40D Custom Functions - What do you use & why?

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GaryK26

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Gary
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Sorry if this has been discussed a million times before, but being a reltive noob to TP, I'd like to know what custom functions you use on the 40D and why.

Personally, I only use the re-assignment of AF (mapping it to the * button).
My reason being that I tend to keep AF on the centre point and tend to recompose after having focused on the main subject. Obviously, if I had the default AF on the shutter half press, recomposing would cause focus to switch to whatever is in the centre when pressing the shutter release.

However, I did get caught out a few times when I first switched AF to *, especially if I didn't shoot anything for a couple of weeks. There's me thinking something must be wrong with the camera or the lens :bonk:

Anyway, please share your custom setup and the reason / advantages.

Cheers
Gary
 
one of mine is set to p mode ai servo hspeed shoot..basically a setting that allows me to quickly set up in case somethings happens, the unexpected
 
Not sure what you are saying is right
If you half press the shutter it will lock both exposure and focus until you complete the press.
Changing the * button a button I find useful as it will lock your exposure only and you can reframe your shot and focus but keeping your exposure.
Unless I have miss read your post that is.
 
Chaz Photos said:
Not sure what you are saying is right
If you half press the shutter it will lock both exposure and focus until you complete the press.
Changing the * button a button I find useful as it will lock your exposure only and you can reframe your shot and focus but keeping your exposure.
Unless I have miss read your post that is.
Click to expand...

Sorry, you didn't misread - I didn't put my case across particularly well. Your point is perfectly valid.
What I didn't say was that I feel much more "in control" using a seperate button to AF. So, I compose the shot, AF with *, recompose, and finally take the shot (ok, I accept that exposure is a kind of missing link in that and maybe I need to re-evaluate my setup)
 
Seems chaz has lost his mind with both them posts :lol:

I mainly just c1 and c2, c1 is set up up for portrait work, so av with low f number, 320 ISO one shot focus etc.

c2 is for high speed shots, so high speed shooting, 1600 ISO and ai servo.

c3 is, well im not sure to be honest :D
 
I was more referring to individual custom functions rather than C1, C2 and C3 (maybe I have got the wrong terminology with "Custom Function").
Sure, C1 etc is a really useful feature, but having tried assigning them myself I keep forgetting what wach one is setup for!
 
c1, c2, c3 are the customer functions. That's what the c is, custom. Now im in 2 minds here as chaz posted below the c means creative.
 
GaryK26 said:
I was more referring to individual custom functions rather than C1, C2 and C3 (maybe I have got the wrong terminology with "Custom Function").
Sure, C1 etc is a really useful feature, but having tried assigning them myself I keep forgetting what wach one is setup for!
Click to expand...

No your right It is custom function that is why it on menu as C.Fn and C1 and C2 are creative settings We know what we are talking about :thumbs:
 
RKC said:
one of mine is set to p mode ai servo hspeed shoot..basically a setting that allows me to quickly set up in case somethings happens, the unexpected
Click to expand...

Interesting idea.
I've missed shots because I've been faffing around selecting AI Servo.
Looks like I also need to consider some customs settings.
 
I've just been playing with the custom settings on my 40D.
I'd never given it any thought before reading this thread and it makes perfect sense.
When I am out and about and spot a bird of prey, choosing a custom setting via the dial is more ideal that changing settings recompose only to find the little b****r has flown off!
My excuse for this awakening is that I am old :D

GaryK26, thanks for starting this thread :)
 
Although as I stated earlier, the original idea behind the thread was to see what custom functions TP'ers use, I have to agree with hashcake that RKC's use of C1 is an excellent idea :thumbs:. I shall certainly be setting up one of the C options with AI Servo.
 
Chaz Photos said:
No your right It is custom function that is why it on menu as C.Fn and C1 and C2 are creative settings We know what we are talking about :thumbs:
Click to expand...

yeh i got it wrong :D

GaryK26 said:
Although as I stated earlier, the original idea behind the thread was to see what custom functions TP'ers use, I have to agree with hashcake that RKC's use of C1 is an excellent idea :thumbs:. I shall certainly be setting up one of the C options with AI Servo.
Click to expand...

sorry for messing up your thread :$ still some good came of it :thumbs:
 
Now I've got some time over the winter (yeah, right) I'm going to play around with the custom functions on my 1D more. At the moment all I have got set up is * as the AF button rather than half shutter press.
 
What I've set on mine:

- AF activated by AF-ON button rear - takes getting used to be best change I've made. Lens is MF until button pushed.
- Swap * and AF-ON rear button functions - allows AF activation with grip when held in portrait
- AF point selection on joystick.
- LiveView activated by Set button - only recently found a use for this
- MyMenu contains: Auto bracketing, Mirror up, Format, Sensor clean
- C3 mode dial set to ISO400, Av, f/5.6, Eval, Hi speed drive , AF servo - I can whip the dial round to the end and be set for action shots.
- Focussing screen set to EF-S
- Quality RAW

Added:
- BG-E2N grip - better balance with long lenses, extra battery
- E-1 hand strap
- Focussing screen EF-S - aids manual focussing
 
Looking at the customs functions settings on my 40D, as defualt:
C1 : AV
C2: AV
C3 :TV

I'd like to set C2 to TV and make the customs tweaks I want to use.
I've read the manual but I can't find a way to change C2 to TV?
 
Hashcake what you need to do is set the camera up exactly how you want to be stored in your customer function i.e. set the shooting mode, ISO, white balance, drive mode etc. Once you have it all set as you want, press the menu button, select the yellow spanner tool with 3 dots and then select Camera user setting. In this menu, select register. You will then be given the choice of which Mode dial you wish to assign the settings to; C1, C2 or C3. Select the one you want and then confirm.

Now, whenever you switch the dial to the C mode you selected, the settings you stored will be recalled.

HTH
 
Scarecrow said:
Hashcake what you need to do is set the camera up exactly how you want to be stored in your customer function i.e. set the shooting mode, ISO, white balance, drive mode etc. Once you have it all set as you want, press the menu button, select the yellow spanner tool with 3 dots and then select Camera user setting. In this menu, select register. You will then be given the choice of which Mode dial you wish to assign the settings to; C1, C2 or C3. Select the one you want and then confirm.

Now, whenever you switch the dial to the C mode you selected, the settings you stored will be recalled.

HTH
Click to expand...

D'oh!
I have been selecting the custom settings on the dial, making the adjustments then saving them.
I did *think* to chose the mode I wanted to use then make the tweaks.
I'm kicking myself now because throughout the ownership of my 450D, I was forever kicking myself for missing the shot and the solution was obvious lol.
Cheers scarecrow ;)
 
just to show i now understand the original post :lol:

AF activated by AF-ON button rear
AF point selection on joystick. brilliant move for me

My Menu
Auto bracketing-use this a lot
Mirror lock up

C1 p/mode ai servo highspeed shoot- as said before to cover the unexpected
 
Oops, got my facts slightly wrong :amstupid:.....
I dont use * for AF, I use the AF-ON button next to it. Does that make more sense?
 
GaryK26 said:
Oops, got my facts slightly wrong :amstupid:.....
I dont use * for AF, I use the AF-ON button next to it. Does that make more sense?
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol::lol::agree: glad i am not the only one that got it wrong ;):D
 
Excellent thread :clap:
I had the following set up for me on my 40D by a member here, moomike, thanks really handy I use them all the time
AF activated by AF-ON button rear

- AF point selection on joystick.

until i read this I was still not sure how to set up the c modes thanks scarecrow will give them a go

I also use the HTP a lot and have the live veiw set to the mode button
Pete
 
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