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Canon EOS-10D Canon revamps their hugely popular D60 SLR, with ahost of improvements and a dramatic price cut! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet EOS-10D Sample Images EOS-10D Photo Gallery! --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on EOS-10D Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 02/27/2003

Camera Modes and Menus

Flash Off Mode: The first mode in the Easy Shooting Zone, Flash Off mode disables both the internal flash unit and any external flash unit connected. Focus is set to AI Focus mode, drive mode is set to Single, and metering is set to Evaluative. The camera controls ISO and Auto white balance as well.


Night Scene Mode: This mode is for taking pictures of people at sunset or at night. The autofocus mode is automatically set to One Shot. Drive mode is set to Single Shot, and metering mode is set to Evaluative. Since slower shutter speeds will be used, a tripod is recommended to prevent movement from the camera. The built-in flash is automatically enabled and synched with the slower shutter speed, so subjects need to remain still after the flash fires to avoid ghostlike afterimages. ISO is automatically adjusted by the camera. (For night exposures without the flash, Canon recommends shooting in Landscape mode.)


Sports Mode: This mode uses a faster shutter speed to capture fast-moving subjects. The autofocus mode is automatically set to AI Servo. Drive mode is set to Continuous Shooting, ISO is set to Auto, and metering mode is set to Evaluative. The onboard flash isn't available in this mode (since it can't cycle fast enough to keep up with the continuous exposure mode).


Close-up Mode (Macro Mode): Turning the Mode dial to the macro flower symbol sets the camera for capturing smaller subjects such as flowers, jewelry, and other small details. The autofocus mode is automatically adjusted to One Shot, the drive mode is set to Single Shot, and the metering mode is set to Evaluative. ISO is set to Auto. Close-up mode takes advantage of the current lens' minimum focal distance. However, an EOS dedicated macro lens and the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX are recommended for better close-up photography. (Unlike the macro mode on most consumer digicams, Macro mode on the 10D has no effect on lens focusing range, as that parameter is entirely determined by the lens being used.)


Landscape Mode: Landscape mode combines slower shutter speeds with smaller aperture settings to increase the depth of field when shooting broad vistas and sweeping landscapes. This mode is also good for night scenes without people in them. The built-in flash is automatically disabled, even if it's already raised. Because this mode uses slower shutter speeds, a tripod may be needed. Metering is again set to Evaluative and ISO to Auto.


Portrait Mode: This mode uses a large aperture setting to decrease the depth of field, which blurs the background to emphasize the subject. ISO is set to Auto, metering to Evaluative, and AF mode to One Shot.

Full Automatic Mode: The final mode in the Easy Shooting Zone, Full Automatic is indicated on the Mode dial by a green rectangular outline. In this mode, the camera makes all exposure decisions with the exception of image quality. Autofocus mode is set to AI Focus. (AI Focus evaluates subject movement, automatically sets either one-shot AF or AI Servo AF automatically.) Drive mode is set to Single Shot, and the metering mode is set to Evaluative.


Program AE: This is the first mode in the Creative Zone of the Mode Dial. Program AE works similarly to the Full Automatic exposure mode, but allows more control over the exposure variables. Aperture and shutter speed are automatically selected by the camera, but you can bias the exposure to larger or smaller apertures by turning the Main control dial, which will change the combination of aperture and shutter speed so as to maintain the same exposure value, but with a different choice of aperture/shutter speed. Turning the Quick Control dial in this mode adjusts the exposure compensation setting, to increase or decrease overall exposure.


Shutter-Priority AE: This mode allows you to manually set the shutter speed anywhere from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds, while the camera chooses the best corresponding aperture setting. You have control over all other exposure variables, including exposure compensation.


Aperture-Priority AE: The opposite of Shutter-Priority mode, Aperture-Priority AE allows you to set the lens aperture (with available ranges depending on the lens in use), while the camera selects the most appropriate shutter speed. Again, you have control over all other exposure variables, including exposure compensation.


