EOS Immersion Seminars 2011: Class Notes. Part 1 EOS Creative Essentials

Transcription

1 Part 1 EOS Creative Essentials

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 I. Introduction to EOS Creative Essentials 4 II. Shooting with EOS Digital SLRs 5 1. Image Quality Settings... 5 Picture Styles... 5 White Balance... 7 Color Space... 8 Peripheral Illumination Correction... 9 Auto Lighting Optimizer Highlight Tone Priority Live View Tips & Techniques Understanding Histograms & Highlight Alerts III. Customizing Your EOS Digital SLR Introduction Flash Sync Speed in Aperture Priority Mode High ISO Noise Reduction Mirror Lock Back-Button AF Custom Modes & Camera User Settings My Menu Settings IV. EOS Utility Workflow Introduction Download Images Rename Files While Downloading Adjust Camera Settings Remote Live View Shooting Timer/Interval Shooting Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-2

3 V. Ten Quick Tips Using the Quick Control Screen One Touch Raw + JPEG (7D only) Dual Axis Electronic Level (7D) Adjust Viewfinder Clarity Adding Copyright Info to the EXIF Data Orientation-Linked AF Point Selection (1D Mark IV, 7D only) Download the User Manual Eyepiece Cover Intelligent Macro Tracking (7D only) Battery Info (1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 60D & 7D) VI. Canon Digital Imaging Resources & Customer Support Introduction Canon USA Consumer Web Site Telephone & Technical Support Canon Digital Learning Center Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this document, complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents of this document are for general informational purposes only and Canon U.S.A., Inc. cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for loss or damage occasioned or claimed to have been occasioned, in part or in full, as a consequence of any person acting, or refraining from acting, as a result of information contained in this document. Product specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners. Pricing is subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary. Please Note: The content of this document focuses on current and recent EOS Digital SLRs, including the EOS-1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D, 50D, 60D, Rebel T3i, Rebel T3, and Rebel T2i. Much of the information contained herein applies fully or partially to discontinued EOS models, but some does not. 2011, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-3

4 I. Introduction to EOS Creative Essentials Dear EOS Owner: Welcome to the st Half Edition of Canon Live Learning s EOS Immersion Seminar. The purpose of this document is to supplement the content we ve provided during the EOS Creative Essentials Presentation, and provide additional details and information on the topics that will be discussed. We hope that you find the information in this document to be useful. Thanks for using Canon photographic equipment. We appreciate your business! Sincerely, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon Live Learning Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-4

5 II. Shooting with EOS Digital SLRs 1. Image Quality Settings In this section, we analyze several of the image quality-related features that Canon provides with all current EOS Digital SLRs. Picture Styles Photo by Bruce Dorn, Canon Explorer of Light Canon s Picture Style settings are all about giving photographers easier control over the look of their photographs and videos, in terms of image processing parameters such as sharpening, contrast, saturation and color tone. Picture Styles can be applied to incamera JPEGs for speed and convenience, but they can also be applied to RAW images during post-processing in Canon s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software. All recent EOS Digital SLRs dating back to the EOS-1D Mark II N and EOS 5D from 2005 have built-in Picture Style settings. There are 6 basic Picture Styles: Standard Portrait Landscape Neutral Faithful Monochrome Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-5

6 Each of these can be adjusted in-camera. Each compatible EOS camera also provides 3 User-Defined Picture Style settings; these can be set directly in the camera or uploaded from either Canon s web site or Canon s Picture Style Editor software. After selecting a Picture Style on your camera s LCD screen, you can adjust Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation and Color Tone settings individually according to your personal preferences. Changing a Picture Style has roughly the same effect that choosing a different kind of film had in the 35mm era. For instance, changing from Standard to Landscape Picture Style will result in higher levels of sharpening overall, as well as increased saturation of greens and blues to enhance the appearance of typical landscape elements such as foliage, sky, and water. Changing from Standard to Neutral will reduce overall sharpening, contrast and saturation, which can be beneficial for post-processing in image editing software like DPP or Adobe Photoshop. Canon also offers downloadable custom Picture Styles including Studio Portrait, Snapshot Portrait, Clear, Nostalgia, Emerald, Twilight, and Autumn Hues. These files can be uploaded to your camera via EOS Utility software, or applied to RAW images in DPP software. Additionally at no extra charge, Canon provides Picture Style Editor software that allows photographers to create their own custom Picture Styles. Here is a link to the web page for Canon s downloadable Picture Styles: This web page also features a tutorial on Picture Style Editor software. Experiment with Custom Picture Styles to change the look of your photos. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-6

