Difference between 7D and 7D2 in adjusting parameters...

[rpcrowe]

I posted in an earlier post that since I had cut my digital photography teeth on Canon two dial DSLR cameras (starting with the 10D and proceeding through the 30D, 40D and 7D - plus a D60 which I converted into a full time IR body) it irked me that Canon had switched the sequence of shooting parameter adjustments, located below the three buttons on the top shutter button side of the camera.

All my previous Canon DSLR cameras were set up basically like this:

The first pair of parameter controls concerned exposure and white balance in that order. The second pair concerned the autofocus and the drive in that order. The third pair concerned the ISO and the flash compensation. The first parameter of each pair was controlled by the main dial on top of the camera while the second parameter of each pair was controlled by the quick control dial on the back of the camera.

I had gotten very used to this setup but suddenly out of the blue, on the 7D Canon decided to switch the order of each pair resulting in:
White balance-Exposure, Drive-Autofocus, and Flash compensation-ISO in that order (reversed from all the previous cameras.

They also switched the sequence of dials so that the first parameter was controlled by the quick control dial and the second parameter was controlled by the main dial in reverse to what I had been used to in eons of Canon DSLR photography.

I asked a Canon representative why Canon did that and he said he didn't have any idea and that it bothered him also.

However, I have begun to use the "Q" button for adjusting my camera parameters and have found that it is a very easy way to make changes, especially for an old guy like me whose eyesight is no longer as acute as it once was.

I viewed a video by Grant Atkinson on the uses of the Q button and learned quite a bit. I especially like leaving the q button matrix on exposure compensation. That way, I can just pop the Q button with my thumb and rotate the quick control dial to adjust my shooting parameters. However when I am shooting flash, I just might leave the matrix on flash exposure compensation and can adjust my compensation by tripping the Q button with my thumb and rotating the quick control dial.

Here is the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCzXB-ZaA-k&t=300s

Of course, Canon also flipped the position of the LCD Illumination button but, that didn't bother me greatly...

[Tronhard]

Hi Richard:

Like you I have used the ##D cameras for a while, but have to admit I have never really used the buttons you refer to on the top by the LCD. I have used the Q button for a while and find it easy to work with. I will admit that the change IS odd, unless there is a reason and wonder if there is a future consideration there... although what that would be baffles me.

[Cantab]

Interesting comments. It seems I should take the name to familiarize myself with the Q button -- perhaps it actually has some benefits and is not completely redundant!

[DanK]

I use both, but I find the Q button quite convenient.