Here are a few simple things I would like to see added to the firmware.
1) Custom Function 12 - Instead of offering a choice of Quality, ISO Speed, or Parameters, they should have offered three choices:
a) The set button does nothing
b) The set button allows both the ISO speed and quality to be set, where ISO speed is set with the Main dial (top), and quality is set with the Quick Control dial (back).
c) Same as 'b' but the operation of the dials are reversed, ie. Quick Control dial for ISO speed and the Main Dial for Quality.
Why they missed this is beyond me. Don't worry, parameters are next...
2) Since all buttons and dials are independently addressable via software, they should have taken advantage of buttons that normally do nothing unless the LCD is active. The jump button is a good example. This is what I would have done:
a) Holding the jump button while hitting the Focusing Point selector button [...] would 'jump' to AEB exposure bracketing, ie turn it on. Do the same again would shut it off. If you continue to hold the 'Jump' button down after hitting the [...] button, then turning either wheel while holding the 'Jump' button down would change the exposure bracketing amount, ie, 1/2, 1, 1.5 stops ect. (depending on your selection of 1/2 verses 1/3 stops or course). This change would be for this session only. ie, once you turn off exposure bracketing it would revert to the stop spacing you had set in the menu.
There are many times I need exposure bracketing and would like to use a different value for spacing than my normal 1/2 stop default. I also need to get to it quickly and be able to turn in off quickly. This would solve both issues.
BTW, the [...] symbol even looks like three exposure if you look at it that way, so this would be easy to remember.
b) Holding down the Jump button while hitting the AE lock button '*' would allow you select a parameter if you have any loaded. Since this is just one function, both wheels should be able to select a parameter
3) Live preview. Since live preview would require the mirror to be up it would work as follows:
At a minimum, if you have the Custom Function 3 'Mirror Lockup' enabled, then when a video cable is inserted you would see a live preview on the screen. Since there is no electronic shutter, a small routine would have to be written to sample the sensor at a certain rate. I doubt the sensor is sensitive enough to allow 30 FPS even under studio lighting, but perhaps 15FPS would be doable.
My preferred method of operation would be an option in the Menu to enable mirror lockup for live preview when a video cable is connected to the system, ie 'Offer Live Preview When Connected To Video?' enabled/disabled.
If enabled, when a video cable is connected and the camera is turned on, you would be presented with: 'Live Preview?' Hitting the 'Set' button would enable 'Mirror Lockup' and start live preview, and all other buttons or wheels would disable it for this session.
4) More, and multiple, parameter sets. I too would like a few more options. For one I would like a 'NO Sharpening' option, but I would like a few more aggressive sharpening routines for certain circumstances. This is where multiple parameter sets comes in.
I'd like to have a separate set of parameters for RAW verses JPEG shots. Here's why. When I shoot RAW I want the most I can get from the shot. This is why I select low contrast (I can fix this later, I just want all of it for now), low sharpening (Hey Canon, leave my kids [pictures] alone. All-n-All it's just another brick in the wall), and either normal or high saturation.
I rarely use anything other than RAW unless I get asked by friends or relatives to take a picture of them. I'm not talking about high quality shots, I'm talking about... 'Hey John, get a shot of us/this/ect.' And the shot is truly uninspiring. Uncle Bill's gut is hanging out while he drinks a beer, and he hasn't combed his hair in three days. You know the type of shots I'm talking about. Real ART pieces, RAM wasters... And of course, they ask you to do this at least 20-30 time during the day.
Well I don't mind shooting JPEGs since they don't waste too much space, but I don't want to deal with 20-30 shots at the end of the day sharpening them before I hand them over to uncle Bill. This is where a second parameter set for JPEGs with more aggressive sharpening option would come in handy. Such shots would be acceptable with proper sharpening for 4x6s or maybe even 'acceptable' 5x7s.
This would not have to modify the operation of 2b above. The parameter set selection just follows the mode selected. ie, select a RAW mode parameter when in RAW mode and a JPEG parameter when in one of the JPEG modes.
5) A mode where pushing a button sequence would shut off ALL flash and autofocus light operations until the button sequence is performed again, regardless of the mode selected. I shoot a lot of bands and one of the reasons I am allowed to take a camera in to shoot is because I can demonstrate that the camera either does not have a flash unit, or I have it disabled. Yes, I also either know the band members, or the club owners.
Having a flash go off (I'd have a clue this was going to happen when it popped up), or having the autofocus light come (no clue sometimes, even when disabled in the menu, if an 'Easy Shooting' zone is selected), is one sure way to be asked not to bring your camera in the future.
I had a few others but I can't think of them right now.
BTW, does anyone know what processor/CPU is being used in the D30. I would assume it's something similar to a Motorola Dragonball, etc. My guess the firmware is most of the actual program that operates the camera which works with a small RTOS loaded in the CPU or a ROM. I have access to a dozen or more disassemblers for RT CPUs, and can get almost anything. It would be nice to know what's actually going inside in case Canon stops supporting new firmware update once the D30 is discontinued.
