One of the great benefits of using a modern digital camera is the availability of a high degree of customization options. Menus, button configurations, touch screens, etc. can be customized for specific situations. In addition to programmable buttons and menus, all modern cameras include a feature called Custom Shooting Modes, which allows users to save and recall personalized user profiles. In this article and video, I explain CSMs and how using them can dramatically improve your photography and user experience.
What is custom shooting mode?
Custom Shooting Modes are indicated in your camera with the letter C followed by a number. Most cameras will have a minimum of 3 modes available, specified as follows: C1, C2, C3, etc. In Canon’s EOS system, three such modes are included, and in Fujifilm’s X system , users can set up to seven specific profiles. At first, it is easy to confuse custom shooting mode (which I will refer to as CSM in this article) with customizable menus or buttons, but these are completely different functions. Here’s the difference: CSM is a global setting that affects the entire camera and is used to save a dedicated user profile that can be recalled immediately. Additionally, the CSM includes a specific shooting mode like Program, Aperture Priority, Manual, etc. (see photo below where a little “M” next to C1 indicates that this particular CSM includes manual exposure, for example). When CSM is registered, it will remember and recall not only menu settings, button layouts, autofocus settings, etc., but it also remembers shutter speed, aperture, ISO, balance settings white, specific image quality settings (such as RAW or JPEG ), and image profiles. It can be most easily understood as taking a virtual snapshot of your camera setup at a time, which can be instantly recalled when a similar shooting situation occurs.
Why should you use custom shooting modes?
Now that we understand what CSMs are, let’s talk about why they’re such an important feature. The custom shooting mode not only greatly improves the overall workflow and shooting logistics, but also makes it easier to be consistent when repeated shooting situations occur. For example, in my camera, C1 is the setting I use when taking frontal shots at my studio. When I set the camera to C1, it immediately goes into manual mode and recalls shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, focus method, raw settings, buttons and menu configuration, image configuration and any other settings that I originally registered. Since my headshots were created in a controlled studio environment, the camera was ready to go without having to double-check every setting before a session. Not only does this help a lot with consistency, but it also makes the next shot much more streamlined as I only have to make small adjustments depending on my specific client instead of getting started. from the beginning each time. It also ensures that I don’t accidentally set the camera to JPEG instead of raw, which is a mistake we all make at some point and something can derail the whole thing. shooting session.
The C2 in my camera is set up for street and family photography. One of the biggest changes for me has to do with exposure simulation. In the studio, I didn’t want the EVF to simulate exposure, as I was using strobe lights, so I disabled exposure simulation in my C1 settings. But when I take the camera out for family photos, natural light spot portraits, or street photography, I like to take advantage of exposure simulation, so I can see exactly what’s going on. I will get before pressing the shutter button. Also, my autofocus method is different when set to C2, as is the base ISO, white balance, picture profile, among other things. So instead of having to dig through multiple menus and manually change all these settings one by one, all I have to do is select C2 when I’m out of my studio and I’m good to go. outdoor portrait sessions.
Custom shooting modes Equally fewer missed shots
It’s easy to see the utility of Custom Shooting Modes, but there’s another benefit as well. Using the CSM will result in fewer misses and blunders. For example, if you are a portrait photographer and also a sports shooter, setting the sports-specific CSM ensures that the camera is set to Shutter Priority with the ideal ISO. , focus modes, etc., so there’s no way to forget, for example, make these changes to each set before your shoot begins. Another situation where this comes into play is when working with portrait clients. Right from the very beginning of my portrait and portraiture career, I would spend the first 10 minutes of my session tweaking every setting, starting from scratch! This of course creates stress for me and awkwardness for my client, who has to stand there and continue to be bombarded with flash explosions as I figure out what I’m doing (I’m exaggerating a bit). , but you know what I mean). A wisely set up CSM will come to your rescue in situations like these.
It is well worth the time investment
For a long time, I ignored the Custom Shooting Modes in my camera, mainly because I didn’t understand what they were for and also because I didn’t want to waste time setting them up. All in all, I don’t consider myself a big tech, and I also avoid reading the manual if I can and prefer to just learn it on the go (yes, this is just laziness). Unfortunately, I rarely remember the settings I used from one shot to the next, so without the CSM, I’m creating more work for myself and delaying consistency. My picture.
On the contrary, the small amount of effort involved in the initial setup of CSM has saved me countless hours over the years and saved me from making avoidable mistakes with clients in my studio. me. It has also improved my client interactions since I don’t have to make major adjustments at the beginning of each session, just small tweaks. So, if you haven’t used Custom Capture Mode yet, now is the perfect time to set up this very useful feature. It will improve your images and workflow and make your life much easier in the long run!
