SETUP GUIDE

Glenn Bartley
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing my setup guide and congratulations on the purchase of your new camera! I’m
sure it will help you to capture many thousands of wonderful images.

The purpose of this guide is to help you to set up and understand the features, functions and settings of
your new Canon 7D mark II. I have tried my best to simplify things and make the choices clear. In some
cases the best setting is an obvious one. Other times there are options based on personal preferences. In
each case I have tried to make this clear and provide the information that you need in order to get the ab-
solute most out of your new camera.

Throughout the guide you will see places where I have stated (P.P.). This stands for personal preference and
means that there is no correct setting but rather a few options that are up to your own preferences.

If you have any suggestions or find any typos please feel free to email me at – rgbartley@gmail.com

Thank you again and all the best!

Glenn Bartley

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If you enjoy this guide you may also wish to check out my eBook guides to post processing and to tropical
nature photography.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 2

 RED MENU

• Image quality - I would set this to RAW

• Image review - I have mine set to off (P.P)
• Beep - Enable (P.P)
• Release shutter - OFF
• Lens aberation correction - Enable Peripheral
Illumination and Chromatic Aberation unless
correcting in post processing (P.P.)
• Flash control - See below...

• Flash firing - Enable

• E-TTL II meter - Evaluative
• Flash sync speed in AV mode - Auto

• Built-in flash settings - ETTL II

• Built-in flash settings - 1st curtain sync
• Built-in flash settings - Disable Wireless func.

• External flash func setting - ETTL II

• External flash func setting - Wireless off
• External flash func setting - Zoom auto
• External flash func setting - High speed sync
• External flash func setting - FEC as required
• External flash func setting - FEB at 0

• External flash C.Fn setting - These settings

vary based on the model of EX flash used. Con-
sult your flash manual.

NOTE: I have not covered wireless flash settings

deliberately here as there are such a wide range
of possible configurations. Please consult your
camera manual for your specific scenario.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 3

 RED MENU

• Expo.comp/AEB - Used for bracketing expo-

sures. Set as needed for a scenario.
• ISO speed settings - See below...
• Auto Lighting - Off
• White balance / Custom WB - AWB is a good
standard. Adjust as needed for a given scene.
• WB Shift/Bkt - Only need for studio settings.
• Color space - Adobe RGB

• ISO speed range - 100 - 12800 (P.P.)

• Auto ISO range - 100 - 6400 (P.P.)
• Min shutter speed - Only affects settings in
auto ISO. I use Manual 1/60. (P.P.)

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 4

 RED MENU

• Picture Style - I use Standard (can reduce con-

trast a few notches and up sharpness - P.P.).
• Long exp. noise - Off
• High ISO speed NR - Off
• Highlight tone priority - On (P.P.). This only af-
fects the jpg and image on the LCD in the field.
• Dust Delete Data - Only used if needed.
• Multiple exposure / HDR Mode - Disable

• Red-eye reduc. - Disable.

• Interval timer - Disable.
• Bulb timer - Disable.
• Anti-flicker shoot - Disable.
• Mirror lockup - Off. Turn on as needed for
slow shutter speed images.

• Live View shoot. - Enable.

• AF method - FlexiZone single (P.P.)
• Continuous AF - Disable
• Grid display - I like the wider grid lines (P.P.).
• Aspect ratio - 3:2
• Expo simulation - Enable.

• Silent LV shoot - Mode 1

• Metering timer - 16 sec

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 5

 RED MENU - VIDEO

• Movie Servo AF - Enable

• AF method - FlexiZoneAF - point
• Grid display - 3x3
• Movie rec quality - FHD, 29.97, ALL-I, MOV
• Sound rec. - Auto, Use wind filter if needed.
• Movie Servo AF speed - Default setting
• Movie Servo AF track sens - Move to -2
(locked on)

• Silent LV shoot. - Mode 1

• Metering timer - 16 sec.
• Time code - Default setting
• Silent Control - Enable
• Shutter btn func. - Metering/AF/Still image
• HDMI output - No morroring

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 6

 PINK MENU

• Case 1 - Versatile multi purpose.

• Case 2 - Track subjects ignoring obstacles.
• Case 3 - Instantly focus on sudden objects.
• Case 4 - Rapid acceleration / deceleration.
• Case 5 - Erratic in all directions.
• Case 6 - Speed changes / erratic movements.

What is MOST important is to understand what

each of the 3 sliders is doing:

• Tracking sensitivity - if the AF point is tracking

a subject, and then “sees” a new subject, how
will it respond? [-1 or -2 to stay locked on].
• Accel / decel tracking - Set to [0] for a steadi-
ly-moving subject, or to [1 or 2] for one with a
stop-and-start character.
• AF pt auto switching - If using more than one
AF point at a time (e.g. Zone AF), how quickly
does the camera switch from one AF point to
another as a subject moves around the frame?

