Tutorial: How to custom configure your Canon EOS 7D settings for Photo & Video

Step-by-step tutorial to set your Canon’s C1, C2 and C3 custom modes.

One of the 7D’s very useful features is the ability to have custom setups. Your photography setup will most likely not use the same configuration as your video shooting. The 3 custom modes (C1, C2, C3) accessible with the MODE DIAL on top of your camera are very helpful for setting your own configurations. The MODE DIAL will allow you to quickly switch between each.

Please note that the settings below are the ones I have configured for my needs but might differ depending on your own needs. My priority is to have one Photo profile and two Video profiles. I use Final Cut Studio Suite for my editing and want to ensure that my footage leaves me enough flexibility in post production. The 7D produces some amazing colours out of the box, but if you want a little more flexibility to colour your footage in post, then you might want to use a much more neutral picture style when shooting to capture the appropriate dynamic range.

 

I have defined the following three profiles:

• C1 – Photo shooting in RAW mode
• C2 – Video shooting in 24p Full HD (1920*1080) with an adjusted colour profile to facilitate Colour Correction in post-production
• C3 – Video shooting in 50p HD (1280*720) for Slow Motion with an adjusted colour profile to facilitate Colour Correction in post-production

As you will notice I have set up my profiles for PAL countries, but if you’re in the States you will most likely choose the NTSC mode.

Also note that this tutorial has been written to be carried out SEQUENTIALLY. This means that when configuring the C3 video mode, it uses some of the configurations made in the C2 setup. If you intend to only setup one video mode, pick my C2 description below as it is the most complete.

All right, let’s get started…

First of all, here’s a reminder of most of the key buttons we will be using (click to magnify):

  

The first series of settings are being set on the Viewfinder (the big LCD screen)

Step 1 – Reset your Custom Settings to their default values

Set MODE DIAL to MANUAL (M)
Press MENU
Navigate to TAB 11 – CLEAR ALL CAMERA SETTINGS

This will reset all your custom modes (C1, C2, C3)

Step 2 – Setting Custom Mode C1: Photo shooting in RAW mode

Set mode MANUAL (M)

Press MENU

Navigate to TAB 1
QUALITY: set to RAW

Navigate to TAB 2
White Balance: set to AWB
Picture Style: set to STANDARD

Navigate to TAB 4
AF MODE: set to QUICK MODE
Grid Display: set to GRID 1
Metering Timer: set to 30 MIN.

Navigate to TAB 6
AF POINT DISP: set to DISABLE

Navigate to TAB 7
AUTO ROTATE: set to ON (Computer only)

Navigate to TAB 8
DATE/TIME: set accurately
VIDEO SYSTEM: set to PAL (or NTSC if you’re in the US)

Navigate to TAB 10
Navigate to sub-menu C.FN.III – AUTOFOCUS/DRIVE
Navigate to sub-setting 6 – SELECT AF AREA
TICK all five AF Areas
SELECT ENABLE

Navigate to sub-menu C.FN.IV – OPERATION/OTHERS
Navigate to sub-setting 1 – CUSTOM CONTROLS
Press SET
A METERING AND AF START menu appears
Navigate to AF POINT DIRECT SELECTION (Last item in second column)
Press SET
Select the AF POINT DIRECT SELECTION
Press SET

The next series of settings are being set on the Top LCD screen.

Press the ISO button
Select ISO 100

Press AF-DRIVE button
Select ONE SHOT

Press METERING-WB button
Select EVALUATIVE METERING (the first option)

Back to the Viewfinder LCD

Press MENU

Navigate to TAB 9
Camera User Setting: select REGISTER, select C1, press SET

Step 3 – Setting Custom Mode C2: Video shooting in 24p Full HD (1920*1080) with Custom Picture Style

Navigate to TAB 2
Select PICTURE STYLE
Press SET
Scroll down to and highlight USER DEF 1
Press INFO
Set PICTURE STYLE to NEUTRAL
Set SHARPNESS to 0
Set CONTRAST to -4
Set SATURATION to -2
Set COLOR TONE to 0

Navigate to TAB 10
Navigate to sub-menu C.FN.II – IMAGE
Navigate to sub-setting 3 – HIGHLIGHT TONE PRIORITY
Set to ENABLE

Note:
ISO is now automatically set to a minimum of 200
The D+ next to the ISO setting on the top LCD now indicates that Highlight Tone priority is enabled

Switch from PHOTO MODE to VIDEO MODE

Navigate to TAB 4
Set MOVIE REC SIZE to 1920×1080 24p

Press MENU

On the TOP LCD

Set the Shutter Speed to 50 (=1/50)

Press MENU

Navigate to TAB 9
Camera User Setting: select REGISTER, select C2, press SET

Step 4 – Setting Custom Mode C3: Video shooting in 50p HD (1280*720) with Custom Picture Style

Switch from PHOTO MODE to VIDEO MODE

Navigate to TAB 4
Set MOVIE REC SIZE to 1280×720 50p (if PAL, choose 60p for NTSC)

Press MENU

On the TOP LCD

Set the Shutter Speed to 100 (=1/100)

On the Viewfinder LCD

Press MENU

Navigate to TAB 9
Camera User Setting: select REGISTER, select C3, press SET

Done! – That’s it… You’re set.

You can now switch between your different custom setups using the MODE DIAL and your C1, C2 or C3 programs.

A big thank you to all the people on various forums and sites who have come up with these settings. I hope that this transcription will be of use to many of you! :)