Canon EOS 7D Instruction Manual

							101
d: Program AE
 If the “ 30” shutter speed and the maximum aperture 
blink, it indicates underexposure.
Increase the ISO speed or use flash.
 If the “ 8000” shutter speed and the minimum aperture 
blink, it indicates overexposure.
Lower the ISO speed or use an ND filter (sold 
separately) to reduce the amount of light entering the 
lens.
Differences Between < d> and < 1> (Full Auto)With < 1>, many functions such the AF mode, drive mode, and built-in 
flash are set automatically to prevent  spoiled shots. The functions you can 
set are limited. With < d>, only the shutter speed and aperture are set 
automatically. You can freely set the AF  mode, drive mode, built-in flash, 
and other functions (p.254).
About Program Shift In the Program AE mode, you can freely change the shutter speed and 
aperture combination (Program) set by the camera while maintaining the 
same exposure. This is called Program shift.
 To do this, press the shutter button down halfway, then turn the < 6> 
dial until the desired shutter speed or aperture value is displayed.
 Program shift is canceled automatically after the picture is taken.
 Program shift cannot be used with flash. 
						

							102
In this mode, you set the shutter speed and the camera automatically 
sets the aperture to obtain the correct exposure suiting the brightness of 
the subject. This is called shutter-priority AE. A faster shutter speed can 
freeze the action or moving subjec t. Or a slower shutter speed can 
create a blurred effect, giving the impression of motion.
* < s > stands for Time value.
1Set the Mode Dial to < s>.
2Set the desired shutter speed.
While looking at the LCD panel, turn 
the < 6> dial.
3Focus the subject.
Press the shutter button halfway.
 The aperture is set automatically.
4Check the viewfinder display and 
shoot.
 As long as the aperture is not 
blinking, the exposure will be correct.
s : Shutter-Priority AE
Frozen action
(Fast shutter speed) Blurred motion
(Slow shutter speed) 
						

							103
s: Shutter-Priority AE
If the maximum aperture blinks, it indicates 
underexposure.
Turn the < 6> dial to set a slower shutter speed until 
the aperture stops blinking or set a higher ISO speed.
 If the minimum aperture blinks, it indicates 
overexposure.
Turn the < 6> dial to set a faster shutter speed until 
the aperture stops blinking or set a lower ISO speed.
Shutter Speed Display
The shutter speeds from “ 8000” to “4” indicate the denominator of the 
fractional shutter speed. For example, “ 125” indicates 1/125 sec. Also, “05 ” 
indicates 0.5 sec. and “ 15” is 15 sec. 
						

							104
In this mode, you set the desired aperture and the camera sets the 
shutter speed automatically to obtain the correct exposure suiting the 
subject brightness. This is called aperture-priority AE. A higher f/
number (smaller aperture hole) will make more of the foreground and 
background fall within acceptable focus. On the other hand, a lower f/
number (larger aperture hole) will make less of the foreground and 
background fall within acceptable focus.
* < f > stands for Aperture value (aperture opening).
1Set the Mode Dial to < f>.
2Set the desired aperture.
While looking at the LCD panel, turn 
the < 6> dial.
3Focus the subject.
Press the shutter button halfway.

The shutter speed is set automatically.
4Check the viewfinder display and 
shoot.
 As long as the shutter speed is not 
blinking, the exposure will be correct.
f : Aperture-Priority AE
Sharp foreground and background
(With a small aperture opening) Blurred background
(With a large aperture opening) 
						

							105
f: Aperture-Priority AE
Press the depth-of-field preview button 
to stop down the lens to the current 
aperture setting. You can check the 
depth of field (range of acceptable focus) 
through the viewfinder.
Depth of Field Preview N
If the “ 30” shutter speed blinks, it indicates 
underexposure.
Turn the < 6> dial to set a larger aperture (smaller f/
number) until the blinking stops or set a higher ISO 
speed.
 If the “ 8000” shutter speed blinks, it indicates 
overexposure.
Turn the < 6> dial to set a smaller aperture (larger f/
number) until the blinking stops or set a lower ISO 
speed.
Aperture Display
The larger the f/number, the smaller the aperture opening will be. The 
apertures displayed will differ depending on the lens. If no lens is attached to 
the camera, “ 00” will be displayed for the aperture.
 A higher f/number will make more of the foreground and background fall 
within acceptable focus. However, the viewfinder will look darker.
 The depth-of-field effect can be clearly seen on the Live View image as 
you change the aperture and press the depth-of-field preview button 
(p.136).
 The exposure will be locked (AE lock) while the depth-of-field preview 
button is pressed. 
						

							106
In this mode, you set both the shutter speed and aperture as desired. To 
determine the exposure, refer to the exposure level indicator in the 
viewfinder or use a commercially-available handheld exposure meter. 
This method is called manual exposure.
*  stands for Manual.
1Set the Mode Dial to < a>.
2Set the ISO speed (p.64).
3Set the shutter speed and aperture.
 To set the shutter speed, turn the 
 dial.
 To set the aperture, set the Quick 
Control Dial switch to < J>, and turn 
the < 5> dial.
4Focus the subject.
 Press the shutter button halfway.

