Custom Shooting Mode: I am curious about how others use the Custom Shooting Mode on your Cameras. I am talking about the C mode, or C1 and C2 modes on the dial on most DSLRs. It can be...

lorvey Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I am curious about how others use the Custom Shooting Mode on your Cameras. I am talking about the C mode, or C1 and C2 modes on the dial on most DSLRs. It can be set up as a shortcut to specific camera settings for special situations.

I have considered using it for a quick access to bracketing, using it for hyperfocal focus, or setting it up to shoot flash photos. But I have not settled on the shortcut that would benefit me the most. So I am wondering how others have used this feature. Anyone willing to share would be appreciated.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

lorvey wrote:

I am curious about how others use the Custom Shoot... (show quote)

Lorvey, you probably shoot a Canon? Not all cameras have a C1-3 on the top dial.
I use mine all the time, but my shooting is pretty varied, so I don't keep anything on them all the time. My most common settings are my style of BBF, Auto exposure Bracketing and over/under exposure compensation. At any given time I'll have the same thing on all of them but with variations that I know I will be using.
Or different settings for different lenses.
So in other wards, If I'm shooting a certain event, I usually know what variations I will encounter frequently, such as outdoor/indoor/shade. and can set something up for that.
Particularly for sports, since they move so fast and any fiddling will cause you to miss a shot.
I frequently wipe my custom settings clean and there is nothing there at all, since they can get really jumbled up if you change them a lot
Not sure that helps you, but that's my chaotic version!! :lol: :lol:
SS

bratliff Loc: Atlanta, GA

My Nikon has U1 and U2. My wife occasionally wants to use it so I have my settings saved to U1 and just flip the dial to U2 to bring up her settings.

dugole Loc: Matawan, New Jersey

lorvey wrote:

I am curious about how others use the Custom Shoot... (show quote)

I do use the "C" settings on my 5D - particularly when I am shooting birds. I use 2 settings - one for BIF (birds in flight) and one for birds usually seen in trees. In BIF photos I usually am shooting with the bright sky as background - a high shutter speed to stop wing action, a 9 point focus cluster to keep the bird in focus as it flies, a different ISO setting, spot metering and a smaller aperture. Birds in trees require the smallest one point focal setting so that tree branches, leaves and so on don't interfere with the camera focusing on the subject, a wider aperture so the DOF is shallow and then appropriate ISO and shutter speed.

So as I am walking I can quickly click the selector to the constantly changing situation as opposed to trying to set the exposure manually leading to missing a shot. Getting used to using the custom settings took a little bit of time but has been a tremendous help getting that shot.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I only use the options on my SX50, not SLR. On the SX50 I have one set for shutter priority with shutter speed of 1/800 sec (for birds) with auto ISO, and the other in aperture priority and a lower ISO.

The button I like the most, though, is shortcut button, which I use to toggle among raw, raw+jpg, jpg only.

lorvey Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Thank you all for your responses. I can see from the answers that this is definitely an individual decision. Everyone is using them a little bit differently. So I will just need to do some thinking about what situations I want to memorize on my camera. And then train myself to remember when to use the Custom mode. Thank you.

Beagleman Loc: Indiana

I use C1 for "places" (landscapes) and C2 for "people".

--Beagleman

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I use the Custom settings when I am going to revisit a scene or event and know what settings are usually best. I put them is the Custom Setting and merely have to switch to it rather than have to go thru various menus to get what I want.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

lorvey wrote:

I am curious about how others use the Custom Shoot... (show quote)

You mention 'hyperfocal' focus. To know this requires the 'circle of confusion' radius at the sensor in the image plane. In emulsion film that radius would be the film grain size (grain being the light sensitive chemical); in electronic sensors it would be the pixel physical size. I have looking all over for electronic sensor 'grain size' and been frustrated. Do you have a reference.

mongoose777 Loc: Frisco Texas

SharpShooter wrote:

Lorvey, you probably shoot a Canon? Not all camera... (show quote)

You got that right on the C modes.
SS is your guy on that one.
See you guys next week.
Have a great weekend to all.

lorvey Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

John_F wrote:

You mention 'hyperfocal' focus. To know this requires the 'circle of confusion' radius at the sensor in the image plane. In emulsion film that radius would be the film grain size (grain being the light sensitive chemical); in electronic sensors it would be the pixel physical size. I have looking all over for electronic sensor 'grain size' and been frustrated. Do you have a reference.

I do not have a reference for your question. Maybe someone else reviewing this will respond.

blackest Loc: Ireland

John_F wrote:

You mention 'hyperfocal' focus. To know this requires the 'circle of confusion' radius at the sensor in the image plane. In emulsion film that radius would be the film grain size (grain being the light sensitive chemical); in electronic sensors it would be the pixel physical size. I have looking all over for electronic sensor 'grain size' and been frustrated. Do you have a reference.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/dof-calculator.htm

if you start here and explore some of the links you should find what your looking for i think.

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

[quote=lorvey]I am curious about how others use the Custom Shooting Mode on your Cameras. I am talking about the C mode, or C1 and C2 modes on the dial on most DSLRs. It can be set up as a shortcut to specific camera settings for special situations.

I use one for indoors and one for outdoors.