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Canon 6D Users Guide:
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Canon 6D

Canon 6D (33.5 oz./950g, about $2,000) and Canon EF 35mm f/2. enlarge. My biggest source of support is when you use any of these links, especially this link directly to it at Adorama (or kit with lens) or directly to it at Amazon (or kit with lens) when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thank you! Ken.

 

March 2013   Canon 6D Review   Canon Reviews    Other reviews

 

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Free live help        top

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Custom Function Settings   top

These let us set even more minutiae, some of which is very useful.

To set these, press MENU and click left or right to the second-to-last orange item across the top, towards the right.

 

C.Fn. I :Exposure        top

1: Exposure level increments

This lets us adjust exposure in the usual thirds of a stop, or half-stops if we prefer.

This makes no difference; it's purely personal preference. I leave it at thirds.

In any auto exposure or auto ISO mode, exposure may only be read to halves or thirds, but the camera sets it steplessly anyway.

 

2: ISO speed setting increments         top

This lets us adjust ISO in full stops instead of the default third stops.

I prefer full-stop settings for convenience, but it's purely personal preference.

 

3: Bracketing auto cancel         top

I leave this alone; I never use bracketing.

At its default of ON, bracketing cancels if you turn off the 6D.

If you turn this OFF, bracketing stays active even if you turn off the 6D and turn it back on.

 

4: Bracketing sequence         top

I leave this alone; I never use bracketing.

This lets us change the order in which bracketed shots are made.

 

5: Number of bracketed shots         top

I leave this alone; I never use bracketing.

This lets us select how many and what kinds of shots are made while bracketing.

 

6: Safety shift         top

Normally this is off, which means that if the 6D runs out of apertures or shutter speeds when shot in the Av or Tv modes, that you'll get under or overexposure.

I set this to Shutter speed/Aperture, which lets my 6D change my selected aperture or shutter speed if needed to get a good exposure in the Av or Tv mode.

If set to ISO, this lets the 6D change a manually-set ISO if needed to get a correct exposure in any of the auto exposure modes.

 

C.Fn. II :Autofocus        top

1: Tracking sensitivity

I never touch this.

This only applies to AI SERVO autofocus.

This sets how quickly — or not — the 6D gives up tracking and looks for a new subject.

If set towards LOCKED ON, the 6D ignores things that get in the way of your subject longer and tends to stay locked-on to that distance, waiting for the hidden subject to return to view.

Set towards RESPONSIVE, the 6D has much less patience, and if it loses the subject, more quickly goes looking for a new one.

 

2: Accel./decel. tracking         top

I never touch this.

Set to a higher value than the default of 0, this lets the 6D track objects moving more erratically.

Set higher, it also makes it more likely that the 6D will be more likely to change focus suddenly and lose the real subject.

 

3: AI Servo 1st image priority         top

In AI SERVO, this lets you tell the 6D to shoot faster, or to take more time to be sure it's in perfect focus for moving targets.

EQUAL is the default, and where I leave it set.

RELEASE lets the 6D take the picture anytime you press the button in AI SERVO, whether or not its in focus.

FOCUS always makes the 6D wait and take the picture only it's actually in focus.

 

4: AI Servo 2nd image priority         top

I never touch this.

In continuous shooting in AI SERVO, this lets you tell the 6D to shoot faster, or to take more time to be sure it's in perfect focus for moving targets, for the second and further shots in a sequence.

EQUAL is the default, and where I leave it set.

RELEASE lets the 6D take the picture anytime you press the button in AI SERVO, whether or not its in focus.

FOCUS always makes the 6D wait and take the picture only it's actually in focus.

 

5: AF-assist beam firing         top

This sets whether or not the AF assist beam in your flash fires as needed.

The default is ENABLE.

DISABLE prevents the AF-assist light on the flash from going off, although the flash can still go off.

I set mine to IR ASSIST ONLY, which disables the annoying multiple-flash burst AF assist lights on some flashes, and lets the infrared-beams work as needed.

 

6: Lens drive when AF impossible         top

I leave this alone.

By default, if the 6D cant' focus, it keeps trying.

Set this to STOP FOCUS SEARCH, and it tries once, and give up. This is useful only for super telephoto or macro lenses which focus over a huge range, and for which we often don't want them hunting over that huge range looking for something.

When set to STOP, if the camera gives up, just press the AF or shutter button again for the lens to try again in the same range. If you're getting stuck with these lenses, move the manual focus ring to get you in the general vicinity, and then let the AF system finish for you precisely.

 

7: Orientation linked AF point         top

Default is SAME, meaning that the AF point doesn't move as you rotate the camera.

Set to SELECT DIFFERENT, the 6D recalls whatever point you last selected when held that way. It's not smart enough to move the point to the same place as you move the camera vertically or horizontally; instead it simply recalls whatever point you last had selected when you were last in that orientation.

 

8: Superimposed display         top

ON lets the AF points light up in the finder. I leave it this way.

OFF turns off the AF points. They still work, but won't light up.

 

9: AF microadjustment         top

Don't touch this.

I explain it on my Canon 6D Autofocus Settings page.

 

C.Fn. III :Operation/Others        top

1: Dial direction during Tv/Av

I leave this alone.

This lets you swap the directions in which the dials turn in various modes.

 

2: Focusing Screen         top

Only if using an optional focusing screen, this lets us optimize the 6D's exposure.

 

3: Multifunction lock         top

This lets us set what's locked when we set the rear LOCK switch.

 

4: Warnings ! in viewfinder         top

This lets us select the conditions under which a big gray "!" appears over the viewfinder screen.

We may select among any or all of these to set the big "!" in the finder:

Black-and-white Picture Style chosen.

WB Shift set to other than zero.

ISO set to 50 (L), 51,200 (H1) or 102,400 (H2).

Spot Meter activated.

 

5: Custom Controls         top

This lets us customize what buttons do what.

Play with these and you'll probably find something.

I prefer to change these settings:

SET button to double as a MENU button.

Master Multi Controller set to let me select AF points.

 

Clear all Custom Func. (C.Fn.)        top

This lets us set all these back to their defaults.

It doesn't clear the values you may have entered for AF Microadjustment, but it does set the 6D to ignore (DISABLE) them.

AUTOFOCUS settings       

CAMERA Menu  

LIVE VIEW Menu

MOVIE Menu

PLAYBACK Menu

SETUP (WRENCH) Menu

C.Fn. Menus

MY MENU Menu  <— Next

 

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