5D MKII - What settings / menu do you use?

swag72

swag72

Messages
7,969
Name
Sara
Edit My Images
Yes
Interested in the settings that you use with your 5D MKII. For example, picture settings - WHat do you have they set to for best results? Any menus that need to be disabled?

Thanks - I've just bitten the bullet and ordered a new 5D MKII from Kerso :gag:

Would welcome your thoughts in setting it up :thumbs:
 
You have my full support for the 5D2. Good choice, and a most excellent companion to a 7D. :)

As for settings, it depends what I'm shooting, but normally the main points would be...

- I only ever shoot raw, and normally process in Lightroom, so many settings are irrelevant for me.
- Unless you have a very good reason to be using HTP then leave it disabled.
- If shooting to JPEG I would disable ALO. If shooting raw it does not matter about this setting.
- I shoot with Neutral picture style so my in camera histogram is not artificially effed up by in camera preview processing.
- I have focusing transferred to the AF-On button only.
- I enable highlight warnings and the RGB histogram.
- I have pictures rotate on the PC but not on the camera.
- I nearly always shoot manual, with spot metering, and I check my histogram and look for blinkies.
- I'm not afraid to use the outer focus points, but if they aren't up to the task then I'll switch to centre point and manage as necessary. I will enable AF assist points when it makes sense to.

That's off the top of my head. If I think of anything else I'll update.

Happy shooting :)

p.s. the above is standard for all my cameras, including the 7D and 1D3.
 
Agree with tdodd apart from I generally use Aperture priority.
I never got on with the evaluative metering on mine, switching over to center weighted did the trick.

I use Auto ISO as it's upper limit of ISO 3200 is more than good enough for an A3 print. Forcing the ISO is a creative decision, e.g. slow shutter speed.

Get your firmware updated.
If you don't use video then you will still appreciate the DoF preview button being disabled during playback - it was regularly catching me out.

I find that if the red channel blows out (sunset, etc) then the white histogram will not show the problem; use the RGB histograms. You can tell when the red blows out because you get hints of yellow in the preview image where there should only be red; a stop less exposure sorts that out.
 
Thanks for that info Tim. I was thinking they were the settings to have disabled, like on the 7D.

Cheers Duncan - Will look out for that re exposure.
 
error sorry
 
You have my full support for the 5D2. Good choice, and a most excellent companion to a 7D. :)

As for settings, it depends what I'm shooting, but normally the main points would be...

- I only ever shoot raw, and normally process in Lightroom, so many settings are irrelevant for me.
- Unless you have a very good reason to be using HTP then leave it disabled.
- If shooting to JPEG I would disable ALO. If shooting raw it does not matter about this setting.
- I shoot with Neutral picture style so my in camera histogram is not artificially effed up by in camera preview processing.
- I have focusing transferred to the AF-On button only.
- I enable highlight warnings and the RGB histogram.
- I have pictures rotate on the PC but not on the camera.
- I nearly always shoot manual, with spot metering, and I check my histogram and look for blinkies.
- I'm not afraid to use the outer focus points, but if they aren't up to the task then I'll switch to centre point and manage as necessary. I will enable AF assist points when it makes sense to.

That's off the top of my head. If I think of anything else I'll update.

Happy shooting :)
Click to expand...
Some good points there Tim

I've use AF-On for focusing too, find it really useful to focus on subject and meter wherever I need to get the right exposure from and then recompose for shot.

Interested to know what folks to clean the sensor? I'm using Artic Butterfly and LensPen SensorKlean
 
Haven't had mine long enough to add much really, other than to say that the shots I have taken have all been in RAW.

A lot of the other settings are on default whilst I get used to the camera and decide what I want from it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top