Canon EOS 7D Modes and Menus
The Mode dial on the left side of the Canon EOS 7D's top panel lets you
select various exposure modes, with the same modes offered as the 5D Mark
II. Targeted at professionals and serious enthusiasts just like the 5D Mark II,
the EOS 7D does not offer any Scene modes, but it does offer the new
Creative Auto (CA) mode (see description below). Other settings consist of
Full Automatic, Programmed Auto Exposure, Shutter Priority, Aperture
Priority, full Manual Exposure, and Bulb. There are also three Camera User
settings, for registering up to three banks of settings for quick recall.
Here's a description of each of the shooting modes:
Full Automatic Mode: 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, ISO is set to Auto, and the
metering mode is set to Evaluative.
Creative Auto Mode: Canon has added their
relatively new exposure mode called Creative Auto (or "CA").
The CA mode is a cross between the green zone and
program mode. When set to CA mode, the EOS 7D allows the
user to adjust picture style, motor drive, and exposure
compensation, as well as to use the program shift function
and select between RAW or JPEG file formats, but the rest of
the more complex features remain under automatic control.
The EOS 7D's rear-panel LCD display offers text help for each setting while in CA mode, for example
prompting the user as to whether they want to blur the background with program shift, or make the
picture brighter / darker with exposure compensation, etc.
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 dial, which will change the combination of aperture
and shutter speed so as to maintain the same exposure value, but with a different combination of
aperture/shutter speed.
Shutter-Priority AE: This mode allows you to manually set the shutter speed anywhere from
1/8,000 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 apertures 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.
A Custom menu setting enables a "Safety Shift" option, which automatically adjusts the primary
variable (shutter speed or aperture) in Tv or Av mode, if the setting you've selected won't permit a
good exposure under the current lighting conditions. This could come into play if you were shooting in
shutter-priority mode to achieve a motion-blur effect, but the light suddenly got brighter, pushing the
required aperture value beyond what the lens could provide. In this situation, the camera would
automatically boost the shutter speed the minimum amount needed to achieve a good exposure.
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.
Bulb: In this mode, the shutter stays open as long as the shutter button is pressed. This is
useful for long exposures such as night scenes, fireworks, and astrophotography. The top Status
display reports the elapsed time, from one to 999 seconds, as the exposure progresses. The use of an
RS-80N3 Remote Switch or TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller is recommended.
, , Camera User Settings Modes: These three final settings on the Mode dial
allow you to save three individual sets of camera settings for quick recall. Useful when shooting an
event with multiple light sources, such as a wedding and reception, these custom modes let you
register camera settings for specific conditions and easily shift between modes. You can save most of
the camera's shooting mode options as well as the Custom Function settings. Settings are registered
as C1, C2, or C3 through the Camera User Setting menu.
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, 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.
Canon EOS 7D Menu Details
Below are Canon 7D menu options and their descriptions.
Record Menu 1:
Record Menu Options: Screen 1
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Quality -18M Fine
5184 x 3456
-18M Normal
5184 x 3456
-8.0M Fine
3456 x 2304
-8.0M Normal
3456 x 2304
-4.5M Fine
2592 x 1728
-4.5M Normal
2592 x 1728
-RAW + JPEG
Select image size and
quality combination.
The EOS 7D has two
smaller RAW options,
MRAW and SRAW.
-RAW
-MRAW (3888 x
2592)
-SRAW (2592 x
1728)
-MRAW + JPEG
-SRAW + JPEG
You can select any size
and quality JPEG when
shooting RAW + JPEG or
MRAW + JPEG or SRAW +
JPEG.
Red-eye On/Off -Off
-On
Enables/disables red-eye
reduction flash mode.
Beep -On
-Off
Turns all camera beep
sounds on or off
Release Shutter
Without Card
-On
-Off
If on, the camera will fire the
shutter even without a
memory card
Review Time -Off
-2 sec.
-4 sec.
-8 sec.
-Hold
If off, the camera does not
display the captured image
after capture, otherwise the
image appears for the
designated time.
Hold setting displays the
image until the auto power
off time elapses.
Peripheral
Illumination
Correction
-Enable
-Disable
If on, the camera corrects
for corner shading
"vignetting" in JPEGs,
depending on which lens is
detected (therefore,
probably won't work with
third-party lenses).
Flash Control -Flash Firing -Enable
-Disable
Enables/Disables built-in or
external flash.
-Built-in Flash Func.
