33 Steps to the Ultimate Canon EOS R50 V Setup

The Canon EOS R50 V is here, and it is time to set up this camera.

1. Record serial number, and add camera to the insurance policy
2. Open the box, find the battery, place it in the charger, and plug it in.
3. Consider downloading and installing the latest Canon imaging software to gain support for the latest camera model(s).
4. Insert a memory card (we'll format the card in a later step), insert a charged battery, and power the camera on.
5. The language, date, time, and time zone setup display will show at the first startup. Use the rear control dial and set button to update this information.
6. The camera will prompt to connect your phone running the Canon Connect App. Follow the prompts as desired.
7. Set the camera to still mode
8. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Image quality: Set RAW to "RAW", and set JPEG to "-" (RAW image files provide the highest quality and are especially valuable for post-processing work)
9. Shooting Menu, Tab 3: Color mode: Picture Style: change to Neutral with Sharpness = 1 (Note: the low contrast "Neutral" picture style provides an in-camera histogram that best shows the available dynamic range. I change the Picture Style to "Standard" in DPP after capture.)
10. Shooting Menu, Tab 4: White balance: AWB W (White) (I seldom use another white balance setting while shooting, though I often adjust white balance modestly during post-processing)
11. Shooting Menu, Tab 5: Lens Aberration Correction: All options "OFF" (I test lenses, but you may appreciate enabling some options, including Chromatic Aberration correction)
12. Shooting Menu, Tab 4: High ISO speed NR: Low (noise reduction is destructive to images details, so I prefer to add noise reduction sparingly during post-processing)
13. Shooting Menu, Tab 6: Release shutter without card: OFF (only in a retail store would you want to press the shutter release without saving the image file)
14. Shooting Menu, Tab 7: Image review: Review duration: Off (I shoot next image priority most of the time, and the image review hinders composing the next shot)
15. Shooting Menu, Tab 8: Shooting info. disp.: Screen info. settings: Enable 1, 2, 3, and 4; edit screen 2 to show only: Basic shooting info and Electronic level; edit screen 3 to show only: Basic shooting info, Histogram, and Electronic level
16. Shooting Menu, Tab 8: Shooting info. disp.: Grid display: 3x3 (sometimes the 3x3 grid is helpful for alignment checking while not complicating the view)
17. Shooting Menu, Tab 8: Shooting info. disp.: Histogram disp: RGB, Small (show the brightness levels of each channel separately and do not let the graph to take up much space in the display as it can affect the perceived composition)
18. Shooting Menu, Tab 8: Shooting info. disp.: Electronic level size: Small (blocks less of the image on the display)
19. AF Menu, Tab 2: Subject to detect: Select Auto, People, Animals, Vehicles, or No priority as makes sense for your current shooting scenario
20. AF Menu, Tab 3: Preview AF: Disable (I don't want the lens autofocusing continuously)
21. AF Menu, Tab 5: MF peaking settings: On
22. Playback Menu, Tab 4: Playback information display: 1, 2, and 3 only; change view 2 histogram to RGB
23. Set-up Menu, Tab 1: Format card (always format a memory card in-camera before using it — all data on the card will be lost)
24. Set-up Menu, Tab 1: Auto Rotate: On computer (images are properly rotated when viewed on a computer, but are always oriented to fill the LCD when viewed on the camera)
25. Set-up Menu, Tab 2: Feature guide: Disable (novices may appreciate this feature)
26. Set-up Menu, Tab 2: Beep: Disable (probably no one wants to hear your camera's beep)
27. Set-up Menu, Tab 3: Power saving: Screen dimmer: Disable (I find the dimmer annoying — the LCD is as useful off as dimmed)
28. Set-up Menu, Tab 5: Copyright information: enter as desired
29. Customized controls, Tab 1: Touch Shutter: Disable (I want the camera to focus on what I touch but let me decide when to capture the image)
30. Custom Functions Menu, Tab 2: Retract lens on power off: OFF (prevents a carefully-selected focus distance from resetting when the camera auto powers off)
31. My Menu: Add My Menu 1; Register the following options: Expo.comp./AEB, Display simulation, Subject to detect, Format card, Date/Time/Zone (great for monitoring the time); reorder menu items as desired
32. My Menu: Add My Menu 2; Register the following options: Anti-flicker shoot., Shutter mode, reorder menu items as desired
33. Switch to video mode, and adjust desired video-related settings (mine vary significantly from shoot to shoot)

I make additional menu and other setting changes based on current shooting scenarios, but this list covers my initial camera setup process.

To copy this configuration means you intend to shoot as I do, including in RAW-only format. While this setup works optimally for me, you should adjust the camera setup to your needs.

If you can't remember your menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a great idea. Anytime the camera is set to the factory state, such as when serviced or when acquiring an additional camera, the list will ensure all settings are quickly re-established.

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