The “cases” presented mean little to wildlife

photographers. Instead I suggest setting up cus-
tom settings for scenarios that you are most like-
ly to encounter. For example:

• Birds in flight - The best strategy is always to

lock on early and have the focus hold the sub-
ject as it approaches. [Set -2, 0, 0 or 1]. I would
combine this setting with Expand AF area 4pts.
• Erratic, small & difficult birds (e.g. swallows)
- Those subjects that are very hard to keep the
focus point one may require Expand AF area 8
pts and settings that allow the focus to search
quicker if the subect is lost [Set 1,0,2].

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 7

 PINK MENU

• AI Servo 1st image - I would prioritize focus.

• AI Servo 2nd image - I would prioritize focus.

• Move both 1st and 2nd image priority towards

focus. Or 1st to focus and second in the middle.

• Lens electronic MF - Off

• AF assist beam - Off
• One Shot AF release prior - I would prioritize
focus.

• Move priority towards focus.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 8

 PINK MENU

• Lens drive when AF impossible - On

• Selectable AF point - 65 points
• Select AF area selec mode - I enable the fol-
lowing: Spot AF, Expand AF area 4pts and Zone
AF (P.P.).
• AF area selection method - M-Fn button (P.P.).
• Orientation linked AF point - Same for both.
• Initial SF pt. - Initial AF pt selected.
• Auto AF pt sel. - OFF

• Manual AF pt selec - Stops at AF area edges

(P.P.).
• AF point display during focus - All (constant)
(P.P.).
• VF display illumination - ON / ON (P.P.).
• AF status in viewfinder - Outside view (P.P.).
• AF Microadjustment - I suggest adjusting each
of your lenses using a calibration target such as
THIS ONE.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 9

 BLUE MENU

• Protect images - Use as needed.

• Rotate image - Not required on camera.
• Erase images - I prefer to format card.
• Print order - Only if printing directly.
• Photobook Set-up - Not recommended.
• Image copy - If needed images can be copied
from one card to another in camera.
• RAW image processing - Never on camera.

• Resize - JPG only. Never on camera.

• Rating - Never on camera.
• Slide show - Never on camera.
• Image transfer - You can select individual im-
ages or folders to be transfered to the comput-
er if you do not simply want to downlad the en-
tire card.
• Image jump - 10 pics at a time (P.P.)

• Highlight alert - Enable

• AF point disp - Disable (P.P.)
• Playback grid - Various grids to check level
and composition (P.P.)
• Histogram disp - Brightness
• Movie play count - What to display during
movie playback (P.P.)
• Magnification - Actual size from selcted pt
(P.P.)
• Ctrl over HDMI - For when connected to a TV

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 10

 YELLOW MENU

• Record func + - Can customize to P.P.

• File numbering - Continuous (P.P.)
• File name - Default (P.P.)
• Auto rotate - On (middle setting) (P.P.)
• Format card - I format each time I use a card

• Auto power off - 8 min (P.P.)

• LCD brightness - Auto (adjust if too dim).
• Date/Time - Set accordingly
• Language - Set accordingly
• Viewfinder display - See next section...
• GPS settings - Enable or disable (P.P.)

• Viewfinder display - Choose to show or hide

the level and grid according to P.P.

• Show/hide in viewfinder - Select the items

that you want to display in the newly designed
viewfinder according to your own P.P.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 11

 YELLOW MENU

• Video system - For NTSC

• Battery info - To see battery performance.
• Sensor cleaning - To manually clean sensor.
• Info button - Can customize to P.P.
• Rate button - Can customize to P.P.
• HDMI frame rate - Auto

• Custom shooting mode - 3 custom shooting

modes can be registered. Hit set to register the
current camera settings to a custom mode (e.g.
bird in flight settings).
• Clear all camera settings - Be careful!
• Copyright info - Can customize to P.P.
• Certification Logo - See some of the 7D II’s
certifications.
• firmware ver - Update as required.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 12

 ORANGE MENU

• Exposure level increments - 1/3

• ISO setting increments - 1/3
• Bracketing auto cancel - ON - shuts off EXP /
WB bracketing after camera turned off. (P.P.)
• Bracketing sequence - P.P.
• Number of bracketed shots - 3 or 5 (P.P.)
• Safety Shift - OFF
• Same expo for new - Tv: Shutter speed

• Set shutter speed range - 1/8000 to 30 sec

• Set aperture range - Default
• Continuous shooting speed - 10,6,4 (P.P.)

