&*@% EOS 20D...

[Wildman]

The camera is so much smarter than me...

My problem is that I have trouble keeping track of all the settings. The other day I shot a bunch of pictures with the wrong ISO settings (non-flash baby shots with my 1.8 50mm lens). Today I did it again... some outdoor shots at 3200 ISO. i generally discover my mistakes a couple of hours after taking the pictures.

I gotta learn to "chimp" selectively and keep my eye on the ball.

This is a great camera. I'm, alas, not a great photographer. It was easier in the old days with a camera that was dumber than me...

[ssim]

Don't sweat it. I'd bet that just about everyone on this board can relate experiences similar to what you explained here. It's all part of the process of learning these new fangled pieces of hardware.

As frustrating as they can be at times, I wouldn't trade this hobby for any other one.

[tim]

I try to remember to reset my camera to reasonable settings before I turn it off each time. For example, I usually set it on something like Av, F4, ISO 200, auto white ballance, and put my walk-around lens (Tamron 28-75) on it. It helps when you see a photo and want to take it in a hurry.

[pcasciola]

I cannot even count how many times I've shot at the wrong ISO. I absolutely hate the the ISO is not displayed in the viewfinder on the 20D like it is on most of the 1 series bodies, and that you have to use a custom function to get to ISO 3200. What a pain.

[AdamG]

I try to remember to reset my camera to reasonable settings before I turn it off each time. For example, I usually set it on something like Av, F4, ISO 200, auto white ballance, and put my walk-around lens (Tamron 28-75) on it. It helps when you see a photo and want to take it in a hurry.
Like Tim said, the best way to avoid these mistakes is to simply reset the settings to some "average" level before putting the camera away. I've been in the exact same situation many times, but I think I'm getting the chimping down. :cool: Also, my confidence level may be lower; therefore my need to frequently check my histogram. The other day, I brought my camera in to work to show it to a friend. He grabbed it, zoomed a little, and hit the shutter. Nothing happened ... for about 5 seconds. Ooops!! I forgot to reset the shutter speed from when I was doing some low light experimentation. :o I turned the situation around by saying something like "Always check your camera settings before you shoot, Noob!" :lol: I was just joking with him, of course. BTW, I own a 10D.

[aikidoforever]

Same here. I've shot a few dozen pics of my kids outside in the snow and realized only afterwards that I was shooting at ISO 3200. I guess that's why I was always getting 1/4000 shutter speed when in AV mode!!

I wish, as many of us, that the 20D had a clear visible ISO indicator.

A well, such is life...

Ivan

[Persian-Rice]

The best is when you have exposure compensation on, especially to to overexpose. Then you forget to check the histogram and go ahead and take 300 shots.

Welcome to the world of real digital photography.

[aikidoforever]

The best is when you have exposure compensation on, especially to to overexpose. Then you forget to check the histogram and go ahead and take 300 shots.

Welcome to the world of real digital photography.

Yeah, I did the same thing as well. I had my 580EX on at the time and was thinking that my flash was f@#&@ up. Then I discovered why the power switch has two settings, one to allow free exposure compensation with the main dial and one to turn the main dial off. Boy, it makes sense now...

Cheerios!! ;-)

Ivan

[Eric DeCastro]

The camera is so much smarter than me...

My problem is that I have trouble keeping track of all the settings. The other day I shot a bunch of pictures with the wrong ISO settings (non-flash baby shots with my 1.8 50mm lens). Today I did it again... some outdoor shots at 3200 ISO. i generally discover my mistakes a couple of hours after taking the pictures.

I gotta learn to "chimp" selectively and keep my eye on the ball.

This is a great camera. I'm, alas, not a great photographer. It was easier in the old days with a camera that was dumber than me...
don't worry, my camera (from day one) wasn't smarter then me, but i do wish the iso rating would be in the view finder, but i generally notice if i'm outside and its a little bright my shutter speed is super fast, kinda tells me to check it out.

just practice, and lots of shooting, then you will just see it's very basic. I never shoot in anything other then manual, so it really seems simple to me.

happy shooting.

[FlyingPete]

The best is when you have exposure compensation on, especially to to overexpose. Then you forget to check the histogram and go ahead and take 300 shots.

Welcome to the world of real digital photography.

Yep done that one as well, also the ISO3200, and white balance, oh well.

I am trying to remember to do a 'pre-flight' check everytime I use the camera, and set everything back to auto with ISO400 when I am done.

Anyone got anything to add to the 'Pre Flight Check'
- ISO Setting
- White Balance
- Exposure Compensation
- Auto Focus (you can usually spot that one quickly!)
- Image stambliser (if you have it, mine is often off after being on a tripod and I tend to forget about it!)

[kawter2]

That would be a cool custom feature..... You could tell the camera to keep the current settings untill you manually power off (it would keep the curent settings when it goes on standby) or hold a button for 3 secs then when you power off or mash the button, Doing so would reset the camera to a preset standard


eg. iso 400 if manual av = 4 tv = 125
if AV then av = 4.0
if TV then tv = 200


etc etc... (lets email canon!!!)

[golden-balls]

How do you get the custom 3200 iso?

Ta.

