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Topics - Richard Lane

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / 1DX Owners: Read This Warning!
« on: September 05, 2012, 09:15:01 PM »
Monday, I was out shooting with the 1DX and MKIV and 500mmII.  I was comparing the MKIV to the 1DX with the 1.4XIII attached.  Everything was on a tripod and Wimberley.  I set "both cameras to RAW only."

I shot about 500 shots with the 1DX for about 3 hours and when I got home the 1DX had "50 RAW files at 20MB each" and "450 Jpeg S files at 1MB each."  I was in shock!

I figured I must have accidentally changed the setting from RAW to JPEG.  However, If you look under the 2nd red menu buttons under (SHOOT2) this seems somewhat impossible, as you have to press a few buttons for this to change, so I thought.

So, I discovered that if you press the "Card Image Size Selection Button" (below the Image Playback Button, Pg. 117) and then turn the Main Dial only one notch to the left, you will change your image choice from the highest quality RAW to the lowest quality Jpeg! :o 

I must have accidentally changed to Jpeg when I was taking the 1DX off of the 500mm lens/extender combo in order to mount the MKIV.   Personally, I don't think that Canon should have the original setting as the default, or at least require you to press the SET button.

Everyone should try it now, so that you'll know what I'm talking about!  Since I was comparing the MKIV and the 1DX, I was so focused (no pun intended) on framing the shot and setting the same exposures via the histograms that I didn't notice the change.  After-all, I set both cameras to RAW and confirmed the word RAW on the Histogram screen!  I can only imagine a wedding photographer accidentally changing this setting in the dark and not realizing it until the next day.

The good news is that you can change the "default" image size selection method to a different custom selection method.

Go into the orange menu; C.Fn4: Disp/Operation; it's the last choice, "Rec card, img size setting.  You could change this default setting from "Rear LCD Panel" to "LCD monitor."  Now, if you accidentally press the "Card Image Size Selection Button" you will see the setting change on the large LCD screen as it lights up, as opposed to the small dark LCD screen. For those that haven't noticed yet, the white menu choices are the defaults and once you choose a custom selection, then your menu choice turns blue.

I never accidentally changed this setting on the MKIV and it's "function button" appears recessed and on the 1DX, it's not.  But for those interested, to change from RAW to Jpeg on the MKIV it's the function button next to the trash can and then one notch turn of the main dial.  To prevent this from happening on the MKIV, you can change the default in C.FnIV:8-1 from rear LCD to LCD Monitor.

I hope that this info will save somebody one day!  Luckily my test shots were not important, and they still looked pretty good considering they were only 1MB. :)

Rich

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Sports / 1DX & 500mm f/4L IS II Varsity Football
« on: September 02, 2012, 04:10:09 PM »
Here's a few shots from yesterdays Varsity Scrimmage shot with the 1DX and 500mm f/4L IS II:

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / 1DX New Quick Custom Function Shooting Mode
« on: August 11, 2012, 11:24:34 AM »
I found a nice quick setting adjustment for the 1DX that I would like to share!

Lets say you're shooting a stationary subject and then you want to quickly change your shooting mode and settings for a moving target.  I have my M-Fn2 button set to switch between One Shot and AI Servo, but lets say that you want to quickly change all of your settings for a Bird in Flight Burst, without switching to a Custom Shooting mode, which has a few extra button presses.

Take a look at C.Fn5 Operation Menu, choose Custom Controls, then scroll down to AE Lock* Button, press Set scroll down to the "Camera Icon"  and press "Info Button." Now you should be in Register/recall shooting functions and choose the settings that you want.

After you've finished with your selections, it's a bit confusing and it looks like you have to press Register Current Settings for these new settings to take affect, however, that button refers to the settings that are already currently set in the camera and not to the new registered choices that you have just selected above.  So, just press menu when you're done

My settings are:

Shooting Mode: Manual
Shutter Speed: 1/1250sec
Aperture: 5.6
ISO Speed: Auto
Metering Mode: Evaluative
White Balance: AWB
AF area Selection mode: Manual Select Zone AF (a quick press of the Multi-cont brings you back to center)
Tracking Sensitivity: 0
Accel./decel.tracking: +1
AF pt. switching: +2
Servo 1st img priority: Equal
Servo 2nd img priority: Equal
AF start postion: Manually selected AF point
AF operation: ON

Some people may also like full 61Pt. AF area selection, but I have found  that it can still miss smaller birds in flight, even in a clear sky but I'm still experimenting with the settings.

These Registered settings may be recalled from; P, AV, M,TV, and Bulb believe it or not, as well as from C1, C2, or C3 as far as I can tell.

Two settings that I noticed it doesn't have is for AI Servo and High Speed Continuous, which I'm always in when I'm shooting action.  So also be aware that if you have One Shot and Single shooting selected in AF Drive mode, then you won't get a tracking burst, you'll just get one shot.  If this ever happens by accident then obviously just keep pressing the shutter button while holding in the AE* lock button, if the action continues, then you may need to press AE* to re-lock focus as your subject distance changes.  Personally, I would like to see AF Mode and Drive Mode added to these Custom Recall Settings.  Don't worry, I'm making a list that I will send to Canon!

I also have ISO Safety Shift on by default so I don't blow out the sky when I'm using a fixed ISO, but when shooting in Manual, Auto ISO in Custom Controls above should also alleviate that problem!

Once you're done, and then you press the AE LOCK* Button you will be switched into your new settings as long as you continue to hold in the AE button*. The AE button also Auto-focuses so you just have to press AE* and shoot with the shutter button. I use AF-On for my default Auto-Focusing and not the shutter button, but even if you use the Shutter button to focus, once you press the AE* lock to recall your new shooting settings, the AE* button will also lock Auto-focus so that you won't re-focus on your subject when you press the shutter button to shoot.

Once you release the AE Lock* button you will be returned to your previous camera settings.  I think it's great if you're shooting a stationary bird in AV mode and then all of a sudden a BIF or Big Foot comes along, and you have to quickly change your settings.

I hope the 5DIII has this feature too, hopefully someone can check and let us know!

Rich

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