Canon EOS 7D Instruction Manual

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When bulb is set, the shutter stays open while you hold down the 
shutter button completely, and closes when you let go of the shutter 
button. This is called bulb exposure. Use bulb exposures for night 
scenes, fireworks, the heavens, and other subjects requiring long 
exposures.
1Set the Mode Dial to .
2Set the desired aperture.
 While looking at the LCD panel, turn 
the < 6> or  dial.
3Take the picture.
While you hold down the shutter 
button, the exposure will continue.
 The elapsed exposur e time will be 
displayed on the LCD panel.
F : Bulb Exposures
Elapsed exposure time
 Since bulb exposures produce more noise than usual, the image might 
look a little grainy.
 When [ 8C.Fn II -1: Long exp. noise reduction] is set to [1: Auto ] or 
[ 2: On ], noise generated by the bulb exposure can be reduced (p.224).
 If ISO Auto is set,  the ISO speed will be fixed at ISO 400 (p.65).
For bulb exposures, using the Remote Switch RS-80N3 or Timer Remote 
Controller TC-80N3 (both sold separately) is recommended.
 You can also use a remote controller (sold separately, p.114) for bulb 
exposures. When you press the remote controller’s transmit button, the 
bulb exposure will start immediately  or 2 sec. later. Press the button 
again to stop the bulb exposure. 
						

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F: Bulb Exposures
If you take a picture without looking at the viewfinder, light entering the 
eyepiece can throw off the exposure. To prevent this, use the eyepiece 
cover (p.23) attached to the camera strap. During Live View shooting 
and movie shooting, attaching t he eyepiece cover is unnecessary.
1Remove the eyecup.
While grasping both sides of the 
eyecup, slide it upward to remove.
2Attach the eyepiece cover.
Slide the eyepiece cover down into 
the eyepiece groove to attach it.
You can connect the Remote Switch RS-80N3 or Timer Remote 
Controller TC-80N3 (both sold separately) or any EOS accessory 
equipped with an N3-type terminal to the camera and shoot with it.
To operate the accessory, refer to its instruction manual.
1Open the terminal cover.
2Connect the plug to the remote 
control terminal.
 Connect the plug as shown in the 
illustration.
 To disconnect the plug, grasp the 
plug’s silver part and pull out.
Using the Eyepiece Cover
Connecting the Remote Switch 
						

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Although using the self-timer or Remote Switch can prevent camera 
shake, using mirror lockup to prevent camera vibrations (mirror shock) 
can also help when you use a super  telephoto lens or shoot close ups.
When [ 8C.Fn III -13: Mirror lockup] is set to [1: Enable]  (p.231), 
shooting with mirror lockup will be possible.
1 Focus the subject, press the shutter button completely 
and let go of it.
 The mirror will swing up.
2 Press the shutter button completely again.
The picture is taken and the mirror goes back down.
Mirror Lockup N
In very bright light such as at the beach or ski slope on a sunny day, take 
the picture promptly after mirror lockup.
 Do not point the camera toward the  sun. The sun’s heat can scorch and 
damage the shutter curtains.
 If you use bulb exposures, the self-timer, and mirror lockup in 
combination, keep pressing the shutter button completely (self-timer 
delay time + bulb exposure time). If you let go of the shutter button 
during the self-timer countdown, there will be a shutter-release sound. 
However, this is not the actual sh utter release (no picture is taken).
When [ 1: Enable ] is set, single shooting will take effect even if the drive 
mode is set to continuous.
 When the self-timer is set to < Q> or < k>, the picture will be taken 
after 10 sec. or 2 sec. respectively.
 The mirror locks up, and after 30 seconds, it will go back down 
automatically. Pressing the shutter button completely again locks up the 
mirror again.
 For mirror lockup shots, using the Remote Switch RS-80N3 or Timer 
Remote Controller TC-80N3 (both sold separately) is recommended.
 You can also lockup the mirror and shoot  with a remote controller (sold 
separately, p.114). With Remote Controller RC-6 or RC-1, setting it to a 
2-sec. delay is recommended for shooting. 
						