7 White Balance White Balance settings correct the color balance of your images according to the lighting conditions at hand. There are preset WB settings for Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten and Fluorescent, as well as a Custom WB setting for precise calibration with a neutral test target. EOS models above the Rebel series can also adjust WB manually from 2500K or 2800K to 10,000K. Additionally, the EOS-1 series can accept Personal WB settings that can be uploaded to the camera using the provided EOS Utility software. Custom White Balance (CWB) is a valuable feature that is particularly useful in mixed lighting conditions. The basic procedure for registering and setting a Custom White Balance with an EOS Digital SLR is as follows: 1. Photograph a neutral reference target such as a white sheet of paper or a gray card in the lighting conditions you plan to shoot. This can be done at any WB setting. Just make sure that your exposure is reasonably accurate. (Use the camera s histogram display to make sure.) The more overexposed or underexposed your test image is, the less suitable it becomes for Custom White Balance. Also, the reference target does not have to fill the frame, but it should fully cover the partial or spot metering circle at the center of the focusing screen. 2. Locate Custom WB on the camera s LCD menu and press the SET button. 3. Display the reference image and select OK on the menu. 4. Set the camera to its Custom WB setting and shoot. Photograph a neutral Select Custom WB from the Display the reference image Select Custom WB from the reference target. LCD menu. and select OK White Balance menu and press SET. A custom white balance setting can differ from a manually set color temperature setting in two possible ways: It can be set to a lower color temperature than a manual setting: The range for CWB in an EOS digital SLR goes down to 2000K, whereas the manual settings go down to 2500K at best (2800K for older models). It can be shifted (tweaked) in the amber/blue and/or magenta/green axes with the camera's WB Shift menu. Some EOS models like the 1D Mark IV and 1Ds Mark III store up to five custom white balance settings that can be named directly in the camera. Others, like the 5D Mark II and 7D, etc., can only store one. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-7

8 WB Shift can be used to fine-tune or tweak any preset, manual, custom or personal WB setting. Adjustments can be made towards amber or blue like a color correction filter, or from magenta to green like a color compensation filter. The magenta and green adjustments are particularly useful when shooting under artificial light sources with discontinuous spectrums, such as sodium vapor or mercury vapor lamps. WB Bracketing creates a series of 3 images at varying WB Shift settings, to help speed up the process of selecting the optimum WB Shift for the lighting conditions at hand. Use WB Shift to fine-tune any White Balance setting. WB Bracketing helps you choose the best WB Shift setting for the lighting conditions at hand. Color Space This term refers to the range of colors, or color gamut, that your EOS Digital SLR can record. For in-camera JPEGs, Canon offers a choice between srgb and Adobe RGB color space settings. srgb is the smaller color space of these two, and it is the camera s default setting because it matches up reasonably well with the color gamut of common image display devices such as conventional computer monitors. Adobe RGB preserves a wider range of colors than srgb, especially in the blues and greens, and is most effective for printing images with high quality photo inks and papers. The same two options are available for RAW images, although you can freely change the color space when you process your RAW files in most RAW processing software. Proper color management from input to output is essential to make the most of color space settings. Select a color space based on the way you plan to display your images. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-8

9 Peripheral Illumination Correction Now available on all current EOS models, this feature improves evenness of illumination from edge to edge. Compatible EOS models can store PIC data for up to 40 EF and EF-S lenses. Canon s supplied EOS Utility software contains PIC data for more than 80 lenses, and is updated when new lenses are introduced. This setting improves evenness of illumination at the corners of the image. Use EOS Utility software to add or subtract Peripheral Illumination Correction data for individual lenses. Be sure to update to the latest version of EOS Utility to obtain Peripheral Illumination Correction data for new Canon lenses as they are released. See Part VI: Canon Digital Imaging Resources and Customer Support for information on updating your Canon software. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-9

10 Auto Lighting Optimizer Auto Lighting Optimizer (ALO) analyzes contrast in captured images and modifies both shadows and highlights via tone curve adjustments to minimize loss of detail in contrasty lighting conditions. Current EOS models including the 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D and 60D provide 4 settings for ALO: Off (Disable), Low, Standard and Strong. ALO can be used at any ISO speed setting. Primarily designed for in-camera JPEGs, ALO does not affect RAW image data. However, it can be applied to RAW images when they are processed in Canon DPP software. Stephen Wilkes, Canon Explorer of Light Auto Lighting Optimizer Menu Screen With ALO Disabled, the background is correctly exposed but the foreground is too dark. At the Strong setting, ALO provides a better balance between foreground and background brightness levels. Highlight Tone Priority Highlight Tone Priority (HTP) is available with all current EOS models excluding the Rebel XS/1000D. HTP has no effect on the actual dynamic range of the image sensor. It's just an alternative method of image processing that preserves more highlight detail than Canon's standard processing, without significantly altering midtones or shadows. The effect of HTP is enhanced by Canon's 14-bit A/D converter, which provides finer tonal gradations than the previous 12-bit system. HTP is a Custom Function with a simple on/off setting, and the available range of ISO speed settings is slightly limited when it is on. Take a look at the following sample images that show the capabilities of Highlight Tone Priority: Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-10

