Whats on your "User" mode?

I don't know about everyone else, but the first thing I did when I got my K10D (and my DL2 for that matter) was to go through the custom settings menu and set things up as I anticipate wanting them. I'll probably change a few things as I go along, but for now I'm pleased.

The only thing I can't yet decide on is what to program into "User" mode. It seems like a very neat idea, I just can't figure out what I'll do with it.

So, has anyone had one of those "that will be just perfect for ......" moments with user mode?

just interested.

I've not really used my user mode yet - but it seemed to me that it would be best to set it up for landscape work (my first love, as it were), then if I see a beautiful scene and want to grab a shot I just switch to user & it will be OK. And even in more considered moments I can switch to user and then tweak settings if I want to, knowing the rest is in place no matter how much I have messed with the settings previously.

So it is set at 200ASA (you don't lose much and it alows a smaller aperture for greater DOF) aperture priority, DNG+JPG with the JPG settings as bright and +1 sharpening (might as well have the JPGs punchy "out of the box" as I always have the RAW file to play with) WB set to cloudy (equivalent of puting a warm-up filter on - again this only affects the JPGs)

Now all we need is a bit of passable weather....

I did the same, and as my main activity is landscapes, I used auto ISO but limited to 100 to 400, and optimised for small appertures. Then as I like to grab action and wildlife shots, I thought I'd set the User for this, so auto ISO, but 400 to 1600, optimised for higher shutter speeds. Initially I've set the capture to JPEG so I have the option of continuous capture as fast as the shutter speed will allow, but I may change this to RAW, to increase the shadow detail ability. I didn't find the 'bright' setting, but have set +1 sharpening (Mostly because of the reviews that abound).

I don't suppose it will stay like this, I'll just have to see whether I find these settings useful.

As much as I went on about the *ist-D having three custom settings etc, I'm finding that I use P and Sv most of all.

Just experimenting with HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) and found that the bracketing allows 5 frames at 2 stop intervals, so I've set the User mode for DNG+JPG, 5 frame bracket

Will let you know how I get on - but the results are promising. Just need some serious subject.

Matt

I haven't decided on the USER setting yet. Today I was using the TAv quite a bit. I was trying to photograph the red kites at Watlington Hill, so I set a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and a moderate d.o.f with an F8 aperture (so the focussing would not have to be spot on) and let the camera sort out the ISO (set to 100-1000). Trouble was the wind was so strong, they were soaring quite high and the 50-200 even with a 2x converter didn't do them justice.