READING THE MANUAL REAPS BIG REWARDS...

[Richard Crowe]

I have been a photographer for over fifty-years, much of that time as a professional.  However, there are still things I can learn through the simple expedient of an IN-DEPTH reading of the camera manual.  I have been shooting with my Canon 40D for several years now and have not registered any settings into the C-1, C-2 or C-3 modes. For some reason, I was under the mistaken belief that these settings were only applicable when shooting in JPEG and could not be used in RAW.

 

I have several setups for my camera which I use over and over again but, need to adjust the parameters separately to achieve the settings.  As an example, when shooting action, I like to use my camera in burst mode, at ISO 400, in AI focus mode and in Partial Metering and programmed exposure.  This requires me to set the burst mode, ISO (I usually shoot at a lower ISO), focus mode to AI and Partial Metering; a rather lengthy setup if I want to catch some action that is occurring quickly. 

 

I now register this setup and can access all these individual controls by simply twisting my mode dial to C1.  I have other setups, such as the parameters for auto exposure bracketing registered to Mode C2 and I use Mode C3 for my night setup.  The C1-C3 modes make changing my camera settings quick and easy. 

 

This is very much like accessing the Basic Modes such as landscape, sports and portrait using the mode dial but, I can select what my parameters will be.

 

I wish that I had read the manual more comprehensively.  I haven't missed any shots due to the wrong camera settings but, the C1-C3 modes make accessing setup controls a lot easier. It is a shame that they have dummied down the Canon 60D to include only one User Selected Mode. I know that I will use the C1-C3 modes available on my 40D quite often.

 

Note:  I learned this technique while reading my manual in the porcelein library (my bathroom) where I had plenty of time to review significant parts of the manual.  Now, I am wondering what else I have missed....

 

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

lol.... See that, you never know what you can learn while relaxing in the "office"!

[Linda and "Toby"]

Every once in awhile I'll get my manual out, and inevitably I will have one of those (slap the forehead, "I should have had a V-8") moments where I say, "I totally forgot about that!" Thanks for the reminder to review it again. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

What you advise is good but who can begin to remember all that. I almost always use things like my washing machine on the same setting all the time. Things like these new cameras have more dials, gizmos and gadgets than I can cope with sometimes. But the manual is always a good idea if not for cover to cover reading than to look things up.