Posted by kelly mason on September 1, 2010 at 9:19 PM
I studying back-button AF and basically understand it. What I'm having the most difficulty with is how to set the Custom Function on the Canon 7D. Help please before I have a melt down!
If you go through all the custom function menus, you will see one for use of buttons. It's kinda hard to match buttons to the pictures, but focus button is the easy one to spot). You can JUST set the camera to always use this button for focusing or, what I prefer, is setting one of the C1, C2, C3 positions on the mode dial to include this setting with other settings.
To do the latter, you will want to set everything the way you would most likely want it to do that kind of shooting. Let's say you are shooting birds, and you want Tv set at 1/640s (or perhaps Av set at 5.6?), ISO 320, center focus point, auto WB, AI Servo focus drive, multishot. Then, go to the custom function to "register setting" and choose the mode dial position (say, C3) and select register. Then every time you turn to C3, all of those settings are changed. You can still increase shutter speed or ISO, etc, but after the camera goes to sleep, they will revert to the C3 basis (which sucks when it gets darker, you increased ISO, camera goes to sleep and it gets still darker, and then the bird perches!) But oh well, it's still easier than setting all those things individually every time.
I have a C1 function for Macro with low ISO, mirror lockup, etc., another for auto bracketing in high speed shooting for HDR, and another with rear focus button for action like birds, wildlife, rodeo, etc.
If this isn't clear enough, let me know and I point you to the page in the manual (gotta dig that up and I'm at work right now ;-)
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on September 2, 2010 at 2:03 PM
The manual makes it look very confusing. Just go to Custom Function group IV, choice number 1 and hit set. As you scroll through the choices, you will see an image of your camera with the button you are changing highlighted as orange. The first choice is shutter, the second AF - On and the third *. I prefer to have my focus set to the * it is easier to grab, and what I have always used. Then, make sure you turn focus off for the shutter - I have mine set for meter start.
Posted by kelly mason on September 2, 2010 at 4:09 PM
Thank you both! I understand what I need to do now.
Posted by Ed Cordes on September 2, 2010 at 9:44 PM
Once you get used to this setting you will love it. It's like having one shot and servo at the same time without having to look away and change a setting on top of the camera.
Posted by kelly mason on September 2, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Can you designate a camera user setting (ie C1) just back button focusing or can this only be done in the Custom Function Group lV number 1?
Discussion
5 repliesThank you!!!!
Kelly
To do the latter, you will want to set everything the way you would most likely want it to do that kind of shooting. Let's say you are shooting birds, and you want Tv set at 1/640s (or perhaps Av set at 5.6?), ISO 320, center focus point, auto WB, AI Servo focus drive, multishot. Then, go to the custom function to "register setting" and choose the mode dial position (say, C3) and select register. Then every time you turn to C3, all of those settings are changed. You can still increase shutter speed or ISO, etc, but after the camera goes to sleep, they will revert to the C3 basis (which sucks when it gets darker, you increased ISO, camera goes to sleep and it gets still darker, and then the bird perches!) But oh well, it's still easier than setting all those things individually every time.
I have a C1 function for Macro with low ISO, mirror lockup, etc., another for auto bracketing in high speed shooting for HDR, and another with rear focus button for action like birds, wildlife, rodeo, etc.
If this isn't clear enough, let me know and I point you to the page in the manual (gotta dig that up and I'm at work right now ;-)
Kelly