* for FEL? 1D mk II

[Daniel Harrison]

Hi everyone,
I am struggling with the FEL button on my 1D2. Is there a way to swap it with the * button? It would make my life allot easier! I like to hold the flash exposures for a long period of time by holding the FEL down, which on my old 10D wasn't a problem(used*for FEL). On my 1D2 it is very difficult, any ideas?

 

[Don Cohen]

Hi Daniel,

There's no way of switching button function that I'm aware of, but I have a different suggestion that I think will help out.

There is a "Personal Function" (these are available when your camera is connected via firewire to your computer) that will allow you to change the default timing settings. Specifically, you can adjust PF 23 to alter the timing for the FEL function. First, there is the "16 second timer" which controls how long the FEL setting lasts after it is initiated. You can increase that time as long as you would like.

But once you take a single shot, all exposure settings, including the FEL setting, are reset once the time for the "Post Shutter Release Timer" expires. So if you want to take an FEL reading, and have it "carry over" from one shot to another, for an extended period of time, you can increase the Post Shutter Release Timer to whatever value you want. I don't do much shooting like this, but on occasions where I do, it is very helpful.

The only downside to extending these times is greater power consumption, so you just need to be aware of this and monitor your battery status, have extras available, etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[Asher Kelman]

Don,

Do you have any examples available of where you used this technic?

Asher

 

[John Kirby]

Daniel,
Not the * button, but how about the AF point selection button next to it?
CF 11-3 swaps the roles of it and the FEL button. Is that of any use?
John.

 

[Don Cohen]

Asher,

Don,

Do you have any examples available of where you used this technic?

Asher

Not online. The only time I might do this is when taking some semi-formal photos of my grandchildren. We'll set up a background, along with 2 550EX's on stands with umbrellas. Once PF23 is enabled after connecting it via computer, you can turn it on or off on the camera. So I'll turn it on, to enable my custom settings, and then use the FEL to get a flash reading for a given setup of the kids, and then I can shoot as much as I want with that particular setup, and not have to worry about resetting the flash exposure.

I guess it might be useable for fill-flash in wildlife photography, although I haven't used it there. In that setting I'd be a little more concerned about battery life, but this might not be of real, practical significance for all I know.

 

[Daniel Harrison]

Don, you are genious! Thanks for that! I think I will have to put those PF's into practice, seriously I am very grateful. As for the battery, I just can't get over how long the things lasts! I shot a whole wedding and the battery is still full, 3 bars.

John, that is a great idea but I already use that button for EC as I use the main dial for changing focussing points. I will keep it in mind if I ever change that though

Thank you all!

 

[Alan T. Price]

It would be more useful than the * button because the * button is better used for AF. However, I'm changing AF sensors more often than the FEC and would do so even during flash shooting so I guess Don's idea of just temporarily extending the post shutter timer is the best way to go.