Favourite custom camera function?

[Marko]

Hi members,

Just curious and doing some research for an upcoming podcast.

1 - Do you use the custom functions on your camera?
2 - If so what are your faves?

(Please name your camera make and model in the reply)

many thx!

Marko

[Richard]

Hi Marko,

Love custom functions, one of the best features ever...

I have tweaked my menu a few times but currently it is:

Mirror Lockup
Flash Control
Format
AEB
High ISO speed noise reduction
Long exp. noise reduction

Canon 450D

[Wicked Dark]

I'm confused...do you mean the custom/my setting feature or just camera features we use most often?

[AcadieLibre]

I'm confused...do you mean the custom/my setting feature or just camera features we use most often?

Yea what she said........

[Marko]

I am not talking about settings like aperture priority or anything like that...

I'm talking about delving into the camera's menu settings and customizing them for yourself.

Noise reduction on long exposures and mirror lockup are good examples here. In many cameras they are set to "OFF". You need to customize the menu to even use them.

Autofucus and how it operates in YOUR particular camera is another good example. You can tell the camera which buttons or dials control autofocus and how it is controlled. If you never go into the menu settings, then you are always shooting in default mode.

Hope that's clearer - Thx! - Marko

[Wicked Dark]

Ok, so if I get this now you want to know how we take esoteric functions on the camera and utilize them in certain ways or under certain conditions. Using your AF mode example, I have turned off some of my sensors for greater specificity...like that?

[Richard]

I've activated back button auto focus, instead of focusing with the shutter button on my canon 450D, which is working out really well for me now I've got used to it.

[Marko]

Ok, so if I get this now you want to know how we take esoteric functions on the camera and utilize them in certain ways or under certain conditions. Using your AF mode example, I have turned off some of my sensors for greater specificity...like that?

precisely. :)

[AcadieLibre]

Custom Function Settings Right?

[Marko]

right.

[Wicked Dark]

OK, now that I'm in sync I'll give it some thought. I may head out into the field again today and will try to pay attention.

[Marko]

If you've never played with these settings...bring your camera manual with you, it will likely help. Thx! Marko

[kurtdriver]

In a SLR, the ability to lock up the mirror is probably number on, except if you are shooting rapid fire. Most of my pictures take thirty or more seconds to set up, so MLU is nice, for the same reason one would use a tripod and cable release.

With some shutters, you can synch the flash at the same speed as the shutter, whereas most cameras do so at much slower speeds.

None of my cameras have menus, but they have features I sometimes appreciate, (or curse the lack of). My RB67 for instance has MLU, and my Canon T90 lacks it, I sure would like to have it there too.
I remain convinced that a camera is a box with a hole at one end and a light sensitive material at the other.:)

[JAS_Photo]

I have lots of stuff customized. For instance here is what is needed to do bracketed shots for auto bracketing in HDR.
YouTube - Nikon D300 Hands free bracketing burst for HDR tip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Oa2zyYaJk)

[Marko]

Thanks for the comments everyone - It's also the topic of our latest podcast.

79 – Customizing your camera for free (http://www.photography.ca/blog/?p=753)

many thx - Marko

[masp]

Does zooming in to check focus count? My only wish is that this actually worked better on my screen. I have a 230,000 dot (pixel) LCD screen and it's still not really clear what's in focus until I see it on the computer.

[Marko]

It counts for me; especially since I went into the custom menu to set that option;) Now with the click of one button I zoom in to a medium level. If I roll the dial forward all the pictures stay zoomed in (until I press the button again). very useful for checking sharpness.

[ericmark]

I know I had to use custom settings in order to use old pre-focus lens but can't remember what I changed. Also set the bracket to 2EV.
Some items like inferred shutter release I turn on and off as required.
Looked many times at the flash trigger can be set to fire flash as shutter becomes fully open or just before it starts to close. But as yet unused.
Pentax K10D but like many I guess I read the manual set it as I wanted then forgot what original settings were.
I do find aperture and speed priority a little odd the camera sets the ISO to match. Also set to RAW only as it takes to long to write to SD card when Jpeg is used as well.

[masp]

It counts for me; especially since I went into the custom menu to set that option;) Now with the click of one button I zoom in to a medium level. If I roll the dial forward all the pictures stay zoomed in (until I press the button again). very useful for checking sharpness.

Wow nice. Can you get the camera to automatically show the review image zoomed in from the start, or is the one button press to zoom in always necessary? Either way though, that is a big improvement.

[zenon5940]

On my D90 I use several custom settings. The most important to me are :
func d2 -Viewfinder grid display ON..
func. f4 - Assign AE-L/AF-L button to Auto Focus ON
func. f1 - illumination switch to turn both lcd backlight AND shoooting info display ON
func. a1 - Beep OFF.
func. a3 - built-in assit illuminator OFF
func. d10 - exposure delay mode ON

I also tweek the delays for self timer and remote control as well as display timer.

[Marko]

Wow nice. Can you get the camera to automatically show the review image zoomed in from the start, or is the one button press to zoom in always necessary? Either way though, that is a big improvement.

AFAIK - you need to press the button once to zoom. GREAT custom function.

[Kawarthabob]

lately i have been playing around with the w/b and have turned my focus point to center only ( for quick auto focus in the case i need to snap a quick one). I've also set my iso speed to 100 and compose my shot from there with the other various settings.