11 Jeff Greene for Canon USA Highlight Tone Priority preserves highlight detail without changing the exposure levels for midtones and shadows. HTP affects RAW data as well as in-camera JPEGs. It is very useful in high-key shooting conditions such as wedding photography, flower photography and certain kinds of sunsets. With the exception of the EOS 7D, 60D, and compatible Rebel models, ALO can be combined with HTP with cameras that have both features. 2. Live View Tips & Techniques Canon s version of Live View was originally introduced in 2007 with the EOS-1D Mark III, and it has been included on every new EOS camera released since then. The basics of Live View are the same on every EOS model that has it: Engaging Live View raises the camera s reflex mirror, opens the focal plane shutter and causes the CMOS image sensor to begin outputting a live video feed to the camera s LCD screen, or a connected video monitor, or a compatible personal computer. At its default settings, Live View displays an approximate 100% field of view with a focusing frame superimposed over the center of the picture area. This frame can be moved around the screen using the camera s multi-controller, or in the case of Rebel cameras, the cross-keys. When the lens is set for manual focusing, the focusing frame can be positioned anywhere on the LCD screen, even in the extreme corners and edges of the frame. Once it has been positioned over an area of interest, it s possible to increase the magnification of that area by either 5X or 10X for precise, critical focusing. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-11

12 Once you re satisfied with the composition, focus and exposure settings, you can make photographs by pressing the camera s shutter button or using a remote switch such as the RS-80N3 or RS-60E3 depending on your EOS camera model. There are two ways to use Live View: directly from the camera s LCD screen (Camera Live View) or remotely from a compatible personal computer running EOS Utility software (Remote Live View). Either way, Live View is at its best when you are shooting from a tripod or other form of camera support. The more you use Live View, the more you appreciate its capabilities. By connecting the camera via USB to a computer running the Remote Live View function of the provided EOS Utility software, the computer will display the image output by the camera's CMOS sensor. Then you can check and adjust the focus, subject framing and so forth in real-time and shoot remotely. When using the optional Wireless File Transmitter, you can operate Remote Live View from your computer without using a cable. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-12

13 Remote Live View is available via EOS Utility software with compatible EOS Digital SLRs, including all current models. The EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 40D offered manual focusing only in Live View, but all current EOS models feature 3 autofocus modes in Live View: Quick Mode AF: This mode uses the camera s conventional phase-detection (not to be confused with Face Detection) autofocus system. With this method, the reflex mirror is lowered temporarily by pressing the AF-ON button. An AF reading is taken at the preselected AF point or points, which are superimposed on the LCD screen. If the reading is successful, the selected AF point illuminates briefly. This is your cue to release the AF-ON button and resume Live View. If the AF point does not illuminate, it means that AF has failed, probably due to insufficient subject contrast. In this case, reposition the AF point over an area with readable contrast and try again. Live Mode AF: This mode uses contrast-detection AF directly from the CMOS sensor. A rectangular white AF frame is superimposed over the LCD screen, and this frame can be repositioned with the multi-controller on the back of the camera. Autofocusing begins when the AF-ON button is pressed. (With some cameras, Live Mode AF also works from the shutter button.) If the reading is successful, the color of the AF frame changes to green. If it is unsuccessful, the color of the AF frame changes to red. Live Mode AF is a locking type of AF, which means it cannot track a moving subject. It is at its best with a stationary subject that has readable contrast. Face Detection Live Mode AF: Face Detection mode is similar to Live Mode AF (i.e., contrast detection, locking type) except that it can find and continue to follow (but not continuously focus) human faces in the picture area. It essentially saves the time that would normally be required to scroll the AF frame manually to the desired location. When a face is found, a set of 4 brackets is superimposed over it and you press the AF-ON button to focus the lens. As in the case of Live Mode AF, the brackets will turn green if AF is successful, or red if it is not. If there are multiple Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-13

14 faces in the scene, a set of arrows will appear next to the brackets. In this case, you can select the face you re interested in by using the multi-controller. Live View AF modes can be selected from the LCD menu. They can also be selected during Live View mode with the 5D Mark II, 7D and 60D by pressing the AF button on top of the camera and turning the main dial. There are several other features worth knowing about in Live View: Exposure Metering: If you are new to Live View, the big news on exposure metering is that the camera will ignore any metering pattern you may have selected on the top LCD data panel. This is because the meter reading is being taken directly from the CMOS sensor, rather than the conventional metering sensor located in the camera s pentaprism housing. Normally, the pattern for exposure metering in Live View is a modified form of Evaluative metering that is locked in to the center of the picture area. However, in Face Detection mode, exposure metering is centered on the detected face. Exposure Simulation: This is a very cool feature that can be activated in the Live View menu. It has two main functions: o When the depth of field preview button near the lens mount is pressed, the actual depth of field based on the selected aperture value can be displayed on the LCD screen without darkening the image. 1 This is much easier to work with than trying to judge depth of field through the camera s optical viewfinder. o When Exposure Simulation is active, a live histogram can be displayed on the LCD screen. To see this, press the camera s INFO or DISP button repeatedly until the histogram appears. You can also use the camera s menu to determine whether the Brightness or RGB version of the histogram is displayed. The histogram makes it easy to determine the most accurate exposure level for the composition you ve selected. 1 Because this feature utilizes the auto gain function of the CMOS sensor, it requires a certain amount of available light to operate. In some situations, the LCD screen may darken during depth of field preview even when Exposure Simulation is active. An example of such a situation would be a low light scene where the photographer has chosen a small aperture value like f/16. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-14

