Canon is now offering locking mode dial upgrade to 7d and 5d2.

<p>In case you don't know yet.<br>

<a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_7d?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e02480245968">http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_7d?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e02480245968</a></p>

Awesome! I've lost count of the number of shots messed up because the mode dial was inadvertently

jostled to M or B on my 5DII...

<p>Me too, They should also offer it on 550d/t2i, which I enjoy using.</p>

<p>That sounds worthwhile to me, I wonder how long it takes. I live about 10 mins from the Jamesburg center, so drop off and pick up is a non-issue, but I don't know if I'd want to be without my camera for a week just for this.</p>

<p>That's pretty cool and practical. The first thing I noticed with the 7D since I bought it early this year was the too-easy-move mode dial. I still happens too often. Still, $100... and a special trip to a shop? Not for me.</p>

<p>Text from the press release:<br>

<br /><I>Effective December 6, 2010, Canon will start to provide as a chargeable service, a locking mode dial modification for the “EOS 5D MarkII” and “EOS 7D” digital single-lens reflex cameras. <br /><br />This modification is available, for a fee, to owners of these cameras who would prefer a Mode Dial which locks in place and can’t be accidentally moved during normal camera operation. <br /><br />For USA residents, the pricing of the locking mode dial modification service for EOS 5D Mark II and 7D cameras has been set at $100 per camera as of December, 2010. (Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.) For further details, see contact information for inquiries below.<br>

<br />Once modified, users must first press and hold down the central lock-release button in order to turn the Mode Dial. The modification is intended to prevent the Mode Dial from accidentally moving, once set to a particular exposure mode by the user. </I></p>

 

In 20 years of EOS use, I've never--not even once--accidentally moved the mode dial. I did manage to break the

locking mode dial on my EOS A2 3 times when I forgot to press the unlock button before turning it. My belly

sometimes sets EC/QCD and the vertical release yields blurry pictures of car windshields and feet...

<p>I never had an issue with the mode dial until I bought my 5d II. Now it happens regularly. I don't have anything handy to compare it to, but my sense is that the dial is higher/taller than older models, causing it to more easily rub against the inside of the camera bag when I'm removing it, or the car seat while I'm driving, etc.</p>

<p>I never thought the mode dial on my 7D or my XTi was that easy to turn, and like Puppy Face I have never accidentally moved either of them. I have intentionally moved them and forgot to move them back, thus missing the shot I really wanted. Is there a "reminder flag" upgrade to tell me to put the mode dial back where I want it before shooting?</p>

<p>$100, really? Wow.</p>

<p>When is the 5D3 coming? I need one of those.</p>

<p>I'll pass. It has never been an issue on my 7D. </p>

<p>I think I know where my 7D is going in January. Only got my 7D a couple months ago, and the mode dial is rather easy to move, and I do have to watch it, going into and out of the bag, mostly. Maybe earlier production units had better stops on the dial?</p>

<p>This has always been an issue with my 5D when hanging the camera from my left shoulder with the front of the camera facing towards me. I hope this retrofit trickles down to the 5D.</p>

I agree the 7D mode dial is very easy to accidentally move if you are holding the camera on the move, or even in and

out of the bag; I never had a problem with this with the 20D so I presume the problem is due to the improved grip on

the mode dial of the 7D.

 

To be honest I am surprised this problem did not show up in prototype testing, it is almost bad enough to be a design

flaw IMHO.

 

Am I prepared to pay for a fix, probably not but more because of the inconvenience. A DIY kit might be more likely.

<p>They could fix this with a free firmware upgrade so that you can only validate dial changes by simultaneously pressing the shutter (laugh here). Seriously, the 40/50/7D should have had this from the start. Or a dial as solid as the one on 20D.</p>

<p>as i already had a chance to say in another forum, i think this button is rather bothersome. unfortunately (for me, at least) it seems the idea is here to stay :-( <br>

of course, i would never pay $100 for this new dial but, if it came with two additional custom modes c4, c5 instead of the auto and creative auto positions, that would be a whole new story ;-)</p>

<p>I hike through the woods with the 7D mounted to a 600mm f4 and a 5D2 with the 100-400 slung around my shoulder - and a pair of binoculars, an amplifier for my iPhone to allow me to play bird calls and sometimes even lunch.<br>

With all that stuff bouncing around, there have been many times where I've bumped the mode dial from AV to M.<br>

The problem comes up when a moose, a hawk or some other wildlife appears out of nowhere and I grab a camera and shoot away - blowing every single exposure as I shoot. <br>

I'm well over $100 worth of ticked off when I see the files later. 2 bodies...$200. I think I'm in for two.<br>

<p>

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<p>I'm with Puppy Face on this one, I have never had the mode dial accidently shift on any of my eos bodies, ever! I did however have this button lock on my eos film bodies all those years ago and I absolutely hated them. Kept trying to change modes quickly and had to remember and push down the stupid button. Trust me its not a speedy one handed operation. Opinions will vary but I was glad to see the back of it.</p>

<p>Puppy Face and Greg must not have a 7D or 5DmkII. I just upgraded from a 20D to a 7D. The first and only unpleasant problem with my 7D is the propensity of the mode dial to move when dragged out of a camera bag or case. That never happened with the 20D. So I might take my 7D up the Canyon Road to the Irvine, CA repair shop for the $100 lock - assuming they don't keep the camera long.<br>

In contrast, I never use the lock on the Quick Control Dial for the 7D but the Quick Control Dial on the 20D moved about unintentionally when ever the power switch was set to the hockey stick. The 7D dial stays put.<br>

Right now, I seem to be pretty well trained to check the Mode Dial on the 7D before shooting so I may not need the lock. But it seems like a good idea because I almost never shoot in any mode other than Av or C2 - which I have set up to shoot sports in JPEG at high ISO, high frame rates and AI Servo.</p>