Custom funtion 4 and metering

johnstoy wrote in post #2756680
I'm under the impression that the 30D doesn't offer bracketing...

How does one "get under an impression"? See http://www.usa.canon.c​om …egoryid=139&mod​elid=12929

It doesn't say how many brackets but the 30D clearly had AEB.

johnstoy wrote in post #2756680
If you can set your 20D, than I can set my 30D to do the same...Let us know what your settings will be.

I'm under the impression that the 30D doesn't offer bracketing...

Surely it does. Just look in your manual index for AEB. On the camera, hit menu and look for AEB too. I was just playing AEB here in the office to see how it works. I think I might just be a convert. I'm looking forward to trying it next time out.

bmoguy wrote in post #2756735
Surely it does. Just look in your manual index for AEB. On the camera, hit menu and look for AEB too. I was just playing AEB here in the office to see how it works. I think I might just be a convert. I'm looking forward to trying it next time out.

Set the drive to high speed or burst or whatever the 5 fps setting is along with the bracketing. Then you depress and hold the shutter release and the camera will (should) fire the bracketing shots and stop. You depress and hold again and it will shot another bracket set. Also, see if there is an option to adjust the number of brackets shot ... I use 1D's and set to five brackets but I'm not sure about the 20D/30D series.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #2756752
Set the drive to high speed or burst or whatever the 5 fps setting is along with the bracketing. Then you depress and hold the shutter release and the camera will (should) fire the bracketing shots and stop. You depress and hold again and it will shot another bracket set. Also, see if there is an option to adjust the number of brackets shot ... I use 1D's and set to five brackets but I'm not sure about the 20D/30D series.

I usually have it set to continuous mode by default. For the 20/30D there are 3 bracketed shots with no option to adjust the number of shots. I think can only help me as I usually shoot bursts in continuous mode anyway. This way I'll give myself some wiggle room with those spot lights.

john, if the manual online for the 30d is the same as what came with the camera, page 94 is what you'd want to look at.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #2756719
How does one "get under an impression"? See http://www.usa.canon.c​om …egoryid=139&mod​elid=12929

It doesn't say how many brackets but the 30D clearly had AEB.

It must have been a third party review of the 30D camera...cause nothing under $2,500 offered the features in the review I was glancing at...It only makes sense to use it...I'll be certain to run with it asap...

Basil, points it out in my manual...

bmoguy wrote in post #2756735
Surely it does. Just look in your manual index for AEB. On the camera, hit menu and look for AEB too. I was just playing AEB here in the office to see how it works. I think I might just be a convert. I'm looking forward to trying it next time out.

I've seen the feature on the LCD screen, just didn't realize what it actually offers...

Does this mean I can have the camera take the image a few times, on either side of the shutter speed setting and/or either side of the aperture setting too? That's what I'm looking for...

Let me rephrase that... I thought my "cheap" camera didn't offer the feature...and simply wrote it off as one lacking the features.

Edit: Addendum; According to the manual, the 30D offers up to three shots in the bracketing mode...

The third party vendor reviews that i was reading, omitted this as a 30D feature... and instead only featured bracketing in the next models up from the 30D...

johnstoy wrote in post #2756680
I'm under the impression that the 30D doesn't offer bracketing...

It does: in the menu: Pages 94 (AEB) and 171 (CFn9) of the manual....

edit: Missed the second page

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #2742885
I would probably never use CF 4-3 in a concert situation.

I use CF 4-1 so I can lock exposure on the exact part of the subject I want, and focus elsewhere if need be.

If you don't want to meter before taking the shot, then don't half press the shutter before taking the shot, and you can in essence have your cake and eat it too.. anytime you don;t want the locked exposure, just get your finger up off the half press to re-meter.

This is especially useful if you do use spot meter or partial. (I personally prefer partial)
Get the spot on the face or whatever your metering off of, half press, then shoot when you want even if the spot is now on the background scenery.

A few drawbacks:
- Locking exposure can lead to severely wrong exposures if light keeps changing... Even without locking exposure, I've had light change too fast for the camera to react: Light goes on or off the moment you press the shutter, and your exposure is crap...
- If I set CFn4-1 and dont want to lock AE, that leads to quite bad technique: You are forced to mash the shutterbutton. (I know, because my Eos 1n doesnt offer CFn 4-3 )

With spot metering I'm usually metering off a face, and that's where I tend to focus as well. So I set AiServo AF and spot metering. No exposure lock needed or wanted

René Damkot wrote in post #2760112
edit: Missed the second page

I did that too.

