Another post with proposed improvements to EOS bodies

[Quinn Porter]

Once you understand the way E-TTL works, flash photography is enjoyable. Use FEL with the focus point on the main subject and you will get consistent results. However, FEL is not always an elegant solution and I think there are ways to increase the functionality of E-TTL. My two ideas are entirely firmware based and shouldn’t be difficult for Canon to add.

First, I’d like to see a custom function that allows for focus lock and FEL with a half shutter press. This would essentially automate what many people are doing now to achieve good flash results.

Second, I’d like a custom function that would allow for FEL to be carried over to all subsequent shots until it is deactivated or reset. When the lighting isn’t changing, this would allow for consistent E-TTL flash photography without firing a distinct pre flash before each shot. Perhaps the set button could be used to "lock in" FEL.

So, if these functions were available on your camera, would you regularly use them?
Do these ideas make sense, or have I overlooked something?

I’d like to think Canon is always looking for ways to improve their cameras. I hope they agree that these are worthwhile enhancements.

[sGu]

well speaking of improvements, i think Canon should integrade GPS chip in all their pro bodies, just so to verify specific location of the shot, and it's a great benefit in many ways for photographer, also to keep track of photojournalists who's out there on the front line, it would be nice to know someone knows where you are when you don't ... well, sometimes :roll:

[Jim_T]

I'd like to see a menu option that sets all the camera parameters to a chosen default at power up.. If you like shooting in Av mode, then when you turn the camera on, it always comes on in Av mode.. Even if you left in in another mode like P or M when you shut it off.

This should also work for ISO, AF modes and all the custom functions too..

For JPEG shooters, the camera would revert to the favorite white balance and contrast/sharpening etc..

Of course the option should be able to be over ridden so you could have the camera come up with the last settings it was using at power down.

I lost a shot just the other day because the camera was in the wrong mode. I stepped out my door and saw a hawk sitting on a nearby post. It was so close I could look right into its eyes.

I ran back in and grabbed my camera. I stepped out the door again, focused and squeezed the shutter release.. I had been shooting in manual with the exposure set to bulb the night before... So that shot was ruined..

I never had a chance to change the camera back to the correct mode because the hawk flew away before I could manage it. I got a shot of it's behind as it winged away in the distance :(

[slin100]

Once you understand the way E-TTL works, flash photography is enjoyable. Use FEL with the focus point on the main subject and you will get consistent results. However, FEL is not always an elegant solution and I think there are ways to increase the functionality of E-TTL. My two ideas are entirely firmware based and shouldn’t be difficult for Canon to add.
IMO, it's unlikely Canon would implement either idea, although I do think your second idea could be useful in some instances. I think this because Canon has already given an alternative to using FEL to achieve consistency, and that alternative is ETTL-II. Even us 10D owners stuck with ETTL can resort to C-Fn 4 to remap AF to the * key, which forces ETTL to use averaging metering.

FEL has probably never been a popular feature owing to its clumsy nature and tendency to confuse subjects. Attempts to make it less clumsy are probably not in the best interest of Canon. They would rather have you abandon it altogether.

[slin100]

well speaking of improvements, i think Canon should integrade GPS chip in all their pro bodies, just so to verify specific location of the shot, and it's a great benefit in many ways for photographer, also to keep track of photojournalists who's out there on the front line, it would be nice to know someone knows where you are when you don't ... well, sometimes :roll:
Not sure if you meant this tongue-in-cheek, but GPS has never been anything but a passive system, so there would be no way for someone to monitor your location. Also, it's hard to pick up a GPS signal unless you're out in the open or you have a big antenna. I doubt people would want an antenna poking out of their camera. You can forget about indoors, so that really limits its scope of usability.

[robertwgross]

Also, it's hard to pick up a GPS signal unless you're out in the open or you have a big antenna. I doubt people would want an antenna poking out of their camera. You can forget about indoors, so that really limits its scope of usability.

That, of course, is completely wrong.

I've worked professionally with GPS for eight years, including as an instructor.

You can use it in the open, or in deep forest. You can use it indoors, but only under certain conditions. Working in a deep urban jungle of concrete and glass, it can be unpredictable. A big antenna is crazy, due to the signal frequencies involved. Although I have used many an antenna about the size of a camera lens, there are some good ones that are much smaller. Now they can put the entire antenna and GPS receiver into a small cell phone.

---Bob Gross---

[slin100]

That, of course, is completely wrong.

I'm just relating my experience working with a consumer-level Garmin GPS V. Its technology is a few years old, I admit.

I've worked professionally with GPS for eight years, including as an instructor.

Not sure what kind of GPS equipment you used, but if it was professional equipment, then that would explain the difference between your and my experience. Doesn't make me wrong. It might make my experience more typical.

[robertwgross]

Not sure what kind of GPS equipment you used, but if it was professional equipment, then that would explain the difference between your and my experience. Doesn't make me wrong. It might make my experience more typical.

Sure, that, in itself, does not make your statement wrong. That is typical of the beliefs that many consumers come to when they haven't had any technical training on the subject. There is nothing wrong with a Garmin V. In fact, my own receiver is even older than that. However, I took the time to learn how to optimize its performance for me. Few consumers do that.

Canon, for example, could build a typical receiver into the accessory hand grip of a camera. There is already battery power there. They would have to figure out a way to have some antenna appendage sneaking around the side of the camera for better sky view.

Instead, and probably in a few more years, a photographer's cell phone can transmit its GPS position via Bluetooth to anything like a camera two feet away.

---B.G.---

[Quinn Porter]

I think this because Canon has already given an alternative to using FEL to achieve consistency, and that alternative is ETTL-II. Even us 10D owners stuck with ETTL can resort to C-Fn 4 to remap AF to the * key, which forces ETTL to use averaging metering.

Yes, I'm sure you're right, E-TTL II is the future. I haven't used E-TTL II, does it work as well as it is supposed to? I've read several of the 1DMkII and 20D reviews but very little has been said about E-TTL II.

One thing I noticed is that E-TTL II averages all of the subject matter (except highlights) at the focus distance. I assume this means that all of the focus points are brought into play even when the shooter has a single focus point selected (they would be needed to determine what else is the same distance). If this is the case, it will be interesting to see if E-TTL II works as well in the 20D with 9 focus points as it does in the 1DMkII with 45 focus points. Perhaps E-TTL II is the reason the 20D has 9 focus points in a diamond pattern.

[Jon]

Kodak had a GPS kit for the DC2(60? 90?), using an external receiver (stock Garmin IIRC), and most survey cameras have them available these days. Ricoh makes a digital camera which accepts a CF GPS receiver as well. And there are bluetooth GPS receivers out already. Mount it in the top of your hat and both your camera and your cell phone have access to the signal (not all phone systems are relying on GPS for geolocating) once the manufacturer puts bluetooth in the camera (C'mon Canon - Nikon's done wireless for their high-end SLRs - how hard can it be?).