7D Mark II Exposure Level Indicator

Hi Guys
Can you help please.
I've spent ages trying to get the Exposure Level Indicator to appear at the bottom of the viewfinder when the camera is in Manual mode. It appears on screen for the Av, Tv, P and A modes - but not Manual mode. It just leaves a gap at the bottom of the viewfinder window where one might expect it to be (as on the 7D).

There is a - not very visible - exposure level indicator up the right hand side of the viewfinder but it is not very visible and somewhat dependant on the position of the eye to the viewfinder. If this is it - then I don't find that satisfactory.
I have contacted Canon but they never gave me what I felt was a convincing answer as whether it was meant to be this way. Perhaps they will bring out a firmware upgrade.

Thanks Guys for any comments.

The scale you are talking about at the bottom of the screen the exposure compensation and not an exposure meter. It shows how far above or below the camera calculated exposure you would like the actual exposure to be. It does not appear in manual because the camera is not calculating the exposure, you are setting it manually.

The exposure meter is on the right side of the display and is discussed a bit in this video:

http://learn.usa.canon​.com …s7dmarkii_tutor​ials.shtml

Thanks Tom
I will go to the link later.
I hope I made my problem clear - I did have a problem describing it.
I am referring to manual mode only.
I do not see why, when I go to manual mode that the lower part of the viewfinder lacks the bar and the little pointer you adjust for the correct exposure, as in the 7d, 50d etc: after all, there is room for it.

The bar at the right hand side is not very bright and, as I said seems a bit dependant for its visibility on eye position.
Maybe I have missed a point somewhere, but so far all else seems ok.

Canon uses the same right--hand side vertical exposure meter in the 1Dx. They apparently thought the 7DII merits the same approach.

http://www.naturescape​s.net …p?f=57&t=249565​&start=220

Read the last dew replies. You are not alone in having a hard time.

Neil.
Thanks for that last link. Now I know I haven't flipped me lid.
That exposure meter scale is the one I will use most. I wouldn't find the other scales much use to me.
It's too dim, too small, too eye position dependent and in the wrong place.
Just to think it took Canon five years to come up with this! Unbelievable! What were the guys who did some field testing thinking about not to make Canon aware of it? Did they only use Auto modes?
My initial feeling is that I should let Canon have it back.

If that is enough for you to send it back go ahead. It seems that a lot of people are upset about it. If you read the manual or watch some of the videos you would understand that the meter on the right is giving you a lot more information, such as your set flash exposure compensation and if you are in AE lock the level of the lock relative to the current meter.

It is not in the wrong place if you are a 1D user, Canon is bringing that feature to another line, it does take some getting used to though.

Up the side of the viewfinder has been the position for the metering readout in Canon's high end bodies all the way back to the first cameras with TTL metering. In fact it used to be pretty much standard in all of their bodies. Actually thinking about it, at one time just about all SLR cameras with TTL metering had the exposure information up the side of the viewfinder, usually on the RHS too. I actually prefer that placement. It's where I naturally want to look even now, well until the display lights up anyway.

Alan

Well, there it is then, so I will probably adjust to it - not much choice really as I like the other features. Higher brightness would be advantageous though. I must get out and try it now.
Thanks to all who responded - the proof of the pudding will be in the eating - as they say.

My biggest beef with that vertical scale on the right is, it's not the easiest thing to view threw the viewfinder. You have to have your eye in the exactly wright spot to see it.

IMHO extremely poor design/layout location >>> Major problem for folks who shoot in manual.

It was there on the EF, F-1, T90 and now again on the 1DX. Meanwhile in the wrong place on all my previous EOS cameras. Good it's back where it belongs!

Bianchi wrote in post #17273859
My biggest beef with that vertical scale on the right is, it's not the easiest thing to view threw the viewfinder. You have to have your eye in the exactly wright spot to see it.

IMHO extremely poor design/layout location >>> Major problem for folks who shoot in manual.

Thanks for comment Bianchi - I was beginning to feel I was getting shot down.

Bianchi wrote in post #17273859
My biggest beef with that vertical scale on the right is, it's not the easiest thing to view threw the viewfinder. You have to have your eye in the exactly wright spot to see it.

IMHO extremely poor design/layout location >>> Major problem for folks who shoot in manual.

I have yet to use a 7D2 so I cannot comment on it however I find that the vertical metering scale is very easy to see and use/interpret on my 1DX. Note I always shoot in manual so I am using quite a lot!
Incidentally I am waiting a cataract operation so if I can see it anybody can!

johnf3f wrote in post #17273921
I have yet to use a 7D2 so I cannot comment on it however I find that the vertical metering scale is very easy to see and use/interpret on my 1DX. Note I always shoot in manual so I am using quite a lot!
Incidentally I am waiting a cataract operation so if I can see it anybody can!

Hi John
I hope the brightness of the vertical metering scale on your 1DX is brighter than the 7D2. I suppose I will just have to get used to it - mind you - I might need an eye operation trying to screw my left eyeball to the right.

I guess that is a question...which eye do you shoot with? I use my right, and I will admit that if you don't have the camera really up to your eye it is hard to see. Part of it I think is getting used to it being there. Now what I really wish they would change is when in M mode the meter on the top LCD could be set to show exposure.