This month's Technical Report explains how to use custom functions of EOS Digital SLRs.
Custom functions are now part of the basic features of the EOS series. These functions were developed in response to requests from EOS users worldwide, both professionals and advanced amateurs, to best suit various shooting purposes and conditions not covered by standard specifications. Custom functions were first introduced in the EOS 630 released in the spring of 1989.
The custom functions have evolved as new EOS cameras developed and have been hailed by many users. Furthermore, custom functions specific to digital cameras have been added to EOS Digital cameras. This evolution won't stop.
How to use custom functions of EOS Kiss Digital N
The EOS Kiss Digital N has nine custom functions available in Creative Zone mode as shown in Table 1.
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 The functions in pink are those added anew to digital cameras (this applies to all the following tables). Table 1 Custom Functions of EOS Kiss Digital N |
C. Fn-01: SET button/Cross Key Functions
The SET button, located in the center of the cross keys at the back, by default is operational during menu operation and disabled in ready-to-shoot state (C. Fn-01-0). The custom functions are set using this button.
1. C. Fn-01-1/SET: Quality
By simply pressing the SET button, the image-recording quality control menu (see Fig. 2) is displayed on the back LCD monitor, allowing users to readily change the quality. The setting can be changed with the cross keys or the Main Dial. This function is very convenient when frequent change of the quality is required depending on the photographer's purpose.
2. C. Fn-01-2/SET: Parameter
By simply pressing the SET button, the processing parameter control menu (see Fig. 3) is displayed on the back LCD monitor, allowing users to readily select from processing parameter 1, 2, or Set 1, 2, 3 and B/W as configured in advance.
This function is very useful to exploit digital film features matching the shooting conditions.
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Fig. 1 EOS Kiss Digital N Custom Function Setting Menu Screen |
Fig. 2 Image-Recording Quality Setting Screen |
Fig. 3 Processing Parameter Setting Screen |
3. C. Fn-01-3/SET: Playback
The SET button functions as the image playback button when Review time is set to off. It enables the user to view images as necessary using the right hand alone.
It is also effective in reducing battery consumption since image review is kept to a minimum.
4. C. Fn-01-4/Cross keys: AF point selection
While an AF point can be selected with the cross keys after pressing the AF point selection button by default, this custom function makes the AF point selectable with the cross keys alone without first pressing the AF point selection button.
In this setting, pressing the AF point selection button activates automatic AF point selection and pressing the SET button sets the AF point at the center.
C. Fn-02: Long Exposure Noise Reduction
Noise reduction is set ''off'' by default (C. Fn-02-0).
1. C. Fn-02-1/On
This function is effective in reducing image noise in long exposures of 30 seconds or longer at ISO 100-800 and of one second or longer at ISO 1600 as well as for any bulb exposure.
After the exposure, another ''exposure'' is made at the same shutter speed to record only the noise data. This noise component can be then subtracted from the actual exposure. During noise reduction processing, "BUSY" is displayed and shooting is not possible. It is recommended to use this function for astronomical photography with high ISO sensitivity or night shooting with long exposures.
C. Fn-03: Flash Sync. Speed in AV Mode
The combination of shutter speed and aperture value by the automatic exposure with the EOS series is determined by the same mechanism for shooting with or without flash. If the aperture-priority AE (AV) is used to shoot people against night backgrounds, slow synchro flash shooting is activated by default (C. Fn-03-0), where the correct exposure for the background is achieved with a slow shutter speed automatically determined by the aperture while the exposure for the person is determined by the E-TTL II autoflash system. In this case, there is no problem shooting on a tripod, but in hand-held shooting camera shake is likely to result in the background being blured.
1. C. Fn-03-1/ 1/200 sec. (fixed)
This custom function is designed to fix the shutter speed at 1/200 second for snapshots indoors or in a dark place. The exposure is adjusted mainly for flash lighting. There is demand for this type of traditional flash photo, though it may result in underexposure of the background.
C. Fn-04: Shutter Button/AE Lock Button
By default (C. Fn-04-0), autofocus and automatic exposure settings are determined by pressing the shutter button halfway, while the AE lock can be optionally set by pressing the AE lock button.
1. C. Fn-04-1/AE lock/AF
This function is useful to set the autofocus and exposure independently. With this setting, autofocus is determined by pressing the AE lock button with the thumb, where the lock and focus is fixed on releasing the button, and exposure is determined with AE locked by pressing the shutter button halfway.
Many professionals use this setting as a standard especially for the EOS-1 series because once accustomed to this operation, focus and exposure determination is quite flexible.
2. C. Fn-04-2/AF/AF lock (No AE lock)
When an obstacle passes between the camera and main subject in the AI servo AF mode, the high-speed autofocus may be thrown off by the obstacle.
In such situations, pressing the AE lock button temporarily deactivates the autofocus and prevent it from being thrown off. Exposure is automatically determined at the moment of shooting.
3. C. Fn-04-3/AE/AF (No AE lock)
This function is useful for shooting subjects which keep moving and stopping repeatedly. With the AE lock button turned on/off, this function enables repeated start/stop of the AI servo AF if it is turned on.
Exposure is automatically determined at the moment of shooting. This setting allows users to watch photo opportunities and get the best focus and exposure.
C. Fn-05: AF-assist Beam
This custom function determines whether or not to emit an AF-assist beam from the camera or from the EOS-dedicated external flash. By default (C. Fn-05-0), the EOS Kiss Digital N automatically emits the beam as required.
1. C. Fn-05-1/Does not emit
2. C. Fn-05-2/Only extension flash emits
This function was originally provided to prevent cameras of the other photographers from catching the emitted AF-assist beam pattern at an indoor model photo session where many photographers take pictures. It is recommended to leave this function as default for general shooting conditions.
C. Fn-06: Exposure Level Increments
The exposure level increment is 1/3-stop by default (C. Fn-06-0).
1. C. Fn-06-1/ 1/2-stop
Increments for shutter speed, aperture value, exposure compensation and AEB can be changed to 1/2-stop.
This function was originally provided for adjusting the settings in accordance with the film's latitude that is wider for negative films and narrower for reversal films. For a digital camera, it is recommended to leave it at the 1/3-stop default setting.
C. Fn-07: Mirror Lockup
Mrror lockup is disabled by default (C. Fn-07-0).
1. C. Fn-07-1/Enable
In sensitive shooting such as macro or super telephoto, this function is useful to prevent even slight camera shake due to shock caused when the mirror rises.
C. Fn-08: E-TTL II
This function is set to the preflash evaluative metering by default (C. Fn-08-0) that allows fully automatic metering from flash shooting from dark to daylight sync shooting.
1. C. Fn-08-1/Average
The flash exposure is averaged for the entire area covered by the flash. This is convenient for users accustomed to using an external flash and for flash exposure compensation.
C. Fn-09: Shutter Curtain Sync.
It is preset to 1st-curtain sync. by default (C. Fn-09-0). The X-contact is turned on to fire a flash at the instant the shutter is fully open.
1. C. Fn-09-1/ 2nd-curtain sync.
The flash fires just before the shutter closes when a slow shutter speed is set. This enables users to take natural pictures of a subject with moving light path following it.
This issue of the Technical Report introduces the custom functions of EOS Digital cameras with a focus on the EOS Kiss Digital N. We hope this information is helpful for the user's individual shooting style.
Table 2 shows the custom functions of the EOS 20D. For the EOS-1D Mark II and the EOS-1Ds Mark II, Table 3 shows the custom functions and Table 4 the personal functions.Table 5 shows the custom functions of the Speedlite 580EX. For further function details, please refer to the respective instruction manual.