Comments on: 79 — Customizing your camera for free

By: Bambi

Bambi — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:32:29 +0000

Thanks Marko. I finally was able to listen to this podcast. It was quite helpful to someone like me, new to dSLR. I will be eternally grateful for pointing out the ‘wrong’ way nikon does the exposure. I thought I was losing it!

By: Zenon5940

Zenon5940 — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:21:39 +0000

Nice podcast Marko. I use several custom settings on my D90. It realy makes the difference. The most useful for me is the ability to use the AE-L/AF-L button to command the Autofocus instead of pressing the shooting button halfway. Another one I use all the time is the grid in the viewfinder. Once again thanks for the Podcast and Congratulations for your getting a D700.

By: Fortytwo

Fortytwo — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:21:47 +0000

Hey Marko. Nice podcast! The message is clear, RTFM. Nah, I think I’m gonna go through the menu one more time, see what’s in there. You’ve got a very good point, I bet there are tons of users out there that don’t use all the features of their gear.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:52:11 +0000

Thanks for the comments jack and WD — Nice tips, thx!

By: jack label

jack label — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:42:32 +0000

Helo Marko, interesting post there, I already mastered my camera menus, theres a lot of interesting stuff in there, specially for Nikon users, in that I think youre a bit unfair, cause grid, and some other items aint available for Canon users. THe other two things I think is interesting in the menu (for Nikon D80 >) are Multiple exposures, it is like shooting twice on the same film cell and theres the Delayed Shutter option, which is good for slow speeds it works like mirror up, but you dont need to click twice, it will raise the mirror and a second or a half of a second later it will expose the picture, so youll have a steadier image.

By: WickedDark

WickedDark — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:35:58 +0000

Delving into the menu is a must. Here's one I found on my camera (Olympus E-30) that's a macro photographer's dream. Zoom in Live View. My best macro lens is also a legacy lens which means no auto focus (even with auto focus I often manually adjust anyway) and subjects so tiny it's difficult to see them on a 3" screen. The zoom function give me 5x, 7x or 10x enlargement and I can choose any part of the frame to zoom in on. Wow. What a huge difference this makes and I'm glad I know about it. Now I just have to remember to use it.

By: admin

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:30:28 +0000

Thanks for the comment JJJ — auto ISO.…hmmm. Not sure I’d ever want to use that one. ISO and aperture are two settings I want full control over 99% of the time…though I CAN see how it can save your butt if you’re not a checker.

I’m not at all having the same problem as you are with regard to exposure comp. It works perfectly — just triple checked. My MINUS exposure (- sign) is now on the left as it should be. When I dial in minus exposure compensation…I see it on the left side as I should. Try it again to be sure.

One KEY thing to be aware of are the setting banks. (A, B, etc) make sure both exposure compensation and reverse indicators have been set in the same bank. (I use default A).

Gotta say.…I’m Lovin the D700

By: jimmy brown (jumpinjimmyjava)

jimmy brown (jumpinjimmyjava) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:36:27 +0000

Hi Marko. I really enjoyed your “customizing your camera” podcast. It inspired me to get my manual out once again and learn more about my camera settings. I did try your suggestion and reverse the + and — indicators (custom setting f 12 controls) so that + was on the right and — on the left. I thought my problems were solved but when I go and press the exposure compensation button it is the exact opposite to the + and — indicators that I just changed! Too confusing so I changed my settings back to the Nikon defaults. I wish Nikon would bite the bullet and do it the Canon way.
Perhaps the most useful custom setting on my D700 is AUTO ISO. I never miss getting the shot now I leave my camera on AUTO ISO. I can set the minimum shutter speed I want to shoot at and the maximum ISO. Just makes photography more fun and takes the pressure off, if you just have to get the shot.
Well thanks again Marko for the great podcast with a Canadian perspective– jumpinjimmyjava