist button again to toggle back to the previous state, but no luck. I've played with C.Fn.-13-2, but my digital dexterity is taking longer than I'd like to return to me after years of point and shoots. I'm much happier with one button at a time while my eye is in the view finder.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

CB

I’ve had the same thoughts on the panoramic series; the only solution I can think of is to set the focus to MANUAL and use the MANUAL EXPOSURE mode, this should keep everything the same for each shot.

So far, I have come to the same conclusion.
Using manual mode and manual focus.

I can't believe there isn't a better method.

My nikon coolpix 950 has an AE lock mode for multiple shots until it is turned off.

SOMEONE MUST KNOW A BETTER WAY!
PLEASE HELP!

THANKS

Welcome to the world of DSLR photography! Did you notice that you can't make video clips either with the 10D?

Has anybody checked the custom functions. You may be able to lock it there. I dont have my manual with me, but check there.

Manual focus, manual settings. What's difficult about that?

Regards,

When taking a series of pictures to stitch together into a panoramic image you should use a tripod, make sure it's level in all directions, make sure the white balance is not auto, set the zoom to the optimum value, and make sure the IS is turned off. Setting the exposure and focus to manual seems a small additional effort. I also always use mirror lock in such situations, though I don't suppose it's really necessary. Again, it's just such a small additional effort.

The D60 has a CF that allows the use of the * button rather than the half-shutter to trigger Auto Focus. I have found that this is usually helpful when doing landscape work, and especially so when doing panoramas. I'm not sure the 10D has such a CF, but I'm under the impression that it does.

Yes, the 10D has a similar CF override (CFn-4).

My Suggestion would be...

Use AF to focus then switch to manual on the lens - focus lock the easy way
Then utilise the exposure lock "*" button on the back of the camera. The only problem with this solution is that you have to keep your finger on the button all the time.

hope that this helps