Manual Exposure: This mode provides the same range of exposure control as the other Creative Zone exposure modes (except for exposure compensation), but lets you control both shutter speed and lens aperture independently. The shutter speed range is extended to include a Bulb setting, allowing long exposures from one to 999 seconds. A display in the top LCD panel reports whether the camera thinks your settings will result in under, over, or correctly exposed photos.


Automatic Depth of Field AE: This is the final mode in the Creative Zone, and is meant for taking pictures of large groups of people, landscapes with foreground detail, or any subject with elements of interest at varying distances from the camera. This mode puts the camera in control of both the shutter speed and aperture values, but you can adjust the other exposure variables. (This mode cannot be used if the lens focus mode is set to manual.) When shooting in Automatic Depth of Field AE, the camera sets both the exposure and focus distance to achieve a sharp focus over a wide depth of field. It uses the autofocus system to measure the distance to the subjects covered by each of the three autofocus zones, and then attempts to set the focusing distance and lens aperture so as to render all three subject areas in sharp focus.

Playback Mode: This mode is entered by pressing the Play button on the back panel. Playback mode lets you erase images, protect them, or set them up for printing on DPOF compatible devices. You can also view images in an index display, enlarge images to 3x, view a slide show of all captured images, or rotate an image. The Info button activates an information display, which reports the exposure settings for the image and graphs the exposure values on a small histogram.

Operating Menu: This menu is available in all of the camera modes, though a few of the capture-related options are only available in the Creative Zone. Pressing the Menu button calls up the Operating menu.

• Quality: Sets the image size and the compression ratio. Options are Large/Fine (3,072 x 2,048 pixels), Large/Normal (3,072 x 2,048 pixels), Medium/Fine (2,048 x 1,360 pixels), Medium/Normal (2,048 x 1,360 pixels), Small/Fine (1,536 x 1,024 pixels), Small/Normal (1,536 x 1,024 pixels), and RAW (3,072 x 2,048 pixels, with lossless compression).
• Red Eye Reduction: Turns the Red Eye Reduction flash mode on or off (when on, the Red Eye pre-flash fires before every flash exposure).
• Auto Exposure Bracketing: Sets the bracketing range for Auto Exposure Bracketing in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV from -2 to +2 EV (Creative Zone only).
• White Balance Bracketing: Adjusts the white balance bracketing series, in arbitrary units from -3 to +3 in full-stop increments.
• Beep: Turns the camera's beep sounds on or off.
• Custom White Balance: Lets you manually establish the white value by referencing a shot of a white card (Creative Zone only). (This mode on the 10D is a little different from the implementation used by other camera makers, in that it makes use of a previously-shot image of a white card, allowing you to store several white-point references on the camera's memory card and switch between them. It also allows a white reference to be shared between multiple photographers shooting the same event, simply by putting the same white reference image on each of their memory cards. Very handy!)
• Color Temperature: Sets the color temperature in degrees Kelvin for the Kelvin white balance option. Choices range from 2,800 to 10,000 Kelvin in 100-Kelvin degree increments.
  
  
  
• Parameters: Lets you reference any of up to three sets of image-processing parameters loaded into the camera through the accompanying software. These parameters can affect contrast, sharpness, color saturation, and color tone adjustments in the same way that the Canon's RAW Image Converter software does when processing RAW format images. Also available are Standard and Adobe RGB settings.
• ISO Expansion: Turns the ISO Expansion function on or off, which enables the H (3,200) ISO setting.
• Protect: Protects the currently displayed image against accidental deletion, apart from card formatting.
• Rotate: Rotates the currently displayed image 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.
• Print Order: Allows you to set up images for printing on any DPOF compatible device. Print options include setting the number of prints, and whether or not the date and/or file number is printed as well.
• Auto Playback: Automatically plays captured images in sequential order as a slide show.
• Auto Power Off: Sets the length of inactivity before the camera shuts itself off. Options are 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, or 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can disable the automatic shutoff entirely.
  
