I am as dull as whoever wrote the EOS M100 Manual

mangurian wrote:

In the menus I go Custom Function II and select AF/AF lock, no AE lock (#2).

I press SET. Now when I shoot in non-auto mode, should pressing * lock my focus or what ?

Basically, I am not sure how I use the custom buttons.

Would a kind M100 owner please reply with a "Custom Buttons For Dummies" please ?

When I wrote up procedures for operating submarine electronics, producing something like the custom button part of the manual would have been a career-ender. The M100 is an entry level camera and therefore, some of the users are also entry level.

I don't have an M100, but I believe the same menu option is available on all of the m series cameras. Essentially, that option changes the button that initiates af. By default, af is engaged with a half press of the shutter button, while this option changes it to pressing the * key. Doing this allows one to use the back button focus technique. Holding down the * key will activate af, while releasing it will lock focus. For stationary subjects or subjects that maintain a constant distance, you could focus once and then take several pictures without needing to refocus in between each one. If you have servo AF on, holding the * key will continuously focus on objects, which could be useful for timing shots while tracking moving subjects. If you don't like this, just change it back to the default setting.

Custom functions just change some behaviors and button keybindings, depending upon how you like to use the camera. Hope this helps!

+1 from me. I have the M5 but the manual still sucks. I know exactly where you're coming from on this.

I also have mild dyslexia so AE and AF look similar on the page and I really have to stare hard at it. Otherwise I read "AF/AF lock no AF lock"

:-PJ Peters wrote:

+1 from me. I have the M5 but the manual still sucks. I know exactly where you're coming from on this.

I also have mild dyslexia so AE and AF look similar on the page and I really have to stare hard at it. Otherwise I read "AF/AF lock no AF lock"

J Peters wrote:

+1 from me. I have the M5 but the manual still sucks. I know exactly where you're coming from on this.

Same here .I got the M50 and thought the manual was written by someone who writes instructions for flat pack furniture.

I also have mild dyslexia so AE and AF look similar on the page and I really have to stare hard at it. Otherwise I read "AF/AF lock no AF lock"

I started writing a full response to the original question, and found I couldn't. The first two options are fairly simple to grasp, but the latter two (AF/AF Lock, no AE Lock and AE/AF, no AE Lock) are completely barmy in the way they are labelled and described. The M5 manual even says the latter combination "enables exposure compensation by pressing the shutter halfway". The M5 has a separate exposure compensation dial, so I have no clue what it's talking about. I assume this is a typo.

All these modes also behave differently depending on:

• One-shot or Servo focussing engaged
• Evaluative metering versus one of the other metering modes

so you really need a table of outcomes for the various scenarios.

I did find an internet search brought up this page which was helpful (although it's for the Rebel, the principles are the same)

https://www.dummies.com/photography/cameras/canon-camera/canon-rebel-t3-series-cameras-customizing-exposure-and-focus-lock-options/

Thanks for the "dumm100ies" link.

It's so bad...should be written by a photographer. Look up b/w and all you see is the grainy and they should mention picture style...which there they choose monochrome.

Rick

mangurian wrote:

In the menus I go Custom Function II and select AF/AF lock, no AE lock (#2).

I press SET. Now when I shoot in non-auto mode, should pressing * lock my focus or what ?

Basically, I am not sure how I use the custom buttons.

Would a kind M100 owner please reply with a "Custom Buttons For Dummies" please ?

When I wrote up procedures for operating submarine electronics, producing something like the custom button part of the manual would have been a career-ender. The M100 is an entry level camera and therefore, some of the users are also entry level.