The exposure setting will be displayed 
in the viewfinder and on the LCD panel.
 The exposure level mark < s> lets you 
see how far you are from the 
standard exposure level.
5Set the exposure and take the picture.
 Check the exposure level and set the 
desired shutter speed and aperture.
a: Manual Exposure
Exposure level mark Standard exposure index

If the [ 2 Auto Lighting Optimizer] (p.77) is set to anything other than 
[ Disable ], the image may still look bright  even if a darker exposure has 
been set.
 If ISO Auto is set, the ISO speed setting will change to suit the shutter 
speed and aperture to obtain a standard exposure. Therefore, you may 
not obtain the desired exposure effect. 
						

							107
You can select one of four methods to measure the subject brightness. In fully-automatic modes (1/C), evaluative metering is set automatically.
1Press the  button. (9 )
2Select the metering mode.
While looking at the LCD panel, turn 
the < 6> dial.
q Evaluative metering
This is a general-purpose metering mode suited for 
portraits and even backlit subjects. The camera 
sets the exposure automatically to suit the scene.
w Partial metering
Effective when the background is much brighter than 
the subject due to backlighting, etc. Partial metering 
covers about 9.4% of the viewfinder area at the center.
r Spot metering
This is for metering a specific spot of the subject or scene. 
The metering is weighted at the center covering about 
2.3% of the viewfinder area. When spot metering is set, 
the spot metering circle will be displayed in the viewfinder.
e Center-weighted average metering
The metering is weighted at the center and then 
averaged for the entire scene.
q  Selecting the Metering Mode N 
						

							108
Exposure compensation can increase (brighter) or decrease (darker) 
the standard exposure set by the camera.
Although you can set the exposure com pensation up to ±5 stops in 1/3-
stop increments, the exposure compensation indicator on the LCD 
panel and in the viewfinder can only display the setting up to ±3 stops. If 
you want to set the exposure compensation setting beyond ±3 stops, 
you should follow the instructions for [ 2 Exp. comp./AEB ] on the next 
page.
1Set the Mode Dial to < d>, < s>, 
or < f>.
2Set the Quick Control Dial switch 
to < J>.
3Set the exposure compensation 
amount.
 After pressing the shutter button 
halfway ( 0), turn the < 5> dial.
4Take the picture.
 To cancel the exposure 
compensation, set the exposure 
compensation amount back to < E>.
Setting Exposure Compensation N
Increased exposure for a brighter image
Decreased exposure for a darker image
If the [2 Auto Lighting Optimizer] (p.77) is set to anything other than 
[Disable], the image may still look bright even if a darker exposure has been set.
 The exposure compensation amount will remain in effect even after you 
set the power switch to < 2>.

Be careful not to turn the  dial and change the exposure compensation 
inadvertently. To prevent this, set the Quick Control Dial switch to . If the amount set exceeds ±3 stops, the end of the exposure level 
indicator will display < I> or < J>. 
						

							109
By changing the shutter speed or aperture automatically, the camera 
brackets the exposure up to ±3 stops in 1/3-stop increments for three 
successive shots. This is called AEB.
* AEB stands for Auto Exposure Bracketing.
1Select [Expo. comp./AEB].
Under the [2 ] tab, select [Expo. 
comp./AEB ], then press < 0>.
2Set the AEB amount.
Turn the  dial to set the AEB amount.
You can set the exposure compensation 
amount with the <
5> dial. If AEB is 
combined with exposure compensation, 
AEB will be applied centering on the 
exposure compensation amount.
 Press < 0> to set it.

When you exit the menu,  and the AEB 
level will be displayed on the LCD panel.
3Take the picture.
Focus and press the shutter button 
completely. The three bracketed shots will be 
taken in this sequence: Standard, decreased 
exposure, and increased exposure.
 Follow steps 1 and 2 to turn off the AEB amount display.
 AEB will be canceled automatically when you set the power switch 
to < 2> or when the flash is ready to fire.
h Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) N
AEB amount
Canceling AEB
If the drive mode is set to < u>, you must press the shutter button three 
times. When  or  is set and you hold down the shutter button 
completely, the three bracketed shots will be taken continuously. Then 
the camera will stop shooting. When < Q> or < k> is set, the three 
bracketed shots will be taken continuously after a 10-sec. or 2-sec. delay.
 Neither flash nor bulb expos ures can be used with AEB. 
						

							110
Use AE lock when the area of focus is to be different from the exposure 
metering area or when you want to take multiple shots at the same exposure 
setting. Press the <
A> button to lock the exposure, then recompose and 
take the shot. This is called AE lock. It is effective for backlit subjects.
1Focus the subject.
Press the shutter button halfway.
 The exposure setting will be 
displayed.
2Press the  button. (0 )
 The < A> icon lights in the viewfinder 
to indicate that the exposure setting is 
locked (AE lock).
 Each time you press the < A> button, 
it locks the current auto exposure 
setting.
3Recompose and take the picture.
 If you want to maintain the AE lock 
while taking more shots, hold down 
the < A> button and press the shutter 
button to take another shot.
* When the lens’ focus mode switch is set to , AE lock is applied at the center AF point.
A  AE Lock N
AE Lock Effects
Metering 
Mode 
(p.107)AF Point Selection Method  (p.91)
Automatic SelectionManual Selection
q*AE lock is applied at the AF 
point that achieved focus.AE lock is applied at the 
selected AF point.
wreAE lock is applied at the center AF point.