Setting
-Flash mode
(E-TTL II, Manual,
Multi)
-Shutter sync.
(1st curtain, 2nd
Controls a wide range of
flash functions.
New for the 7D is wireless
support for 3 groups with 4
curtain, Hi-speed)
-Flash exp. comp.
(-3 to +3 EV)
-E-TTL II
(Evaluative,
Average)
-Wireless func.
(Disable, Ext:Int, Ext,
Ext+Int)
channels.
Wireless options let you
select whether the internal
flash or an external
Speedlite controls the
wireless remotes
-External Flash Func.
Setting
-Flash Mode
-Shutter Sync
-FEB
-Flash Exp. Comp.
-E-TTL II
Available options depends
on flash model attached.
-External Flash C.Fn.
Setting
Available options depends
on flash model attached.
-Clear Ext. Flash
C.Fn. Set
-Enable
-Disable
Record Menu 2:
Record Menu Options: Screen 2
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Exposure Comp./AEB
(Auto Exposure
-Select EV variable Maximum span for a single
series is +/-5 EV, but you can
Bracketing) now go up to 4 stops darker
or brighter from the
recommended exposure.
Auto Lighting
Optimizer
-Disable
-Low
-Standard
-High
Sets the ALO level.
White Balance -Auto
-Daylight
-Shade
-Cloudy
-Tungsten
-Fluorescent
-Flash
-Custom
-Kelvin
Temperature
(2,500 to 10,000)
Custom WB -Choose image for
reference, then set
white balance
White Balance
Shift/BKT
-Set the color shift
on a two-
dimensional grid
(Green/Magenta,
Blue/Amber)
- Choose bracket
(+/-3 Magenta and
Green, +/-3 Blue
and Amber)
Color Space -sRGB
-Adobe RGB
Picture Style -Standard
-Portrait
-Landscape
-Neutral
-Faithful
-Sharpness (arbitrary
units from 0 to 7)
-Contrast (9 units
from - to +)
-Saturation (9 units
Monochrome has Filter and
Toning effect instead of
Saturation and Color Tone.
-Monochrome
-User Def. 1
-User Def. 2
-User Def. 3
from - to +)
-Color Tone (9 units
from - to +)
Record Menu 3:
Record Menu Options: Screen 3
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Dust Delete Data -Cancel
-OK
Captures a reference image
for the dust reduction
system, showing where dust
is present on the sensor.
Dust shadows can then be
automatically removed from
the images when they're
processed through Canon's
software.
One-touch
RAW+JPEG
-Simultaneous
RAW
-RAW
-MRAW
-SRAW
Defines how the RAW+JPEG
button works.
-Simultaneous JPEG -Large/Fine
-Large/Normal
-Medium/Fine
-Medium/Normal
-Small/Fine
-Small/Normal
Record Menu 4:
Record Menu Options: Screen 4
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Live View Shooting -Enable
-Disable
AF Mode -Live mode
-Face Detect Live
mode
-Quick mode
Live modes use imager data
to determine focus, while
Quick mode uses the phase-
detect AF module.
Grid Display -Off
-Grid 1
-Grid 2
Exposure Simulation -Enable
-Disable
Silent Shooting -Mode 1
-Mode 2
-Disable
Mode 1 reduces shutter
noise by leaving the first
shutter curtain open,
emulating its function
electronically. Mode 2
spreads the sounds out, not
re-opening the shutter until
you release the shutter
button.
Metering Timer -4 sec.
-16 sec.
-30 sec.
-1 min.
-10 min.
-30 min.
Playback Menu 1:
Playback Menu Options: Screen 1
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Protect Images -Set Sets or removes protection
mark. Protected images can
only be deleted by
reformatting the memory
card.
Rotate -Set Rotates selected image
clockwise, either 90 or 270
degrees
Erase Images -Select and erase
images
-All images in folder
-All images on card
-Erase
-Cancel
Erases images.
Print Order -Sel. Image -Select image Marks images on the
memory card for later
printing on a DPOF (Digital
Print Order Format)
compatible printer.
-By -Mark all in folder
-Clear all in folder
-All image -Mark all on card
-Clear all on card
-Setup -Print Type
(Standard, Index,
Both)
-Number of copies
-Date (On, Off)
-File No. (On, Off)
Playback Menu 2:
Playback Menu Options: Screen 2
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Highlight Alert -Disable
-Enable
Enables a blinking highlight
display in Playback mode
AF Point Display -Disable
-Enable
If Enabled, the AF point used
to set focus appears in red
in the image display
Histogram -Brightness
-RGB
RGB option displays
individual histograms for
each color channel,
brightness shows only a
single graph.
