Top of camera controls (left)

On the left side of the camera we have the exposure and flash compensation dial. Flash compensation can be set in values from -2 to +2 EV in 0.5 EV steps. Exposure compensation can set from -3 to +3 EV in 0.5 EV steps or -2 to +2 EV in 0.3 EV steps depending on which side of the exposure compensation dial is facing the indicator notch (clever). If the dial is at the zero (0) position you must press the release button in the center of the dial before you can turn it. In use I found this method of exposure compensation easy and convenient, kudos.

Rear of camera controls

The rear of the camera is dominated by that huge 2.5" LCD monitor, running down its left edge are a column of five buttons which are associated only with LCD display and menu functions. On the right is the four way controller / Spot-AF selector, two buttons and the Anti-Shake switch.

LCD buttons

Button	Function
MENU	Menu Enters or leaves the current mode menu, all menus are accessible once in the menu system but pressing this button in Play mode will take you directly to the Play section.
	Display In shooting mode pressing this button toggles the recording mode display between full, basic and off. In play mode pressing this button toggles between image with information, just image and thumbnail index.
	Magnify (play only) In play mode press this button to enter magnified view mode, initial magnification is the maximum (4.7X for a full resolution image). Use the rear control dial to change magnification level and the four-way controller to scroll around the magnified image.
	Delete (play only) In play mode press this button to delete the currently displayed / selected image. This displays a Yes / No confirmation box.
	Play Enters or leaves play mode, this will display the last image taken or the last image on the CompactFlash card.

Focus area switch

Position	Function
	Focus-area selection In this mode the four-way controller is used to select one of the nine focus areas. Unlike other cameras where you use the controller to 'scroll' through AF areas the 7D attaches an absolute position to each possible direction of the four-way controller (which actually has eight locations) as well as the center 'AF' button.
	Focus-area lock Locks the previously selected AF area so that it can't be accidentally changed by pressing the four-way controller.
	Wide focus area In this mode the camera will automatically select between the nine AF areas. Spot AF is also available in this mode.
	Spot AF / AF-Lock Press the AF button to select the center AF area, this can be used to trigger Spot AF (and lock it while held). This can only be used in Focus-area selection and Wide focus area modes.

Buttons

Button	Function
MSET	Memory set In one of the P, A, S or M exposure modes pressing this button allows you to store the current camera configuration as one of three user memories. These can then be recalled by simply turning the exposure mode dial to the 1, 2 or 3 position.
ISO	ISO sensitivity Press this button and then turn either the front or rear control dial to change the ISO sensitivity.  • Auto (ISO 100 - 400)  • ISO 100  • ISO 200  • ISO 400  • ISO 800  • ISO 1600  • ISO 3200 * * Only if enabled in custom menu

Front of camera controls

On the front left of the camera located on the side of the lens mount surround is the Depth-of-Field preview button (press to temporarily stop the lens down to the metered or selected aperture). On the front right of the camera is the lens release button, below this the Focus mode dial (see below).

Focus Mode Dial

Position	Mode
AF-S	Single-shot AF Normal single function auto focus mode, press shutter release half-way and the camera will trigger auto focus and lock (if possible).
AF-A	Automatic AF In this mode the camera will dynamically switch between single-shot AF and continuous AF depending on the subject's motion. This switch position can be changed to Direct Manual Focus via the custom menu.
AF-C	Continuous AF Designed for focusing on moving subjects, the camera continuously focuses on the subject under the AF area while the shutter release is half-pressed.
MF	Manual focus Enables manual focus, the camera's focus motor is disengaged and the focus ring can be moved freely. The camera will indicate if its auto-focus position matches the currently selected manual focus distance.