  
  
• Review: Determines whether images appear on the LCD monitor immediately after they are taken. Options are On, On (Info), or Off. The On (Info) setting displays the image along with an exposure information readout and histogram.
• Review Time: When the Review function is set to On or On (Info), this setting controls the amount of time that images are displayed in the review, with options of two, four, or eight seconds, or Hold (which displays the image until the Set button is pressed, or the Shutter button is halfway pressed).
• Auto Rotate: When enabled, records the camera orientation information with the image. This makes portrait-format images to appear right-side up on the camera's LCD screen, but doesn't affect the picture data itself in the camera's JPEG or RAW-format files.
  
  
• LCD Brightness: Adjusts the LCD brightness.
• Date/Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time.
  
  
• File Numbering: Extends consecutive file numbering between media cards or resets numbering with each new card.
• Language: Sets the menu language to one of 12 languages.
• Video System: Selects either NTSC or PAL video timing formats.
  
  
• Format: Reformats the CompactFlash card, which erases all files (even protected ones).
  
• Custom Functions: Sets a variety of custom camera functions for individual camera users. (See the list below for details on the functions offered.)
  
  
• Clear Settings: Resets all custom settings to their defaults.
• Clean Sensor: Locks up the mirror and opens the shutter, allowing you to clean the sensor of any dust.
• Firmware Version: Reports the camera's current firmware.
  
  
  
  
  

Custom Functions: The custom function submenu is accessed through the main operating menu (see above). The custom functions let you adjust how many of the EOS-10D's more basic functions operate. Here's a list of the contents of the Custom Function menu, and the options associated with each:

• 01-Set Button Function when Shooting: Controls the function of the Set button when in shooting mode. Options are:
  • 0-Default.
  • 1-Change Quality. Changes image quality settings.
  • 2-Change Parameters. Selects which processing parameters to use. PR-0 is Normal, PR-1 through PR-3 are sets. PR-A is Adobe RGB.
  • 3-Menu Display.
  • 4-Image Replay.
• 02-Shutter Release without CF Card: Determines whether the shutter can be released without a CF card.
  • 0-Possible without CF card.
  • 1-Not Possible.
• 03-Flash Sync Speed in Av Mode: Sets the flash sync speed or places it under automatic control when shooting in Aperture Priority mode.
  • 0-Auto.
  • 1-1/200 second fixed. Prevents a slow shutter speed from being set in very dark conditions.
• 04-Shutter Button/AE Lock Button: Allows you to determine focus and exposure either separately or together when the Shutter button is halfway pressed.
  • 0-AF/AE Lock.
  • 1-AE lock/AF. AE Lock button sets focus, Shutter button sets AE lock.
  • 2-AF/AF Lock, No AE Lock. In AI Servo AF mode, pressing the AE Lock button stops AF operation momentarily when there is an obstruction passing in front of the lens. This prevents the AF from being thrown off. Exposure is set when the shot is taken.
  • 3-AE/AF, no AE Lock. Useful for subjects that move and stop repeatedly in AI Servo AF mode. Pressing the AE Lock button starts or stops the AI Servo AF operation, and exposure is set when the shot is taken.
• 05-AF Assist Light/Flash Firing: Sets whether the AF assist beam is emitted by the camera or the external flash unit, and determines whether the flash fires from the built-in flash or Speedlite.
  • 0-Emits/Fires. Enables AF assist beam to be emitted and the flash to fire.
  • 1-Does not emit. Disables AF assist beam and enables the flash.
  • 2-Only external flash emits/fires. Enables the AF assist beam to light only via the external speedlight and enables the flash to fire.
  • 3-Emits/Does not Fire. Enables the AF assist beam but disables the flash.
• 06-Exposure Level Increments: Sets the adjustment increment for exposure compensation, as well as for shutter speed and aperture adjustments.
  • 0-1/2 stop.
  • 1-1/3 stop.
    