Slide Show -Select images -All images
-Stills
-Movies
-Date
-Folder
Sets up Slide Show feature.
Users can choose to play all
folders, one folder, or just
photos taken on a particular
date. The Menu button stops
playback.-Setup -Play time
-Repeat
-Start
Image Jump w/ dial -1 image
-10 images
-100 images
-Date
-Folder
-Movies
-Stills
Selects how image jump
works using the Main Dial.
Setup Menu 1:
Setup Menu Options: Screen 1
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Auto Power Off -1 min.
-2 min.
-4 min.
-8 min.
-15 min.
-30 min.
-Off
Auto Rotate -On (Record,
Display)
-On (Display)
-Off
Record, Display - vertical
images are rotated on both
the camera's LCD and on
the computer. (In
applications that understand
"Rotate" tags in the files'
EXIF headers.)
Display - vertical images
are only rotated on the
computer.
Format -Cancel
-OK
Erases all files on card, even
protected ones
File Numbering -Continuous
-Auto Reset
-Manual Reset
Continuous numbers image
files sequentially.
Auto Reset resets the
numbering every time a
card is formatted or a new
card inserted.
Manual Reset resets
numbering at any time to
0001.
Select Folder -Select existing
-Create
Creates new folders.
WFT Settings Displayed only when WFT-
E5/E5A wireless file
transmitter is attached.
Recording func.
+media select
Displayed only when WFT-
E5/E5A wireless file
transmitter is in use.
Setup Menu 2:
Setup Menu Options: Screen 2
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
LCD Brightness -Auto (3 ranges)
-Manual (7 levels)
-Set
-OK
Auto uses ambient light
sensor to set brightness
automatically. Manual
allows setting brightness
level from dark to bright in
seven steps
Date/Time -Set Date
-Set Time
-Set Display Format
Language -English
-German
-French
-Dutch
-Danish
-Portuguese
-Finnish
-Italian
-Ukrainian
-Norwegian
-Swedish
-Spanish
-Greek
-Russian
-Polish
-Czech
-Hungarian
Language options may vary
by region.
-Romanian
-Turkish
-Arabic
-Thai
-Simplified Chinese
-Traditional Chinese
-Korean
-Japanese
Video System -NTSC
-PAL
Sensor Cleaning -Auto Cleaning
-Clean Now
-Clean Manually
Auto Cleaning setting
automatically enables
cleaning when camera is
turned off or on (adds about
1 sec. to time)
Clean Now activates
cleaning
Clean Manually locks up
the mirror for manual
cleaning.
Viewfinder Grid
Display
-Disable
-Enable
Setup Menu 3:
Setup Menu Options: Screen 3
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Battery Info. -Press Info button -Register
-Delete info.
Displays battery type and
serial number, remaining
capacity, shutter count and
recharge performance.
Keeps track of multiple
registered batteries via
serial number.
INFO Button Display
Options
-Displays camera
settings
-Electronic level
-Displays shooting
functions
Camera Setting shows all of
the camera settings used to
create the image (such as
Picture Style, Color Space,
etc.).
A dual-axis electronic level
display is new for the 7D.
Shooting Functions shows
the more basic shooting
modes, such as exposure
variables, ISO, White
Balance, etc.
Camera User Setting -Register -Mode dial C1
-Mode dial C2
-Mode dial C3
Registers the current
camera settings to one of
three available modes.
-Clear Settings
Copyright
Information
-Display copyright
info
-Enter author's
name
-Enter copyright
details
-Delete copyright
information
Copyright info can be
embedded into image files.
Clear All Camera
Settings
-Cancel
-OK
Resets all camera settings
to default.
Firmware Version -Update firmware
version
Updates firmware version if
a properly-prepared CF card
is in place
Custom Functions Menu:
Custom Function Menu Options
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
C.Fn I: Exposure -C.Fn. I-1 Exposure
Level Increments
-0: 1/3-Stop
-1: 1/2-Stop
-C.Fn.I-2 ISO Speed
Setting Increments
-0: 1/3-Stop
-1: 1-Stop
-C.Fn.I-3 ISO
Expansion
-0: Off
-1: On
On adds "H" 12,800 ISO
setting.