15 In Live View, the histogram is updated automatically every time you adjust the exposure. Grid Displays and Aspect Ratios: All EOS models with Live View have an optional 3 x 3 grid display that can be superimposed on the LCD screen as a compositional aid. Newer models like the 1D Mark IV, 7D, 50D, 60D, Rebel T3i and Rebel T2i also have a 4 x 6 grid display. These displays are useful to keep horizon lines or architectural elements straight, and they can also be helpful for placing compositional elements at the most advantageous positions in the picture area. The 1D Mark IV and 7D also have a Custom Function that allows the photographer to select an aspect ratio other than the camera s standard 2:3, such as 6:6 (square), 3:4, 4:5, 6:7, 10:12, or 5:7 2. This information is written to the file s metadata and is honored in DPP, but it is also superimposed on the LCD screen during Live View. Shooting to a specific aspect ratio is often a requirement for portraiture or catalog photography. The 3 x 3 grid in the figure on the left is useful as a compositional aid. EOS-1D/1Ds class cameras and several other models also offer aspect ratio settings. Silent Shooting: The EOS 7D, 40D, 50D, 60D and 5D Mark II feature two Silent Shooting modes during Live View shooting that do more than just reduce the sound level of the shutter mechanism. They also eliminate vibration to an even greater 2 The EOS 60D and Rebel T3i have a similar feature that offers a choice of 4 aspect ratios, but it s a menu item rather than a Custom Function, and the choices are 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-15

16 extent than is possible with conventional mirror lock techniques. This capability makes Silent Shooting very much worth looking into, especially for photographers who are looking to achieve the sharpest possible still images, completely free of camera-induced motion blur. Before we explain this bold claim, let s take a look at the various options available in Silent Shooting mode: o When Silent Shooting is disabled in Live View, the camera s mechanical focal plane shutter controls the beginning and the end of every exposure. When the shutter button is fully pressed, the focal plane shutter closes to suspend Live View. Then it operates normally to capture one or more images, depending on whether the camera is set for single frame or continuous shooting. At the end of the last exposure, the shutter reopens to resume Live View. o In Silent Mode 1, the CMOS image sensor begins the exposure by electronically simulating the first curtain of the mechanical shutter. The mechanical shutter closes to end the exposure. This is quieter because the mechanical shutter has less work to do. (There is only one shutter click instead of two.) Silent Mode 1 works for continuous shooting as well as single frame exposures. At the end of the last exposure, the shutter opens again to resume Live View. o Silent Mode 2 only works with single frame shooting. In this mode, the exposure is controlled in the same way as Silent Mode 1. However, the mechanical shutter is not reopened to resume Live View until the photographer lifts his or her index finger off the shutter button or remote switch. This is by far the quietest way to capture a still image during Live View. It s ideal for situations when silence is essential, because it allows the photographer to control when to resume Live View. Silent Shooting modes are set on the camera s LCD menu. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-16

17 The electronic first curtain in Silent Shooting Modes 1 and 2 eliminates camera-induced blur. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-17

18 EOS Immersion Seminars 2010: Class Notes In this screen grab from Canon s ImageBrowser software, all photos were taken with an EOS 7D camera equipped with an EF800mm f/5.6l IS USM lens. The lens was mounted on a tripod. Exposure settings were f/5.6, ISO 160. These are 100% crops. You can see the full image as a thumbnail in the upper left corner of each cropped image. Upper left: Live View with Silent Shooting disabled. Upper right: Live View with Silent Shooting Mode 1. Lower left: Live View off, mirror lock disabled. Lower right: Live View off, mirror lock enabled. From this comparison, it is clear that Live View with Silent Shooting mode enabled produces the best overall sharpness, better than mirror lock alone. Copyright 2010 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-18

