I think Canon decided to offer so many variations so that no matter how unusual an owner's desires are, he can have his choice. I do not recall encountering any difficulties in setting them. Just followed the instructions. My own choices were to have 2 sets of parameters, one for daytime use, one for night (starscapes). Things like selecting the focus point. At night I want the central to be the default, during daytime only when I depress that zapping button. Enlargement, of course, to be available all the time, etc. If you do not need to change anything, do not feel deprived. The default base set is pretty good, except for the playback enlargement :-)

Does anyone know of a web site that helps explain the "Personal Functions"  on the Canon 1Ds? There are 31 of these suckers (listed below) and the manual only has one page on them  (p. 144) and no description of how they might be used.

How do you set your "Personal Functions" and why?

Thanks!
Henry
Click here  to see a web page with the pictures from a current exhibit.


00
Custom Function group registration

01
Disables the shooting modes

02
Disables the metering modes

03
Specifies the metering mode for manual exposure

04
Sets the maximum and minimum shutter speeds

05
Sets the maximum and minimum aperture values

06
Registers and switches the shooting mode and metering mode

07
Repeats bracketing during continuous shooting

08
Sets the number of shots to be bracketed

09
Changes the bracketing sequence for C.Fn-09-2/3 to increased exposure, standard exposure and decreased exposure

10
Retains the shift amount for program shift

14
Disables focus detection (search driving) by the lens drive

15
Disables the AF-assist beam from being emitted

16
Enables automatic shooting when focus is achieved at the fixed point of focus while the shutter button is pressed fully

17
Disables automatic AF point selection

18
Enables automatic AF point selection when C.Fn-11-2 has been set

19
Sets the continuous shooting speed

20
Limits the number of frames during continuous shooting

21
Enables quiet operation when the shutter button is OFF after picture taking

23
Changes the timers time length

24
Illuminates the LCD panel during Bulb exposures

25
Sets the default settings when the CLEAR (Quality+WB) button is ON

27
Enables the electronic dial's function to be used in the reverse direction

28
Prevents exposure compensation with the Quick Control Dial

30
Playback enlargement mode

31
Adds original image evaluation units