Ben Rubinstein
pro member
Hi,
Canon is well known for being niggardly with its features to seperate out its different camera lines. In general the lack of features relative to the equivelent Nikon bodies is embarressing. The flash system is also much lacking in features in general.
But that is beside the point. Let's have a thread detailing workarounds and little known features in the canon system, let's make the most of what we have!
Spot Metering.
Since the Elan II (EOS 50) no canon body has allowed you to lock spot metering with focus using the shutter release. As half the time you need to recompose, even slightly when shooting, this means you have to use the * exposure lock button even with the 1 series where you can tie the spot metering to the focus point. As in low light and with fast lenses you need to shoot around 5 frames on a 5D to get one in focus, this soon becomes very tiresome. The D700 solves this nicely by allowing you to lock the spot metering until it's unlocked.
There are 4 methods to use spot metering for multiple shots such as portraiture.
1. Use the * button on the back once, then shoot. It will lock the exposure for about 10 seconds even if you take more than one shot. I don't think it should but it does. You'll have to keep a sharp eye on the * in the viewfinder though to make sure it's still alight.
2. Set CF4 to 1. Now you will focus with the * back button and exposure lock is made with the shutter release. Now you position over your subject, press both and fire. You have to remeter for every shot but at least it's done together so that you don't forget to do one or the other. Many people use this focusing method anyway which is useful. I hate it with a passion so it's a no go for me.
3. I only discovered this by chance last night though it's in the manual. Meter off your subject, press and hold the * button. As long as that button is pressed the metering will stay locked however many times you focus, recompose and shoot. What is very annoying is that you don't get the preview until you let go of the button. I find this method to make the most sense for portraiture when you have no time for the method below.
4. Use manual mode with spot metering. Put the center focus point over your subject and using the scale in the viewfinder dial it in until it reaches zero. You can then shoot without ever worrying that the exposure will change unless you want it to. This is the best way to use spot metering though it needs time to set up.
Keep in mind that with canon bodies and caucasian faces, use between a +1/3 and a +2/3 of exposure compensation with spot metering.
Canon is well known for being niggardly with its features to seperate out its different camera lines. In general the lack of features relative to the equivelent Nikon bodies is embarressing. The flash system is also much lacking in features in general.
But that is beside the point. Let's have a thread detailing workarounds and little known features in the canon system, let's make the most of what we have!
Spot Metering.
Since the Elan II (EOS 50) no canon body has allowed you to lock spot metering with focus using the shutter release. As half the time you need to recompose, even slightly when shooting, this means you have to use the * exposure lock button even with the 1 series where you can tie the spot metering to the focus point. As in low light and with fast lenses you need to shoot around 5 frames on a 5D to get one in focus, this soon becomes very tiresome. The D700 solves this nicely by allowing you to lock the spot metering until it's unlocked.
There are 4 methods to use spot metering for multiple shots such as portraiture.
1. Use the * button on the back once, then shoot. It will lock the exposure for about 10 seconds even if you take more than one shot. I don't think it should but it does. You'll have to keep a sharp eye on the * in the viewfinder though to make sure it's still alight.
2. Set CF4 to 1. Now you will focus with the * back button and exposure lock is made with the shutter release. Now you position over your subject, press both and fire. You have to remeter for every shot but at least it's done together so that you don't forget to do one or the other. Many people use this focusing method anyway which is useful. I hate it with a passion so it's a no go for me.
3. I only discovered this by chance last night though it's in the manual. Meter off your subject, press and hold the * button. As long as that button is pressed the metering will stay locked however many times you focus, recompose and shoot. What is very annoying is that you don't get the preview until you let go of the button. I find this method to make the most sense for portraiture when you have no time for the method below.
4. Use manual mode with spot metering. Put the center focus point over your subject and using the scale in the viewfinder dial it in until it reaches zero. You can then shoot without ever worrying that the exposure will change unless you want it to. This is the best way to use spot metering though it needs time to set up.
Keep in mind that with canon bodies and caucasian faces, use between a +1/3 and a +2/3 of exposure compensation with spot metering.