19 EOS Immersion Seminars 2010: Class Notes One reason why Silent Shooting mode is quieter than regular shooting is that the camera s reflex mirror doesn t have to move. The mirror is already raised in Live View mode. Silent Shooting is also quieter because the CMOS sensor electronically simulates the first shutter curtain to begin the exposure, as shown in the preceding graphic. Besides being totally silent, the other benefit of an electronically simulated first curtain is that there is no mechanical shutter operation, and therefore no vibration whatsoever. This is even better than conventional mirror lock photography in terms of camera stability during long exposures. Thus, Silent Shooting is particularly useful for photography through high magnification optical instruments such as telescopes and microscopes, where the blurring effects of shutter-induced vibration are extremely difficult to overcome. Charles Krebs, well-known for his expertise in photomicroscopy, has written an article that goes into more detail on this topic, with supporting sample images: Keep in mind that some shooting situations require Silent Shooting to be disabled: Shooting with Non-Dedicated Flash Units: In order to fire, studio strobes and other non-dedicated electronic flash units rely on the X-sync signal that is generated when the first curtain of the camera s mechanical focal plane shutter completes its travel. Since the first curtain of the focal plane shutter is never moved in Silent Shooting Modes 1 or 2, Silent Shooting must be disabled when non-dedicated electronic flash units are used. Shooting with TS-E lenses or Extension Tubes: If you use a TS-E lens to make vertical shift movements, or if you use an extension tube, we recommend disabling Silent Shooting to prevent incorrect or irregular exposures. 3. Understanding Histograms & Highlight Alerts One of the most important skills every good photographer must master is accurate exposure control. This is just as true in digital imaging as it was in the film era, if not more so. The good news is that EOS Digital SLRs offer a full set of tools to make accurate exposure easier than ever before. Sophisticated exposure metering systems and automatic shooting modes such as Program, Shutter-Priority and Aperture-Priority help make accurate exposures easier, but they re not always perfect. For challenging subject matter such as snow or sand, dark or bright clothing, etc., it is occasionally necessary to apply exposure compensation. The questions become: When should exposure compensation be applied? How much exposure compensation is needed? How can one be sure that the exposure is accurate? Copyright 2010 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-19

20 Digital SLRs have three major features that help photographers judge exposure accuracy in the field or on site: LCD screens, histograms and highlight alerts. We take them for granted now, but LCD screens are one of the most valuable attributes of any modern digital camera. Their virtually instant feedback lets photographers know right away if there s an exposure problem. Additionally, LCD screens can help confirm whether any applied corrections are in fact effective. However, LCD screens alone are not totally reliable for judging critical exposure accuracy. Sometimes, they can make exposures look brighter than they actually are, which can lead to disappointments and headaches during post-processing. This is where histograms come in. They graphically display the distribution of tones in an image. The horizontal axis of an EOS Digital SLR histogram displays the tonal range from the left, representing the dark tones or shadow areas, to the right, representing brighter tones or highlight areas. Predictably, areas reproduced as middle tones are positioned in the middle of the histogram graph. The vertical axis of the histogram displays the relative quantity of pixels for each tone. If any parts of the histogram graph are against the far left or right vertical edges of the histogram, it means that you have some tones in the scene that will reproduce as a pure black or a washed-out white, without detail. If these are important areas of the picture, it s an immediate warning that you need to change your exposure, and re-take the picture. As you gain experience and learn to compare the scene with the information in the histogram, you ll be able to judge accurate exposure levels while reviewing images in the field, regardless of LCD brightness. Histograms are useful for judging exposure accuracy in the field. Highlight Alert is an optional setting found in the Playback menu of most current EOS models that causes overexposed areas of a captured image to blink on the camera s LCD screen. The Highlight Alert is a valuable tool, but you need to exercise good judgment when using it. In the beginning, you ll have a natural tendency to Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-20

21 want to reduce exposure levels until there are no blinking areas on the screen. However, that is not always practical when there are bright specular highlights, such as a light source in the scene or a reflection of a light source on a piece of chrome or other highly reflective material. Ultimately, though, the Highlight Alert is very effective at helping photographers determine the need for exposure adjustments. Most current EOS models have a Highlight Alert menu setting. All current EOS Digital SLRs offer users a choice between Brightness and RGB Histogram displays. The setting for this choice is found in the LCD screen s Playback menu. The Brightness Histogram is the default setting, and it is primarily intended for judging exposure accuracy as we ve described. The RGB histogram shows brightness levels for each of the primary colors, red, green and blue. You can use this version to check saturation levels for each color, and also to judge white balance accuracy. If you find that a particular color channel is over- or undersaturated, you may be able to adjust it through the camera s manual White Balance or White Balance Shift settings, or by switching to a Picture Style setting like Neutral or Faithful that scales back color saturation. This is a good example of a situation where Live View can come in handy, because you can see the live RGB histogram change while you are adjusting the white balance or exposure levels. The RGB histogram displays brightness levels for each of the primary colors. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-21

22 When the camera is not set for Live View, histograms can be displayed optionally during instant review or playback. To set this up, go to playback mode first and press the INFO button a couple of times until the single histogram display appears. In single histogram mode, the LCD screen will display either the Brightness or the RGB histogram according to the setting you selected in the Playback menu. If you press the INFO button again, the LCD screen will display both histograms. These are sticky display settings, meaning that the camera will display the selected setting as the first option during instant review or whenever you enter playback mode. Keep in mind that the camera must be in playback mode (as opposed to review mode) to change the display setting. Brightness and RGB histograms can be displayed simultaneously during playback with current EOS models. The following sample images show how histograms change according to the exposure level. In the underexposed image, there is a noticeable loss of detail in shadow areas, and there are no true highlights. As a result, the tonal values are shifted to the left side of the histogram. In the overexposed image, the highlights are blown out or clipped, resulting in a loss of detail, so the tonal values are shifted to the right edge of the histogram. In the accurately exposed image, there is readable detail in shadows, midtones and highlights, and the resulting histogram shows an even distribution with no clipping. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-22