-C.Fn. I-4 Bracketing
Auto Cancel
-0: On
-1: Off
-C.Fn. I-5 Bracketing
Sequence
-0: 0, -, +
-1: -, 0, +
-C.Fn. I-6 Safety
Shift
-Disable
-Enable (Tv/Av)
Safety Shift Enable option
automatically shifts
exposure if brightness
changes suddenly.
-C.Fn. I-7 Flash Sync.
Speed in Av Mode
-0:Auto
-1: 1/250-1/60 sec.
auto
-2: 1/250 sec. (fixed)
C.Fn. II: Image -C.Fn. II-1 Long
Exposure Noise
Reduction
-0: Off
-1: Auto
-2: On
-C.Fn. II-2 High ISO
Speed
Noise Reduction
-0: Standard
-1: Low
-2: Strong
-3: Disable
-C.Fn. II-3 Highlight
Tone Priority
-0: Disable
-1: Enable
Highlight Tone Priority
Enable option automatically
improves highlight detail by
boosting ISO to 200
minimum to get headroom,
tweaking tone curve to use
more of available range in
the highlights
C.Fn.III: Auto
focus/Drive
-C.Fn. III-1 AI Servo
Tracking Sensitivity
-Slow to Fast in 5
steps
-C.Fn. III-2 AI Servo
1st/2nd Image
Priority
-0: AF Priority /
Tracking Priority
-1: AF Priority / Drive
Speed Priority
-3: Release / Drive
Speed Priority
-4: Release /
Tracking Priority
-C.Fn. III-3 AI Servo
AF Tracking Method
-0: Main Focus Point
Priority
-1: Continuous AF
Track Priority
-C.Fn. III-4 Lens
Drive when AF
Impossible
-0: Focus Search On
-1: Focus Search Off
Lens Drive when AF
Impossible option tells
camera to continue to try
and achieve focus or stop,
useful with super telephoto
lenses
-C.Fn. III-5 AF -0: Disable
Microadjustment -1: Adjust all by
same amount
-2: Adjust by lens
-C.Fn. III-6 Select AF
Area Selection Mode
-Disable
-Enable
-Register
-Auto Select: 19
point AF
-Manual Select: Zone
AF
-Manual Select: AF
Point Expansion
-Manual Select:
Single AF Point
-Manual Select: Spot
AF
-Apply
-C.Fn. III-7 Manual
AF Point Selection
Pattern
-0:Stops at AF Area
Edges
-1:Continuous
-C.Fn. III-8 VF
Display Illumination
-0: Auto
-1: Enable
-2: Disable
-C.Fn. III-9 Display
ALL AF Points
-0: Disable
-1: Enable
-C.Fn. III-10 Focus
Display in AI
SERVO/MF
-0: Enable
-1: Disable
-C.Fn. III-11 AF-Assist
Beam Firing
-0: Enable
-1: Disable
-2: Enable External
Flash Only
-3: IR AF Assist
Beam Only
-C.Fn. III-12
Orientation Linked
AF Point
-0: Same For Both
Vertical / Horizontal
-1: Select Different
AF Points
-C.Fn. III-13 Mirror
Lockup
-0: Disable
-1: Enable
C.Fn.IV:
Operation/Others
-C.Fn. IV-1 Custom
Controls
Function selections
for:
-Shutter Button
-AF-On Button
-AEL Button
-DOF Button
-Lens Button
-M-Fn Button
-Set
-Main Dial
-Quick Control Dial
-Multi-Controller
Can assign numerous
functions to various
controls, buttons and dials.
-C.Fn. IV-2 Dial
Direction during
Tv/Av
-0: Normal
-1: Reverse Direction
-C.Fn. IV-3 Add
Image Verification
Data
-0: Disable
-1: Enable
-C.Fn. IV-4 Add
Aspect Ratio
Information
-0: Off
-1: Aspect Ratio 6:6
-2: Aspect Ratio 3:4
-3: Aspect Ratio 4:5
-4: Aspect Ratio 6:7
-3: Aspect Ratio
10:12
-4: Aspect Ratio 5:7
Clear All Custom
Functions (C.Fn.)
My Menu:
My Menu Options
Top-Level
SelectionSecond-Level Third-Level Notes
Register -(Full list of options
that can exist in My
Menu)
Sort Changes the order of
registered items in My Menu
Delete
Delete All Items
Display from My
Menu
-Enable
-Disable
When Enabled, the My Menu
tab is displayed first when
pressing the Menu button
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