GB

[kawter2]

CFN 08, = 1 then dial your ISO one past 1600 (it will read out "H")

[kiwimichael]

That would be a cool custom feature..... You could tell the camera to keep the current settings untill you manually power off (it would keep the curent settings when it goes on standby) or hold a button for 3 secs then when you power off or mash the button, Doing so would reset the camera to a preset standard


eg. iso 400 if manual av = 4 tv = 125
if AV then av = 4.0
if TV then tv = 200


etc etc... (lets email canon!!!)

Kawter2,

Great idea!
Just a few thoughts.
I would like to be able to configure my own "power on defaults" rather than having this 'hard coded' by Canon.

I think that it is more pratical do this at start up which may be a short or long time afterthe last power-off. Also at power-off you do not alaways know when the next power-on will be. The problem is also that power-on the camera has the settings from the last situation which may not be applicable to the current situation.

My idea would be a configurable option which at power-on displays the current (last) settings on the image display and asks if you want to use these or return to the default (configurable) settings. If you are in a hurry and just start shooting uses andther custom function setting to decide to use the current or default settings.

I agree that this is a good idea worth sending to Canon, but maybe we can refine it first.

Cheers
Michael

[dhbailey]

I cannot even count how many times I've shot at the wrong ISO. I absolutely hate the the ISO is not displayed in the viewfinder on the 20D like it is on most of the 1 series bodies, and that you have to use a custom function to get to ISO 3200. What a pain.

Well, you only need to set that custom function ONCE and then you can get to ISO3200 anytime you want. I can understand Canon's making it work this way, so if you want to ensure that you NEVER shoot at 3200, you can turn it off, and then for highest ISO just turn the dial far to the right and you'll get 1600. Same with 100, just turn the dial far to the left. You don't even have to look at the LCD screen, if you want the extremes.

And if you want 3200 accessible you turn the function on. Simple. I leave it turned on all the time, since there are often low-light situations I wish to be able to shoot in without flash.

But many people don't want pictures with the noise that gets introduced at 3200, so they leave that function turned off.

Having the ISO show up in the viewfinder would be fantastic, though!

[wibbly]

Being able to store a few sets of settings would be good. One can then be reserved for 'out of the bag'. The higher end cameras will do this. Heck, even by G3 did. But not the 20D :-(

Best I can do is use one of the hard coded presets (eg fully auto, P, etc) for a quick P&S. Unfortunately even these (execpt full auto/green square setting) don't fix up a camera left on 3200. Maybe this is a use for the green square setting! ;-)

J

[pcasciola]

Well, you only need to set that custom function ONCE and then you can get to ISO3200 anytime you want. Oh yeah. Haven't used it in a while so I forgot it was a one time deal to enable it. :o :o :o

[pierrot]

I cannot even count how many times I've shot at the wrong ISO. I absolutely hate the the ISO is not displayed in the viewfinder on the 20D like it is on most of the 1 series bodies. What a pain.Having the ISO show up in the viewfinder would be fantastic, though!Fully agree... :rolleyes: ;) :mrgreen:

[Ajay213]

don't worry, my camera (from day one) wasn't smarter then me, but i do wish the iso rating would be in the view finder, but i generally notice if i'm outside and its a little bright my shutter speed is super fast, kinda tells me to check it out.

just practice, and lots of shooting, then you will just see it's very basic. I never shoot in anything other then manual, so it really seems simple to me.

I have to agree, I've never been caught out by this, if I'm in daylight shooting at f11 and my shutter speed is in the 1/1000 or higher range I know something is way off. I may still take the shot (better to have a noisy shot than no shot), but it get's fixed right away.

Having the ISO show up in the viewfinder would be fantastic, though!

Agreed.

[egonz]

did the same f***ing thing during the weekend. Went to Niagara falls - absolutely stunning this Saturday. The sun was out, the ice was beautiful, the water a nice color. I shot the scenery at ISO 3200! Like an idiot I didn't even look at the histograms or playback until we were well on our way home.

blast it!

[HKFEVER]

Same here shot a lot of marco @ 1600 :p

[iLvision]

That's why you need a camera that has a bigger screen so you CAN see noise :p

[Echo Johnson]

That's why you need a camera that has a bigger screen so you CAN see noise :p

You realize you dug up a thread that's seven years old, right?

[iLvision]

You realize you dug up a thread that's seven years old, right?

duh! ;)

[cfcRebel]

Wow, BLAST from the PAST! I still remember how excited i was when i got the 20D. I even remember it was a sunny day with blue sky, and the 1st bird that came in front of the 20D, was a Cardinal. Ahhhhh....the good old days. :)

[bauerman]

My car was new when the OP penned this thread....good to check dates sometimes before replying.

[Virto]

lol we're having a run on old threads all of a sudden, huh?

[tomj]

"I guess that's why I was always getting 1/4000 shutter speed when in AV mode!!"

That should be telling you (us) something without needing the ISO displayed - yet I've done way too many times!

[iLvision]

"I guess that's why I was always getting 1/4000 shutter speed when in AV mode!!"

That should be telling you (us) something without needing the ISO displayed - yet I've done way too many times!

No. He clearly needed a bigger screen to see noise :lol::lol::lol: