R5 MK-II: Customizing the M-fn Button

[pietrie59]

I can't figure out how to select or deselect the various functions that are accessible via the M-FN button.

Using the Customize Controls/Customize Buttons Tab and Menu, I select the M-FN button. Like on the R5, selecting "dial function" and then "info/detail set" brings us the various options that can be selected by the dial (or repeated press of the m-fn button. On the R5, one would simply tap a function icon on the screen to enable or disable it, as indicated by the presence or absence of a check mark. But on the R5 MK II, tapping an icon just moves it around or duplicates it, which sometimes causes another icon to disappear. And there are one or two icons labeled "off" (it varies). There's no obvious way to turn an individual option on or off. There is nothing in the manual that I can find that explains how this works on the MK-II.

Has anyone figured this out?

 

[spec68]

Sounds like you have a ghost in yours. It should work as you suggest- click customize buttons -> toggle down to M-FN and hit set -> select the function you want to assign and hit set and done.

If you have tried already might try powering off and remove battery and try again. If that doesn’t work I’d save my settings on a SD card and then do a factory reset.

 

[pietrie59]

Is this a known bug? I hate to do a reset because I just spent all morning sitting the camera up.

 

[pietrie59]

Tried both of the power down and a factory reset. No luck – the problem persists Any other thoughts?

 

[spec68]

Is this a known bug? I hate to do a reset because I just spent all morning sitting the camera up.

I haven't heard of a general bug regarding this issue but I have read about other flaky issues some users are experiencing, especially some video settings not holding. Personally, I had no issue customizing my buttons and dials. It was like every other R body I've owned. So if it is a bug it could be limited to specific production time periods. But it also could just be a one-off issue and the camera OS just needs to be refreshed.

I get you don't want to re-do all your settings which I why I suggested saving them to SD card before you do the reset. (Wrench menu -> save/load cam settings on card -> save to card). That way you can reload them after the fac. reset. Otherwise call Canon and see what they suggest you do to resolve the problem. They might have an even simpler solution.

 

[spec68]

Tried both of the power down and a factory reset. No luck – the problem persists Any other thoughts?

No. If a fac. reset didn't do anything I'd give Canon a call to get is sorted out.

 

[pietrie59]

FYI, I called Cannon USA support about this issue. They were unable to offer any solutions, and it appears as if I’m the first one to report the issue. Is anyone else having this issue?

 

[Drac0]

Yes, I am having the same issue. No ability to select with check marks when customizing the M-Fn button DIAL FUNC option.

If I click on something and then hit SET, it just moves that pair to the front of the list... but then when I exit out it seems nothing has changed...

However, I just looked at my Firmware and I am still running 1.0.0. Updating to 1.0.1 now and will report back when I've had a chance to try that.

... and, no joy. Problem remains after 1.01 firmware update.

 

[Drac0]

I figured out the answer while I was on hold, waiting for a Canon rep to get more information.He did not find it, so I took him through what I wrote below. Maybe it will make it into a future version of the PDF.

Canon decided to make this setting more flexible, but also utterly unintuitive on the Mark II. In the original R5, there are simple check marks for each item under DIAL FUNC. You click on the item and the check mark toggles, turning that particular function on or off. Not so on the Mark II.

Starting from the Customize buttons for shooting menu item, here are the steps:

1. Hit SET to open the menu.
2. Select the third option under still settings: M-Fn, which opens another menu: M-Fn Multi-function button.
3. I have DIAL FUNC selected, and this post is only about how to configure this option. To continue with DIAL FUNC setting, select it if not selected, then press the INFO button.
4. You will, see 2 rows of button settings. In the default case the last (5th) column of these are all OFF. What we do from here configures each of these settings, one at a time. In the default case, row 1 holds:
   
   WB Drive Mode Flash Exp Comp Pic Style OFF
   
   and row 2 holds:
   
   Meter Mode AF Op ISO AF Area OFF
5. Lets say for the sake of argument that you want to do the following: first, turn off r1c1 (White Balance) and second, switch Flash Exp Comp to Exposure Comp. Do as follows...
6. First Click on WB (white balance r1c1). This brings up a Choose items to assign (stills) menu. Select the OFF item and click SET to accept. You will be back at the Dial function settings menu, but what was WB is now OFF.
7. Now select Flash exp comp (r1c3). From the next menu, click on Exposure compensation and click SET to accept.
8. You are now back at the Dial function settings menu. Click the INFO button to accept your changes. Then click SET to accept them again and you are back at the original Customize buttons for shooting. Menu.
9. Half-press the shutter to return to camera shooting mode, then press the M-Fn button to see your newly reconfigured DIAL FUNC menu.