René Damkot wrote in post #2760131
With spot metering I'm usually metering off a face, and that's where I tend to focus as well. So I set AiServo AF and spot metering. No exposure lock needed or wanted

How does that work if you have a fairly tight torso shot? If shooting in portrait orientation, do you switch the focus point to the top center? Or with multiple performers? I'd thought about using AI servo, which would work for the single performer shot, but do you switch to One Shot when shooting a stage shot or groups of performers?

johnstoy wrote in post #2756801
Does this mean I can have the camera take the image a few times, on either side of the shutter speed setting and/or either side of the aperture setting too? That's what I'm looking for...

i assume the 30 is the same as the 20, so this is how it works for me. you set the auto bracket on the menu. you can spread the bracket out, but the middle point is always the point of EC. it works best to have it in burst as it fires and stops after the bracketing. otherwise you might get confused on when/where the bracketing is. and i believe it adjusts the shutter speed and not the aperture. i only really use it when trying to set up an HDR picture.


i'm going to have to play around with the CF4 though. great thread. thanks for the info.

bmoguy wrote in post #2760195
How does that work if you have a fairly tight torso shot? If shooting in portrait orientation, do you switch the focus point to the top center?

Yep, or almost top - left or right.
1DMk2, 11 AF points selectable, spot metering coupled to AF point
Click
I think I shot almost the entire gig using spot metering....

bmoguy wrote in post #2760195
Or with multiple performers? I'd thought about using AI servo, which would work for the single performer shot, but do you switch to One Shot when shooting a stage shot or groups of performers?

Depends. Usually multiple performers = more distance -> more DoF. Also it's more stationary when you are center front of the stage: Musicians don't move forward or backward that much... So in those cases, I often use One Shot, partial metering, Manual mode. Or evaluative metering with EC in Av.
Click
When I'm sing a wider lens close up, I tend to use AiServo still, because DoF can be quite shallow, but mostly I switch to Evaluative, because the head is too small to fill the spot metering circle reliably...
Click

Of course, everything depends on the situation: How much does the band move, how constant is the (front) lighting, is there enough light to eliable use AiServo, what lens is used at what aperture...

René Damkot wrote in post #2760131
A few drawbacks:
- Locking exposure can lead to severely wrong exposures if light keeps changing... Even without locking exposure, I've had light change too fast for the camera to react: Light goes on or off the moment you press the shutter, and your exposure is crap...

i'm in the CFn 4-1 camp, and live w/ the consequences of changing light...shooting w/ a prime and using spot metering isn't as easy as if i was using a zoom, so i can lock exposure and recompose, then focus and shoot.

René Damkot wrote in post #2760131
- If I set CFn4-1 and dont want to lock AE, that leads to quite bad technique: You are forced to mash the shutterbutton. (I know, because my Eos 1n doesnt offer CFn 4-3 )

not quite clear what you are saying here. i maybe guilty of this bad technique, as i find myself mashing the * button continually, even during shooting at times (using One Shot). is this bad, or does it not matter?

René Damkot wrote in post #2760131
With spot metering I'm usually metering off a face, and that's where I tend to focus as well. So I set AiServo AF and spot metering. No exposure lock needed or wanted

but you can spot meter off any AF point you are using, right? the 30D can only use spot metering off the center AF point, afaik.

Yeah. A 30D might limit the use of spot metering somewhat, and make AE lock manditory...
On the 'bad technique': I tend to keep the shutterbutton pressed halfway, so I only have to push a bit further to take the shot. If I use CFn4-1 that would keep AE locked.
So with CFn4-1 I'd have to not keep the shutter button pressed, and when I want to take a shot, I have to quickly press it all the way. Which can and will enhance the risk of camera shake.
Keeping the '*' pressed in One shot-evaluative metering will lock AE, even with CFn 4-3 set. Apart from that, and the muscle tension again raising the risk of camera shake, no problem.

it's funny that keeping * pressed will lock AE when using Evaluative Metering, but not the other metering modes.

Not really, but it is annoying.
I used to use Nikons, and they don't do that... I would really like to be able to switch it off... In fact I've nagged Canon about adding a CFn 4b or something several times. Maybe the Mk3....
Anyway, I think the reasoning is that the subject will be under the active AF point when focussing. Evaluative metering is biased around the active AF point. Evaluative metering will allways lock AE with AF in OneShot AF. (The *only* exception is the 10D: That one keeps metering in CFn4-3.)

So it does make sense in a way. However, if lighting changes fast, it doesn't help...