23 III. Customizing Your EOS Digital SLR 1. Introduction Serious photographers have always had specific needs based on the type of photography they do, as well as variations in shooting techniques developed through experience and personal preferences. As an industry leader, Canon has always offered a range of cameras to address these needs. At a very basic level, this involves producing cameras to fit the major market segments from entry-level through mid-range to high-level professional users. Taking the current EOS line-up as an example, the Rebel series appeals primarily to entry-level photographers; the EOS 50D, 60D, 7D and 5D Mark II are suitable for advanced amateurs and entry-level pros; and the EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS-1Ds Mark III offer the ultimate in performance and durability to professional photographers. But even within these groups, there is a clear need to maximize the versatility and performance of each camera model. This is where customization comes in. Custom Functions (C.Fn) address many of the specialized needs of EOS owners, and in this section of the Class Notes we will analyze several of the most popular options. Additionally, we ll show you how to register your Camera Settings and recall them instantly. We ll also take a look at your EOS camera s My Menu settings and how best to take advantage of them. We hope that you ll experiment with these and other options in order to help you personalize your EOS camera. 2. Flash Sync Speed in Aperture Priority Mode At the default setting for this Custom Function, your EOS camera is programmed to always set the correct shutter speed for ambient light in Aperture Priority mode with flash. This works well for its intended purpose of balancing flash illumination with ambient light, but indoors or in other low light situations, it can result in a shutter speed that is too slow for hand-held photography. Most EOS cameras with Custom Functions provide an option to lock the shutter speed at maximum X-sync for Aperture Priority with flash. Depending on the camera model, this can be 1/200, 1/250 or 1/300. These high shutter speeds make hand-held indoor flash photography very simple, but they typically result in very dark backgrounds because the ambient light is drastically underexposed. This setting also shuts off the camera s ambient exposure metering system, so it should never be used outdoors. Otherwise, it s quite possible that the entire exposure will be blown out due to overexposure. Current EOS models offer a happy medium in which the ambient metering system remains active and the camera will vary the shutter speed between 1/60 th and its fastest X-sync speed, depending on the level of ambient light in the scene. This setting allows the camera to produce a balanced fill-flash exposure whenever possible, but it prevents the shutter speed from dropping low enough to cause a motion blur problem during hand-held flash photography. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-23

24 Use this setting to control the background exposure level of your indoor flash photos in Aperture-Priority mode. 3. High ISO Noise Reduction Recent advancements in image processing technology have dramatically extended the range of usable ISO speeds with current EOS Digital SLRs. It s possible to produce highquality prints at virtually every available setting, even ISO 12,800 with the EOS-1D Mark IV, or ISO 6400 with the EOS 5D Mark II, 7D, 60D, Rebel T3i/T3 and Rebel T2i. However, current EOS Digital SLRs with DIGIC 4 image processors have a Custom Function that allows users to even further reduce the levels of noise that occur at high ISO speed settings. Jeff Greene for Canon USA This feature is available with all current EOS models excluding the Rebel XS. This full frame image was shot at ISO Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-24

25 The camera s settings for Low, Standard and Strong High ISO Noise Reduction consist of preset combinations of Chrominance and Luminance Noise Reduction. Standard is the default setting. The Strong setting requires more in-camera processing than the Standard or Low settings, so it reduces the maximum burst rate when shooting in Continuous modes. The following sample images are 100% crops that show the effects of in-camera High ISO Noise Reduction. High ISO NR Disabled High ISO NR Low setting High ISO NR Standard setting High ISO NR Strong setting Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-25

26 With some previous EOS models, like the EOS-1D Mark III, High ISO Noise Reduction only offers a choice of ON or OFF. Please be aware that older EOS models may not have this Custom Function at all. In such cases, we suggest that you apply noise reduction techniques during post-processing with DPP or another image editing software application. 4. Mirror Lock In the EOS System, Mirror Lock is a Custom Function that allows users to raise the camera s reflex mirror before releasing the shutter. This is the traditional way to reduce vibration when the camera is mounted on a tripod and long shutter speeds are used. When Mirror Lock is active, the first press of the shutter button or remote shutter release raises the mirror, and the second press releases the shutter. When this function is used, the shutter must be released within 30 seconds after the mirror is raised; otherwise, the mirror lock will be cancelled automatically and the mirror will drop down to its normal position. Mirror lock is a Custom Function in the EOS system, but you can make it more accessible by registering it to a Custom mode. See text for details. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-26

