Lessons
Class Introduction
09:14 2Photo Basics
04:00 3Basic Camera Controls
04:36 4Mode Dial
24:19 5Top Of Camera
21:42 6Viewfinder Display
09:18 7Live View Menu
08:16 8Movie Mode Menu
03:03Back of Camera Buttons
04:37 10Quick Menu
22:00 11Playback Menu
08:58 12Left & Right Sides Of Camera
04:39 13Bottom & Front Of Camera
06:28 14Lens Options
08:28 15Menu Functions Overview
22:13 16Picture Style Menu
05:23 17Multiple Exposure & HDR Menu
04:53 18Image Quality Menus
06:47 19Live View Shooting Menu
02:23 20Movie Shooting Menu
15:30 21Playback Menu
06:53 22Set Up Menu
15:07 23Viewfinder Display Menu
02:35 24GPS Settings Menu
04:36 25Touch Control Menu
03:38 26Custom Shooting Mode
05:33 27Custom Menu
26:28 28My Menu
04:41 29Camera Operation
09:31Lesson Info
Basic Camera Controls
Alright, let's get started on the main section in the class for the Canon 6D Mark II. In this Camera Controls section we're gonna be going through the camera, all the buttons, dials, and controls. Talking about what they do and how to use them. First off, let's start with some Basic Controls. Obviously we're gonna want our camera turned on anytime that we're using it. When we turn the camera on, the camera has an automatic system that knocks dust off the sensor. And so it's trying to keep that dust away from the sensor. Any dust on the sensor will appear as black spots on the final photograph and there are ways of cleaning it that I'll explain later on in the class. Shutter release is obviously there for taking photos but the camera also likes to go to sleep to conserve battery power so you'll need to press down on that to wake the camera up if it's in its napping mode. The Main Dial on Canon cameras is the top dial on the camera used by your right index finger. And so, changing shutte...
r speeds, a variety of settings for focusing points, in the menu system you'll be able to use the main dial for a lot of different options the camera has for you. On the back of the camera we have the Quick Control Dial, which will be used for changes apertures and a variety of other settings. Sometimes the Main Dial and Quick Control Dial do exactly the same thing. Sometimes they do complimentary things. Just inside the Quick Control Dial is the Multi-controller. And this is a way for you to navigate up, down, left, and right for changing focusing points, moving through the menu system and a few other systems as well. And so, you gotta have kind of a careful placement of your finger to make sure that you're hitting this and not turning the dial. We also have, in the middle of that, the Set button. And this is kinda like the enter button on a computer. Anytime you wanna confirm a setting in the menu, you're gonna hit the Set button to highlight and lock that particular feature in. If these are not working for you, you may wanna check the Lock switch because this can sometimes get bumped easily. Canon put a Lock switch on the camera and so if you hit that with your nose because you are left eyed and that's where your nose is when you hold it up to your face, you can lock that off so that you don't hit those dials and those buttons in there. Normally I'd keep that in the lower position so it's unlocked so I have access to it as you will probably want to have, at least during the portions of this class. We're gonna start on the Top Deck of the camera, here. And obviously we wanna talk about the Shutter Release. We're gonna take photos here but when we press half way down it starts the Metering system, it starts the Auto-focus system, it's gonna wake the camera up if it was sleeping at all. And if you were in the Menu system and you were doing something else in one of the menus, pressing halfway down on the Shutter Release instantly kicks you back into the shooting mode. And so anytime you need to escape where you are just so that you can take a photo, just press halfway down on the Shutter Release and that'll immediately kick you out of there. Press all the way down to go ahead and take a photo. So be aware that it's a two stage device. Now when you do press down halfway it does cause the camera to auto focus. Now there are many more advanced photographers who wanna separate auto focus from taking photos. They wanna focus with one button and they'll take pictures with a different button. That way they can recompose the camera. And so if you wanna do that, I'm gonna be giving you a shortcut here as well as I will be, in other parts of this class when you wanna go ahead and jump forward to do some sort of customization. And so, in this particular case, if you said hey I wanna try this back button focusing option by turning off the focus in the Shutter Release you need to go into the Custom Func. menu. So you'd hit the Menu button, navigate to Custom Func. menus, there's three groups of them there. And so you wanna go into group 3, Operations/Other, number four within that, Custom Controls and then you will be able to go in and you will be able to customize the Shutter Release button so that it does not auto focus. Now, if you don't wanna jump ahead, if that all seems a little to complicated for you. Not to worry, we're gonna cover that when we go through the Menu section in the second half of this class. Anytime you see one of those boxes just be aware that if you wanna stop the video and jump ahead and make that change in your camera, you can do it right then or we will eventually get to it when we go through the Menu System in the second half.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Warren Gedye
John, this is my second class of yours I'm taking on Creative Live. You are a very unique and articulate instructor. Your knowledge, understanding and experience in all matters photography is astounding! You have certainly fine tuned the knack in imparting your deep knowledge in such a palatable way! Your slides are magnificent, simple and concise and caters directly to your audience. I can only imagine the hours upon hours of time spent making these valuable slides. I look forward to many more of your courses!
a Creativelive Student
Always enjoy all of John's classes, but especially this one since I've decided to upgrade from my previous 6D. Awesome camera and this one is so much quieter than the older one. Thank you for explaining things in terms and ways that are easy to understand!
Tim Rogers
Thanks for a very useful course John. Not to get out and enjoy the new toy. Wish I had done the similar course for my previous camera (60D); will be recommending it to the person I am giving the camera to.
Student Work
Related Classes
Camera Guides