Michael652 Loc: Santa Cruz, CA

I have a Nikon D7100 (but I guess my question is appropriate for many cameras) and could use some suggestions for programming my U1 and U2 effectively. I'm sure there are a lot of personal opinions but I hope to figure out what would be most helpful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I asked the same question - four years apart.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-159202-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-455910-1.html

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

You have plenty of instructions to program U1 and U2 in your camera instructions manual. Plenty of information also if you do a Google search.
My D7000 has U1 programmed to shoot RAW files while U2 is mainly JPEG for sports and wildlife photography.

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

I have a 7200 and use U1 for bracketing. 1 stop under expose, as per the meter, and 1 stop overexposed. Use continuous high, hold the shutter release down, and you rip out 3 shots and stop. Very configurable. Owners manual covers it well.

Ken S.

phal84 Loc: Huntsville

Boy, this is a question you're going to have decide for yourself. What do you usually shoot? Priority 1 goes on U1, priority 2 goes on U2.
We all shoot different subjects and wanting different effects. The answers here will vary all over the map as we're already seeing. Personally I set a U1 for things with a more vivid look and U2 for people with a softer tone. U1 and U2 can be a good quick guide for quick grab shots; in real life, I'm always diddling with buttons and dials on my camera, P mode to M mode; Aperture or Shutter priority, focus settings, the list is endless.
camerapapi said it pretty well, use the manual; after you use a camera a long time you almost know the camera more than the manual does,

ecurb1105

I have mine set for, 1 monochrome, 2 HDR. YMMV

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

That is why they are user modes. Manufacturer can provide various setting combinations, but the dial isn't large enough to provide one-step access to each one - this allows user to provide one-step access to combinations s/he most frequently gets to the hard way.