27 There are several tips to be aware of regarding mirror lock: If you use Mirror Lock often and you have an EOS 5D, 5D Mark II, 7D, 40D, 50D, or 60D, you may want to consider registering it as one of the camera settings for Custom mode. (See 5. Custom Modes & Camera User Settings below.) This will allow you to activate mirror lock in one step by changing the mode dial to a C setting. Similarly, Mirror Lock can be added to your camera s My Menu tab for quick access. (See 6. My Menu Settings below.) Live View, which is a one-touch operation with all current EOS Digital SLRs, uses Mirror Lock by default. It is without doubt the quickest and easiest way to access this function, and has the added benefit of allowing you to continue to view the scene you re shooting. (The eye-level finder is blacked-out whenever Mirror Lock is active.) Normally, Mirror Lock can only be used for single frame shooting. However, if you are using an EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS-1D Mark III or an EOS-1Ds Mark III, it is possible to shoot continuously with the mirror locked via Custom Function control. (III-17-2 with the 1D Mark IV, III-15-2 with the 1D/1Ds Mark III.) It is also possible to shoot continuously in Live View with any compatible EOS model. Continuous shooting can come in handy when shooting Auto Exposure Bracketing sequences for HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging. If you have an EOS 5D Mark II, 7D, 50D or 60D camera and you wish to achieve even more camera stability than is possible with Mirror Lock alone, consider Live View s Silent Shooting modes as previously described. (See I. 2. Live View Tips & Techniques above.) Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-27

28 5. Back-Button AF Canon was the world s first camera maker to incorporate Back-Button AF, launching it back in 1989 with the EOS 630 (35mm film SLR). All current EOS digital SLR models have this feature in the camera s Custom Functions, including the EOS Rebel models. Back-Button AF is enabled via Custom Function with current EOS models. For the EOS Rebel T3i and T2i, it s C.Fn IV-9-1. For the Rebel T3 it s C.Fn IV-7-1. For most other current models, it s C.Fn IV-1-2. What is Back-Button AF? Simply put, it s a feature that separates AF activation from shutter release. Why would anyone want to do that? This is a question many users ask when Back-Button AF is first explained to them. There are certainly many times where the standard method of operation press the shutter button half-way down to focus, and then press fully to shoot works perfectly well. Everything is controlled by one finger, and if you like, you can lock the focus with a stationary subject by holding the shutter button half-way down. Even dedicated supporters of Back-Button AF will change back to standard camera operation from time to time. But Back-Button AF offers some significant advantages, especially for the experienced photographer. Here are some frequently-mentioned ones: Easier to lock focus More control over shutter release timing Less risk of focus errors with moving subjects Easier to override AF with full-time manual focus lenses More control over macro and close-up focusing Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-28

29 Back-Button AF is particularly useful for sports photography because it lets the photographer start or stop AF at will during continuous shooting. Photos by Jeff Greene for Canon USA. Back-Button AF is especially popular with sports photographers, but it can also be useful for portraiture and close-up work. For a more detailed discussion of Back-Button AF and how to use it, be sure to visit the Canon Digital Learning Center to read the following article: Custom Modes & Camera User Settings Custom modes are a great feature for photographers who need to be able to change camera settings quickly on a regular basis. They let you memorize a host of camera settings you might use for a certain type of shooting, and then instantly return to them by turning the Mode Dial to a C setting. For example, a wedding or portrait photographer might find it useful to have one Custom mode for studio or indoor flash photography and another Custom mode for outdoor work. A nature photographer might have one Custom mode for close-ups and another for use with long telephoto lenses. A sports photographer might have one Custom mode for football and another for baseball. An HD videographer might have one Custom mode for 1080/24p shooting with a Neutral Picture Style and another for 720/60p slow motion video capture. The possibilities are virtually unlimited. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-29

30 Camera user settings are registered to a Custom mode in the LCD menu. Once they ve been registered, they can be instantly accessed by selecting the desired Custom mode (C1, C2, C3) on the camera s mode dial. Mid-range EOS models including the 5D, 5D Mark II, 7D, 40D and 50D allow users to register a full selection of camera and menu settings to a Custom mode that can be accessed instantly by turning the mode dial on top of the camera. The number of available Custom modes varies by camera model as shown in the following chart: Camera Model # of Custom Modes EOS 5D 1 EOS 5D Mark II 3 EOS 7D 3 EOS 40D 3 EOS 50D 2 EOS 60D 1 The list of camera settings that can be registered to Custom modes includes: Shooting mode + settings ISO speed AF mode AF point Metering mode Drive mode Exposure compensation amount Flash exposure compensation amount Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-30