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With Remote Controller RC-6, RC-1 or RC-
5 (sold separately), you can shoot remotely 
up to about 5 meters/16.4 feet from the 
camera. RC-6 or RC-1 enables you to 
shoot immediately or after a 2-sec. delay, 
and RC-5 has a 2-sec. delay.
1Focus the subject.
2Set the lens focus mode switch to 
.
 You can also shoot with < f>.
3Press the  button. (9 )
4Select the self-timer.
Look at the LCD panel and turn the 
 dial to select < Q> or < k>. 
5Press the remote controller’s 
transmit button.
Point the remote controller toward the 
camera’s remote control sensor and 
press the transmit button.
 The self-timer lamp lights and the 
picture is taken.
R Remote Control Shooting
RC-1 RC-6/RC-5
Remote
control
sensor
Camera misoperation may occur near certain types of fluorescent lights. 
During wireless remote control, try to keep the camera away from 
fluorescent light sources. 
						

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In the d/s/f /a/F shooting 
modes,  you can press the < D> button 
to pop-up and fire the built-in flash 
whenever desired.  If the built-in flash 
has popped up, you can push it back 
down with your fingers. In the < 1> (Full 
Auto) mode, the built-in flash fires 
automatically (p.52). In the  mode, 
you can set it to fire automatically or 
manually (p.55).
Using flash in the d/s/f/a/F shooting modes will set the shutter 
speed and aperture as shown below. In any shooting mode, E-TTL II autoflash 
control will take effect to suit the  manually- or automatically-set aperture.
* Normally, the sync speed is set automatically within 1/250 sec. to 30 sec. to suit 
the ambient brightness. In low light, the main subject is exposed with the 
automatic flash, and the background is  exposed with a slow shutter speed set 
automatically. Both the subject and  background look properly exposed 
(automatic slow-speed flash sync). With sl ow shutter speeds, using a tripod is 
recommended.
D  Using the Built-in Flash
Shooting 
ModeShutter SpeedAperture
dAutomatically set within 1/250 sec. - 1/60 sec.Automatically 
set
sManually set within 1/250 sec. - 30 sec.Automatically 
set
f
Automatically set
With [ 8C.Fn I -7: Flash sync. speed in Av 
mode ] (p.223), the following options for 
automatic selection can be selected: • 0: Auto*
• 1: 1/250 - 1/60 sec. auto
• 2: 1/250 sec. (fixed)
Set manually
aManually set within 1/250 sec. - 30 sec.Set manually
FWhile you hold down the shutter button, the 
exposure will continue.Set manually 
						

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D Using the Built-in Flash
Effective Range of Built-in Flash[Approx. meters/feet]
Using the red-eye reduction lamp  before taking a flash picture can reduce red eye.
Under the [1 ] tab, select [Red-eye 
On/Off ], then press < 0>. Select 
[On ], then press < 0>.

For flash photography, when you 
press the shutter button halfway, the 
red-eye reduction lamp will light. Then 
when you press the shutter button 
completely, the picture will be taken.
ApertureISO Speed
100200400800160032006400H: 12800
f/3.53.5 / 12 5 / 16 7 / 23 9.5 / 3114 / 4619 / 6227 / 8939 / 128 
f/43 / 10  4 / 13  6 / 20  8.5 / 28  12 / 39 17 / 56  24 / 79  34 / 112 
f/5.62 / 7 3 / 10 4.5 / 15 6 / 20 8.5 / 2812 / 3917 / 56 24 / 79 
3  Using Red-eye Reduction
For close subjects, the subject should  be at least 1 meter/3.3 feet away 
when using flash.

Detach the lens hood and keep at least 1 meter/3.3 feet away from the subject. If the lens has a hood attached or you are too close to the subject, the 
bottom of the picture might look dark due to the obstructed flash. If you 
use a telephoto lens or a fast lens and the built-in flash is still partially 
obstructed, use an EX-series Speedlite (sold separately).
The red-eye reduction feature is most effective when the subject looks at the red-
eye reduction lamp, when the room is well lit, or when you go closer to the subject.
When you press the shutter button halfway, the 
display on the viewfinder bottom will gradually turn 
off. For best results, take the picture after this display 
turns off.
 The effectiveness of red-eye reduction varies depending on the subject. 
						

