Canon 350d exposure lock?

[The_Mook]

Hola All,

I have been playing with the custom function to try and work out how I can lock my esposure but not focus?

I want to take a series of pictures at a wedding and for each picture to have the same exposure, with and without flash. I did want to be able to set the focus seperate.

Is this possible or do I have to lock both at the same time?

I have a Speedlite 430ex on 350d.

Any help would be great!!

The Mook

[crn3371]

I'm not sure, but if you need to take a series of pictures, all with the same exposure, you'll probably have to shoot in manual. I think that any of custom settings, whether using the * button, or shutter button, are only going to lock focus and exposure for one click.

[The_Mook]

That's what I found.

Is this somthing that cameras do or am I making up a function that doesn't exist?

[shrugs*]

Custom Function #4 in the camera menu will list all of the available options for the * button. Should find what you're looking for there :)

Ah, re read the situation. I'm not sure which one of the custom functions would solve your situation, if any. Hopefully someone more knowledgable will wonder by :)

[The_Mook]

There is no setting for just es lock by itself, is there?

[crn3371]

Shooting in manual isn't necessarily all that hard. The camera can basically still do your metering, as long as the exposure compensation scale in your viewfinder remains in the zero position, you have correct exposure, or at least what the camera deems as correct exposure. Make your manual settings for the initial exposure and all subsequent exposures will share the same setting.

[The_Mook]

At least i now know it's somthing the camera doesn't do.

I will go down the man way, thanks crn3371 and all. Looks like more practise for me:)

T_M

[jenne]

Hey Mook,

Check out this thread that was posted awhile back... I think it'll provide some useful information to what you're looking for.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46965

[The Hardcard]

Well technically, the camera does do it. Locking exposure is just temporarily turning off the camera's metering. Manual is turning off the camera's metering for an extended period of time.

If you want to use the camera's metering first, just meter and remember the settings. I believe you will have to set them again in manual. Just remember that your settings will affect your depth of focus. Make sure the aperture is small enough to get everything you want if you plan on taking a series of pics without changing it.

That thread is about moving the focus button to the AE Lock button. With CFn4 set to 1, it could work since pressing the shutter halfway locks exposure and you can still focus each shot. But, if you plan a long series this way, keeping the the shutter pressed halfway would get very tedious.

[The_Mook]

Yes manual seems the way to go.
I liked the thread from Jenne but if I am right they were all doing it the other way round. Locking the focus with the AE button. (I will give this a go)
Here is a slight different question.

Q:Would you find it useful to be able to set just the exposure by pressing the ae button and stay locked as long as you have the button still held down. The focus would still work exactly the same?

You could then return to auto by releasing. This would allow you to keep the exposure the same for a series of pictures. You take the first picture locked, check it on auto view still holding the AE down. If you like it you carry on.

This is what I think I want to do. It's just that I can get three great pics and then one really under exposed or over. But I still want the camera to do this for me then I lock it in. If you all think I am just being lazy then I guess I will just start speeding up my own manual usage of the 350d.

[sWampy]

It seems reallly wierd that there isn't an easy to get to method to lock the exposure, after all they ship software to stitch photos together with every camera they sell, which is mostly useless unless you lock the exposure before taking the shots.

[crn3371]

Well, manual exposure is a kind of exposure lock. You dial in your exposure in manual and that's where it stays, as long as your in manual.

[shaneotool]

It seems reallly wierd that there isn't an easy to get to method to lock the exposure, after all they ship software to stitch photos together with every camera they sell, which is mostly useless unless you lock the exposure before taking the shots.

Shoot in "M" mode and you can lock in the exposure where you want.

[The_Mook]

OK M mode seems to be the way to go.
I still think it would be very useful if I could use the Av(Ap priority) but then at any point lock the shutter so I can keep the exposure the same for a series of pics. If I don't then the camera can change the settings if I change framing. I want the quickness of the auto Av but have the same lighting for a series of pictures.

Am I missing the point?
Is this possible i just don't know how?
Would anyone find this function of use?

By the way thanks for all the input!!!

[sWampy]

Shoot in "M" mode and you can lock in the exposure where you want.
I think that had been stated about 10 times above my post, really isn't necessary to repeat it. I still say it's a big oversite to include software, and omit a simple function to make it easy. Put a panarama function, that when turned on would auto lock exposure from the first shot until you exit that mode, or a set amount of time passes would be a lot more useful function than some of the ones they included.

[steveathome]

I havent tried it but I believe that if you hold the * button when taking the picture I understand that this will lock the exposure for the next shot, try iy.

Why on earth would you want to do this anyway? just go manual

[The_Mook]

If I was shooting a panarama I would set the camera to M mode for sure as I would probably be shooting a high ap to get good depth of field.
This normally puts the camera onto a tripod so I wouldn't want to touch the camera if I could help it so M is def the right for you.
I would want a button so I can have the best of both worlds. Auto shutter, full control of my ap but then a quick button lock for a couple of shots and then back to auto.

R there any digital Canon's that have a lock shutter on Av and visa versa but still leave focus free?

[hollerz]

Make sure custom function 4 is on 0, you'll have to press the shutter button half way for fousing.

Press the * button to lock your exposure (don't need to hold it down), not sure how to unlock, but pressing it again re-meters but locks ont he new one.

[steveathome]

if you press once it will only lock exposure for that one shot. I suggested holding it down to keep the same exposure for the next shot as well

[The_Mook]

That really looks like it may be the missing link I was looking for. thanks Steve@home and hollerz!!1 I will give this a go and come back to you!! :) It was the * bit i was missing.

To your question:
Why on earth would you want to do this anyway? just go manual

I took some pics at a wedding and the camera kept on getting confused between the very bright bride and v dark groom. I was taking the pics on aV so I could control the depth of field. So let the camera take a pic and set the exposure, you lock and that series will all be the same. Then quickly onto the next one.

I would say I do it like this as I am not confident to do it all myself in that kind of timeframe! i.e wedding. is this insanity on my part?
T_M

[steveathome]

I would definetly suggest Manual, then fire a couple of test shots, make sure the brides dress doesnt take the histogram off of the rhs of the scale, and stick to that exposure until you shift position or the light rapidly changes.

Leave the info position to show the histogram, when you review your shots. I leave auto review off, it makes a big difference with saving the battery