Custom User Settings on Canon 50D

[Kent Wilson]

My questsion also applies to the 40D.

I have custom functions set up so that the * button is AF lock and the AF-On button is AE Lock (which I seldom use). So in AI Servo AF, I am using "back button focus". (I did this by changing C.fn IV-1 to option 2.)So far, so good.

When I know I'm only going to be shooting BIF, I'd like to change back to the default setting where metering and AF is controlled by the shutter button. So I assign this to C2 on the Mode Dial.

The problem is that this also assigns the aperture that was set when I registered the settings and that I don't want. The result is that if I had my 100 f/2.8 macro lens on when setting up the Custom setting, and it happened to be on f/4, then when I am using this lens with C2, the aperture is constantly changing back to f/4. Very annoying, as it's just one more thing to keep track of, and at my age, every little bit hurts:).

My question is: Is there a way to fix this, so aperture is not included among the settings for a Custom User Setting?

I have C1 set for Live View, and it's the same story. In this case it's a bother, but not much of one, because I'm using that for macro and sometimes landscapes, and they don't move so it's not that distracting.

If this is a "feature", then in my opinion it makes the Custom Settings much less useful.

I'd appreciate any help any of you can offer.

[Tell Dickinson]

Hi Kent, I have the AF lock and AE lock swopped the same as you BUT I have set CF 4.1 to '1 (Canon 50D) and this lets me press the appropriate button to STOP focusing instead of STARTING to focus as you do. This will give you AF and METERING start by the shutter button as you want for birds in flight and also let you control focusing with the button without using any C2 on the mode dial.

[Doug Brown]

I would program C2 for flight. Set your aperture to f/7.1 or f/8. Set your ISO to 400 or 640. And program the shutter button and AF button however you want. C2 will now get you close for most flight situations.

[Kent Wilson]

Hi Doug --

What you describe is precisely what I have been trying to do.

Camera off, mount 400mm f/5.6 lens, mode dial set to AV.
Turn camera on.
Turn mode dial to C2. Aperture changes to f/5.6. Chnage aperture to f/8.
Press menu button to register C2. Aperture changes back to f/5.6. Not what I want. And even if I wanted that, why can't I get something different?

Another attempt.

Camera is turned off. Set Mode Dial on C2. Turn camera on.
Aperture reads f/5.6. Change aperture to f/8. Press menu button, aperture changes to f/5.6.

When shooting, after changing the aperture to f/8, say, I can expose one frame at that setting. The next frame will be at f/5.6, unless I remember to change it. On high speed drive, it will stay at f/8 for the burst, then revert back to f/5.6.

It seems that the Custom User Settings want the aperture to be set at its widest. If this is correct, not as handy as it might be.

Thanks to you and Tell for your suggestions. Wish I could get this working the way I want it to.

[Doug Brown]

I'm not sure how you're programming C mode but it stores my aperture when I program it. If I switch to C mode and change the aperture to a new number, it holds onto that new number from frame to frame. If I change to Av mode and use a new f number, it reverts to the stored aperture when I switch back to C mode.

Here's how I program it. Let's say I want C1 to be for bird flight. I put the camera in Av mode. I switch to f/8 and ISO 800. I change my focus to AI Servo and my drive to High Speed Continuous. I set my white balance to Auto and my metering to Evaluative.

Once I've done all of that, I click the Menu button and go to Camera user setting. Then I click Register. Then I select Mode dial: C1. Try this out and see if it works for you.

[Tell Dickinson]

Hi Doug --
Camera off, mount 400mm f/5.6 lens, mode dial set to AV.
Turn camera on.
Turn mode dial to C2. Aperture changes to f/5.6. Chnage aperture to f/8.
Press menu button to register C2. Aperture changes back to f/5.6. Not what I want. And even if I wanted that, why can't I get something different?

Hi Kent, by turning the mode dial to C2 and THEN registering will only REREGISTER the original C2 settings, what you need to do is STAY in AV, adjust the settings that you want and then REGISTER to C2 while still in Av :)

One thing I find frustrating with C1 and C2 is that if you do any compensation while in one of the C settings, if the Camera goes to sleep then when it wakes up it goes back to the original settings without the compensation. It would be better in my view if Canon let the compensation etc stay if the Camera goes to sleep BUT go back to the original settings if you turn the Camera off and then back on.

[Kent Wilson]

Thanks Doug and Tell. I tried it and it worked! Don't know why I couldn't figure that out, but ...

Thanks to both, again. Made my day. IF the rain would let up, I'd go out and look for purple martins and swallows!