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D Using the Built-in Flash
In the same way as normal exposure compensation, you can set 
exposure compensation for flash.  You can set flash exposure 
compensation up to ±3 stops in 1/3-stop increments.
1Press the  button. (9 )
2Set the flash exposure 
compensation amount.
While looking at the LCD panel or 
viewfinder, turn the < 5> dial.
 To cancel the flash exposure 
compensation, set the flash exposure 
compensation amount back to < E>.

When you press the shutter button 
halfway, the <
y> icon will be displayed 
in the viewfinder and on the LCD panel.
3Take the picture.
y  Flash Exposure Compensation N
Increased exposure
Decreased exposure
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 flash exposure has been set.If you set flash exposure compensation with both the camera and EX-series 
Speedlite, the Speedlite’s flash exposure compensation setting will override the 
camera’s. If you set flash exposure compensation with an EX-series Speedlite, 
any flash exposure compensation set with the camera will not take effect.
 The exposure compensation amount will remain in effect even after you 
set the power switch to < 2>.
 The camera can also be used to set the EX-series Speedlite’s flash 
exposure compensation in the same way as with the Speedlite. 
						

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D Using the Built-in Flash
FE (flash exposure) lock obtains and locks the correct flash exposure 
reading for any part of a subject.
1Press the  button to pop-up 
the built-in flash.
 Press the shutter button halfway and 
look in the viewfinder to check that 
the < D> icon is lit.
2Focus the subject.
3Press the  button. (8 )

Aim the viewfinder center over the subject 
where you want to lock the flash 
exposure, then press the <
B> button.
 The flash will fire a preflash and the 
required flash output is calculated 
and retained in memory.
 In the viewfinder, “ FEL” is displayed 
for a moment and < d> will light.

Each time you press the  button, a 
preflash is fired and the required flash output 
is calculated and retained in memory.
4Take the picture.
 Compose the shot and press the 
shutter button completely.
 The flash is fired to take the picture.
B : FE Lock N
If the subject is too far  away and beyond the effective range of the flash, the 
< D > icon will blink. Get closer to the subject and repeat steps 2 to 4. 
						

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The built-in flash and external Speedlite settings can be set with the 
menu. The [External flash *** ] menu options for external Speedlites are 
applicable only to an attached  EX-series Speedlite compatible with 
the respective functions.
The setting procedure is the same as setting a camera menu function.
Select [Flash control].
 Under the [1 ] tab, select [Flash 
control ], then press < 0>.
 The flash control screen will appear.
 Normally, set this to [Enable ].
 If [Disable] is set, both the built-in 
flash and external Speedlite will 
not fire.  This is useful when you only 
want to use the AF-assist beam.
The [ Built-in flash func. setting ] and [External flash func. setting ] 
menus can set the functions listed  on the next page. The functions 
displayed under [ External flash func. setting ] will vary depending on 
the Speedlite model.
Select [ Built-in flash func. setting ] 
or [External flash func. setting ].
 The flash functions will be displayed. 
The functions not dimmed can be 
selected and set.
3  Setting the Flash N
[Flash firing]
[Built-in flash func. setting] and [External flash func. setting] 
						

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3 Setting the Flash N
[Built-in flash func. setting] and [External flash func. setting] Settable 
Functions
* Regarding the [FEB] (Flash exposure bracketing) and [ Zoom], refer to the 
Speedlite’s instruction manual.
 Flash mode
You can select the flash mode to suit your desired flash shooting.
[E-TTL II ] is the standard mode of 
EX-series Speedlites for automatic 
flash shooting.
 [Manual flash ] is for advanced users 
who want to set the [Flash output ] 
(1/1 to 1/128) themselves.
 [MULTI flash ] is for advanced users 
who want to set the [Flash output ], 
[Frequency ], and [Flash count ] 
themselves.
 Regarding other flash modes, refer to 
your Speedlite’s instruction manual.
Function[Built-in flash 
func. setting ][External flash 
func. setting ]Page
Flash modek120
Shutter sync.k121
FEB* –k–
Flash exposure 
compensationk11 7
E-TTL IIk121
Zoom* –k–
Wireless settingk123
To prevent the flash from overheating  and degrading, avoid firing the MULTI 
flash more than 10 consecutive times. If you fire the flash 10 times, allow the 
flash to rest for at least 10 min. before firing the flash again. Some EX-series 
Speedlites will automatically stop firing after 10 times to protect the flash. If 
this happens, let the flash rest for at least 15 min.