• Focusing Screen - Change if new screen added.

• Warnings in viewfinder - Off (P.P.)
• LV shooting area display - Masked (P.P)
• Dial direction during Tv/Av - Normal (P.P.)
• Multi function lock - OFF (none) (P.P.)
• Custom Controls - Many camera buttons can be
customized according to user P.P. (e.g. assigning
back button focus). Several new options here!

AF-ON/AE Lock: Can now be programmed to in-

clude custom servo characteristics as in AF menu
1 as well as change the AF area. You could set up
one to be One-shot and the other to be AI Servo.
Custom and registered AF functions: A wide
range of AF functions can be registered to be
changed with the push of a button according to
your own needs and preferences.
CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 13
 ORANGE MENU

• Add cropping info - Off

• Default erase option - Cancel as default

• Clear all Custom Func - To reset

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 14

 GREEN MENU - MY MENU SETTINGS

• Add My Menu tab - Up to 5 custom menus

can be created, named and sorted according to
P.P. This is a handy place to store menu settings
that you may wish to access quickly such as
mirror lockup, GPS, etc. (See below).
• Menu display - Can be personalized so that
the menu button takes you straight to the “My
Menu” or ONLY shows “My Menu” items.

• Select items to register - Add commonly ac-

cessed menu items here.

• You may wish to register the 3 AF parameters

of Tracking Sensitivity, Accel/Decel and Focus Pt
switching.

• Sort registered items - Organize your custom

menu for easy access.

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 15

PHOTO
WORKSHOPS
LEARN IN THE FIELD IN AMAZING DESTINATIONS

Each year Glenn leads a variety of photo workshops in the New World tropics. These workshops present
a great opportunity to learn the techniques presented in this book and many more from one of the top
photographers and instructors in the industry.

Specific destinations and photo targets will vary each year as Glenn scouts and selects new destinations to
visit. On Glenn’s workshops he takes you to places that he has visited and knows that there will be lots of
amazing subjects to photograph!

Some of the possibilities include:

▶▶ Photographing the incredible Resplendent Quetzal in the cloud forest

▶▶ Searching for poison dart frogs and other fascinating macro subjects in the rainforest
▶▶ Multi-flash hummingbird photography in the Andes of Ecuador
▶▶ Photographing the incredible Andean Cock of the Rock in Peru
▶▶ Tropical bird setup photography
▶▶ Plus one-on-one Lightroom and Photoshop training

During a photo workshop with Glenn you will be able to have the time to learn the intricate details of na-
ture photography in a fun and interactive way.

The workshops that Glenn runs are designed to focus on personal attention and hands-on learning and
are appropriate for photographers of all levels. A DSLR camera is required.

If you have always wanted to visit the tropics, and would like to do so in a fun group setting where each
day we will strive to help you create wonderful images, then these could be just the trips for you!

For more information visit

www.glennbartley.com
CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 16
 Ecuador: Andes, Amazon & So Many Hummingbirds (Jan)

With over 1600 species of birds and more than 120 species of humming-
birds, Ecuador is an exciting photo destination. Join Glenn so you can:

• Master the techniques of multi-flash hummingbird photography.

• Focus on the amazing array of colourful tanagers and tropical species.
• Search for birds in spectacular cloud forests and highland sites.
• Visit a peaceful Amazon lagoon for kingfishers and many other birds.

Peru: Unsurpassed Biodiversity & Machu Picchu (Sept)

Peru is perhaps the best birdwatching country in the world. Join Glenn
for a journey into the heart of the most biodiverse place on earth.

• Amazing opportunities to photograph the Cock of the Rock.

• Incredible birds of the Amazon rainforest.
• Spectacular macaws at a very active clay lick.
• A visit through the sacred valley of the Incas including Machu Picchu.

Vancouver Island: Birds in Flight and Waterfowl (March)

Vancouver Island is without question one of the most beautiful places on

earth. Join Glenn for a memorable week of photography including:

• Unbelievable opportunities to capture waterfowl in flight.

• Shorebirds and Harlequin Ducks along the waterfront.
• Majestic temperate rainforest landscapes.
• Birds of the rainforest.

Costa Rica: A Nature Photography Paradise (April / Oct)

Costa Rica is world famous as a destination for wildlife photography of

all kinds. Join me in this nature photography paradise to see why!

• The Resplendent Quetzal - perhaps the most beautiful of all!

• Multiflash hummingbirds
• Fantastic macro photography opportunities
• Toucans, tanagers, and much much more!

CANON 7DmkII SETUP GUIDE 17