Messages

1

EOS-M / EOS M and Flash X-Sync Question

« on: March 14, 2013, 08:52:18 PM »

The original 1D and the G1X are two Canon cameras that I know of that have an electronic shutter which can be exploited to get much faster maximum flash sync speeds (flash x-sync) than their specs indicate. If you use a non ttl pc cable or speedlight or tape over all but the center contact point on a ttl flash (essentially disabling the ttl metering) you can use any shutter speed longer than the flash duration. I have considered buying a 1D for this feature.

Canon's spec sheet says the EOS M has a "vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically-controlled". DPReviews preview states that "the EOS M uses an electronic first curtain to activate the exposure, and the physical shutter is only used to end it". It seems it is at least in part an electronic shutter, which gives me hope that this exploit might be possible with the M.

I would love to know if this works, but have no way to test it. Are there any EOS M owners out there that have tried this trick or that are willing to experiment?

2

Contests / Re: Gura Gear Giveaway!

« on: December 06, 2012, 09:12:44 PM »

That pack looks like serious gear. I give you my hearty permission to select me as the random victor.

3

EOS-M / Re: EOS-M With Viewfinder Coming Late 2013? [CR]

« on: December 05, 2012, 08:24:49 PM »

I see some comments here are about how the evf is unsightly or cumbersome. I just wanted to make sure that people know that the picture is not real. It is just a mock-up created by someone on dpreview forums. I highly doubt that this is what the real canon will look like when it becomes a reality.

4

EOS-M / Re: My First EOS-M Review

« on: November 15, 2012, 09:55:41 PM »

I said I would check back in after I played with the M and the 90ex in a store, so… the 90ex works as a master to control off camera canon speedlites. I tested it with a 430exii and all controls worked via the menu system on camera. There is only an on off button on the 90ex flash so obviously there is no way to control the external flash from there. It doesn't exactly make it okay that the 90ex isn't able to angle for bouncing off the ceiling, but it is a nice feature. And as I said before it seems like it would also serve as a cheap but fairly weak master for a 5DIII or 1DX.

I also made a final decision to hold off on buying an EOS M. One of the reasons I own a camera is to take pictures of my son and it's just not going to work for that. I am actually saddened. Here's hoping for that firmware update or I'll be waiting and hoping that the second generation will have improved af speed.

I'm glad you are liking yours, though wickidwombat.

5

EOS-M / Re: My First EOS-M Review

« on: November 13, 2012, 10:48:35 PM »

At my local camera shop, the clerk and I were messing about with the 90ex. We didn't try to use a TTL cable, but he did say it should work as a master for compatible off camera Canon flashes. He even stuck it on a 5DmkIII and it seems it should work as a master on it and presumably other FF Canons without built-in flashes too.

I should add that there wasn't a display model external flash to act as slave. So we never actually tested the ability of the 90ex to act as master, just saw that the menu options were there.

I hope to go back tomorrow with my wife so that she can play with it before we decide if we want to buy it. When I do go back to the shop, I'll bring my 430exii to test it with.

6

EOS-M / Re: My First EOS-M Review

« on: November 13, 2012, 09:23:54 PM »

One other thought: with the EX90 Speedlite, have you thought of the idea of using a short TTL cable and holding the flash in one hand and the camera in the other to achieve bounce flash?  (Of course you couldn't use touch to shoot then, unless you were a three-armed mutant!)

At my local camera shop, the clerk and I were messing about with the 90ex. We didn't try to use a TTL cable, but he did say it should work as a master for compatible off camera Canon flashes. He even stuck it on a 5DmkIII and it seems it should work as a master on it and presumably other FF Canons without built-in flashes too.

7

EOS-M / Re: My First EOS-M Review

« on: November 13, 2012, 06:26:07 PM »

Agreed on all your points about magnification in all focus modes. It seems like that should be possible with firmware either from Canon or magic lantern.

Also, I agree it would be excellent if firmware could improve shutter button af speed to be on par with the screen tap speed.

Plus speaking of manual focus lenses. I know your 600mm is in use with the edmika converter. I hear edmika stuff is high quality, but another big POTENTIAL plus to the EOS M is that it might be able to accept FD lenses with a simple optics free adapter.

I'm leaning pretty hard towards adding this camera to my kit, but I dislike just hoping so many things will come about eventually. If I were smart I would wait for the adapter and firmware updates to happen because by then the price will have dipped nicely, I think.

8

EOS-M / Re: My First EOS-M Review

« on: November 13, 2012, 04:54:46 PM »

No live view magnification = weak sauce... since you are shooting in live view all the time not having the magnification ability is just dumb.

First, thanks for the detailed review. I wanted to love this camera as a second body for traveling lighter, but with all the negative reviews of the af speed I almost wrote it off. You turned me around enough to go try it for myself at a local camera shop. I totally agree that the tap to take a photo method gives the fastest af.

I also noticed that there was a live view magnification, but I believe the camera has to be set to manual focus for the option to be available. Once it is in manual focus mode a magnifying glass icon in the lower right corner of the screen lets you cycle through 1x, 5x and 10x magnification (I think). I only got to play with the camera for a limited time so I'm no expert, but I you should definitely look into getting that live view magnification working. I'd love to help remove a negative from your cons list.