Like I said, more flexible (because you can rearrange things vs. just turning them on or off, but wow is it unintuitive.

@pietrie59, I hope this helps you out. Certainly made my life easier!

 

[pietrie59]

Thanks! That seems to work! I appreciate the help!

 

[Ephemeris]

I figured out the answer while I was on hold, waiting for a Canon rep to get more information.He did not find it, so I took him through what I wrote below. Maybe it will make it into a future version of the PDF.

Canon decided to make this setting more flexible, but also utterly unintuitive on the Mark II. In the original R5, there are simple check marks for each item under DIAL FUNC. You click on the item and the check mark toggles, turning that particular function on or off. Not so on the Mark II.

Starting from the Customize buttons for shooting menu item, here are the steps:

1. Hit SET to open the menu.
2. Select the third option under still settings: M-Fn, which opens another menu: M-Fn Multi-function button.
3. I have DIAL FUNC selected, and this post is only about how to configure this option. To continue with DIAL FUNC setting, select it if not selected, then press the INFO button.
4. You will, see 2 rows of button settings. In the default case the last (5th) column of these are all OFF. What we do from here configures each of these settings, one at a time. In the default case, row 1 holds:
   WB Drive Mode Flash Exp Comp Pic Style OFF
   and row 2 holds:
   Meter Mode AF Op ISO AF Area OFF
5. Lets say for the sake of argument that you want to do the following: first, turn off r1c1 (White Balance) and second, switch Flash Exp Comp to Exposure Comp. Do as follows...
6. First Click on WB (white balance r1c1). This brings up a Choose items to assign (stills) menu. Select the OFF item and click SET to accept. You will be back at the Dial function settings menu, but what was WB is now OFF.
7. Now select Flash exp comp (r1c3). From the next menu, click on Exposure compensation and click SET to accept.
8. You are now back at the Dial function settings menu. Click the INFO button to accept your changes. Then click SET to accept them again and you are back at the original Customize buttons for shooting. Menu.
9. Half-press the shutter to return to camera shooting mode, then press the M-Fn button to see your newly reconfigured DIAL FUNC menu.

Like I said, more flexible (because you can rearrange things vs. just turning them on or off, but wow is it unintuitive.

@pietrie59, I hope this helps you out. Certainly made my life easier!

Thanks Draco.

That's great to have it written down. I kind of muddled through without fully understanding it.

 

[R2D2]

I figured out the answer while I was on hold

Sweet!

I wish another button (like the "SET" button) could be programmed for this. I like using the "M-Fn" button to switch between Custom shooting modes, as it's by far the fastest way to do so.

Thanks for posting the detailed instructions!

R2

 

[Drac0]

Glad it helped; that's why I wrote it all down. Hopefully Canon will do the same in an updated manual.

 

[Drac0]

I like using the "M-Fn" button to switch between Custom shooting modes, as it's by far the fastest way to do so.

Huh; I use the MODE button and Quick Control Dial #2 to switch between shooting modes, including C1-C3. That was/is the default on my camera. M-Fn by default brings up the DIAL FUNC menu, which is what my post discusses customizing.

 

[Anne from Calgary]

Hugely helpful thank youl. The least intuitive menu I think in the whole camera.

 

[Drac0]

Yeah, unintuitive features can be hard to follow. The number of steps to select things is ridiculous. Glad it helped you though.

 

[Drac0]

It’s a pity Cannon didn’t see fit to document it. Hopefully, the info I gave to the support person all those months ago will make it into their documentation.

and yes… Very unintuitive!

 

[R2D2]

I like using the "M-Fn" button to switch between Custom shooting modes, as it's by far the fastest way to do so.

Huh; I use the MODE button and Quick Control Dial #2 to switch between shooting modes, including C1-C3. That was/is the default on my camera. M-Fn by default brings up the DIAL FUNC menu, which is what my post discusses customizing.

You can also customize the M-Fn button to switch between Custom shooting modes (which is what my post discussed), and still leave the MODE button at its default configuration.

Using the M-Fn button to switch between Custom shooting modes has the distinct advantage in that it is by far the fastest way to switch (if one needs the speed). I don't know of another button that can work in the same manner.

R2