    
• 07-AF Point Registration: Lets you register a frequently-used AF point as the home position.
  • 0-Center AF Point.
  • 1-Bottom.
  • 2-Right.
  • 3-Extreme Right.
  • 4-Automatic Selection.
  • 5-Extreme Left.
  • 6-Left.
  • 7-Top.
• 08-RAW+JPEG Recording: Designates the quality of JPEG images recorded simultaneously with RAW files.
  • 0-RAW+Small/Normal.
  • 1-RAW+Small/Fine.
  • 2-RAW+Medium/Normal.
  • 3-RAW+Medium/Fine.
  • 4-RAW+Large/Normal.
  • 5-RAW+Large/Fine.
• 09-Bracket Sequence/Auto Cancellation: Selects the shooting sequence for Auto Exposure Bracketing and White Balance Bracketing.
  • 0-0,-,+/Enable.
  • 1-0,-,+/Disable. Disables bracketing mode after sequence completed.
  • 2--,0,+/Enable.
  • 3--,0,+/Disable.
• 10-Superimposed Display: Turns on a superimposed display feature, which illuminates the current focus area in red, in the viewfinder display.
  • 0-On.
  • 1-Off.
• 11-Menu Button Display Position: Designates whether the menu returns to the last setting changed or to the first menu option when the Menu button is pressed.
  • 0-Previous (top if powered off).
  • 1-Previous Menu (regardless if powered off).
  • 2-Top Menu.
• 12-Mirror Lock Up: Enables or disables the mirror lockup function, to minimize blurring from camera vibration caused by mirror movement in close-up and telephoto shots. When enabled, the first press of the Shutter button locks up the mirror, while the second press actually triggers the shutter.
  • 0-Disable.
  • 1-Enable.
    
    
• 13-Assist Button Function: Controls the function of the Assist button.
  • 0-Normal. Pressing Assist and AF Mode Selection buttons simultaneously selects registered AF point.
  • 1-Select Home Position. Pressing Assist button returns to registered AF point.
  • 2-Select HP (while pressing). Registered AF point is selected only while the Assist button is held down. When let go, returns to the previous AF point.
  • 3-AV+/- (AF point by Quick Control dial). Assigns the exposure compensation and manual aperture setting functions to the Assist button, when turning Main dial. Turning the Quick Control dial selects the AF point.
  • 4-FE Lock. The Assist button sets the flash exposure lock. (Note: if C.Fn. 04-1/2/3 is set, FE lock will be enabled. In this case, the AE/AF Lock button does not set FE lock.)
• 14-Auto Reduction of Fill Flash: Programs the flash to cut back its power for fill-flash operation under daylight shooting conditions.
  • 0-Enable. Obtains natural, daylight flash shots automatically.
  • 1-Disable. Prevents underexposure of a backlit subject.
• 15-Shutter Curtain Sync: Sets the flash to fire with either the first or second shutter curtain.
  • 0-1st curtain sync.
  • 1-2nd curtain sync.
• 16-Safety shift in AV or TV: Activates a function that automatically shifts the exposure for sudden changes in brightness in either Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority modes.
  • 0-Disable.
  • 1-Enable.
• 17-Lens AF Stop Button: Controls the operation of the "AF Stop" button on the lens, if present. (Many lenses do not have this option.) Determines whether the AF stop button disables or enables auto focusing, or whether it serves to lock exposure and start the exposure timer.
  • 0-AF Stop.
  • 1-AF Start.
  • 2-AE lock while metering.
  • 3-AF point: M, Auto/Auto, Ctr. In manual AF point selection mode, switches to automatic AF point. In automatic AF point selection mode, switches to center AF point.
  • 4-One Shot, AI Servo. Switches between both modes.
  • 5-IS Start. With lens' IS switch already on, the Image Stabilizer operates only while holding the AF stop button.