31 Menu settings that can be registered include Custom Functions and their settings plus some or all of the following items, depending on the camera model: Recording Menus Image Quality (RAW, JPEG, etc.) Red-eye Reduction (On/Off) Beep Mode (On/Off) Shoot without Memory Card Review Time Peripheral Illumination Correction Flash Control Exposure Compensation/AEB Flash Exposure Compensation Auto Lighting Optimizer White Balance, Custom WB, WB Shift/Bracketing Color Space Picture Style One-Touch RAW + JPEG Live View Shooting (7D) o AF Mode o Grid Display o Exposure Simulation o Silent Shooting o Metering Timer Video Recording o AF Mode o Grid Display o Movie Recording Size o Sound Recording o Silent Shooting o Metering Timer Playback Menus Highlight alert AF point display Histogram Slide show Image jump Set-up Menus Auto power off Auto rotate File numbering LCD brightness Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-31

32 Sensor cleaning (Auto cleaning settings) VF Grid Display (7D) Live View/Movie function settings (5D Mark II) o AF Mode o Grid Display o Exposure Simulation o Silent Shooting o Metering Timer Video Recording o AF Mode o Grid Display o Movie Recording Size o Sound Recording o Silent Shooting o Metering Timer INFO button External Speedlite controls (5D Mark II) Menu language, date and time, and My Menu settings are just about the only items that cannot be registered and stored to a Custom mode. The procedure for registering camera user settings to a Custom mode is as follows: 1. Preset the camera settings you wish to register, as per the lists above. 2. Locate and select Camera User Setting in the Set-up menu of your compatible EOS Digital SLR, then press SET. 3. From the Camera User Setting submenu, select Register and then press SET. 4. From the Register submenu, select the Custom Mode dial position to which you wish to register your camera settings, then press SET. You can overwrite the registered camera settings for any Custom mode by presetting a new group of settings and repeating the registration procedure above. You can also clear the registered camera settings for any Custom mode by using the Clear settings option in the Camera User Setting submenu. Last but not least, you can adjust any camera settings you wish while you are using a Custom mode, but be aware that the camera will revert to the registered settings under the following conditions: Auto Power Off (the camera goes to sleep) Main Power Off (the camera is switched off or the battery pack is removed) Using another shooting mode, then switching back to the previously used Custom mode Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-32

33 7. My Menu Settings The My Menu feature for EOS Digital SLRs first appeared in 2007 with the EOS-1D Mark III and 40D models, and it has been included in every EOS model released since then. My Menu allows photographers to register, sort and manage up to 6 of their most frequently used menu settings for quicker access than would be possible by scrolling through a series of individual menu tabs. It can be accessed quickly by rotating the camera s main input dial after displaying any menu screen. There s even a setting that causes My Menu to appear automatically when pressing the MENU button. Use My Menu to register, sort, manage and access up to 6 of your most frequently used camera settings. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-33

34 IV. EOS Utility Workflow 1. Introduction Every EOS Digital SLR is provided with a complimentary and comprehensive software suite known as the EOS Digital Solution Disk that makes it possible to download, view, edit, print and archive the images and videos you produce. One of the most powerful applications in this software suite is called EOS Utility. This program controls all communication between your EOS camera and your compatible Mac or Windows computer, when they re connected either by USB cable, or (in some cases) with the optional Wireless File Transmitter. The key features of EOS Utility include downloading images from your camera, uploading various custom features to your camera, and remote control of your camera including the ability to change camera settings and monitor Live View. 2. Download Images EOS Utility (EU for short) is a self-launching program, which means that it starts automatically when it detects that an EOS camera has been connected to the computer via the USB interface. Once it starts, at default settings it displays a main menu that allows you to download images and video files to a destination folder that you designate on your computer. You can download all files on the memory card, or you can select specific images if you prefer. You can also link EU to Canon s Digital Photo Professional software if you want to speed up the process of viewing, editing, printing or archiving your downloaded files. This is the Main Window that appears when EOS Utility software is launched. Click on Preferences to access many useful features as shown below. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-34

35 Use the pulldown menu in the upper left corner of the EOS Utility Preferences menu to select the settings you wish to adjust. In this case, you can choose a destination folder for the images you plan to download from your camera. This EOS Utility Preference setting allows you to choose a software application to be launched after you ve downloaded your files. Canon software like Digital Photo Professional can be selected, or you can designate another application such as Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or Apple Aperture. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-35

36 3. Rename Files While Downloading One of EU s most powerful yet least known features is its ability to automatically rename files while they are being downloaded. This feature is accessed through the File Name submenu in EU s Preferences dialog. The reasons for renaming files are many, including the following: In-camera file names provide no clue to the contents of a given image or video clip. This makes it inconvenient if not impossible to find the files you re looking for once they ve been downloaded, without viewing individual images or their thumbnails. In-camera file names start over once file number 9999 has been reached, and are often duplicated when multiple Canon cameras are used. Eventually, you will have duplicate file names for different images. This poses a potential problem for file management, and puts you at risk for inadvertent deletions. If you are using two or more Canon digital cameras to cover the same event, you may find it desirable to sort your images according to the date and/or time they were shot, and/or the photographer who shot them, etc. With EU s File Naming function, you can design custom file names that allow you to add whatever information you need to make sorting, archiving and retrieval easier. Here is a list of the options EU can automatically append to your file names: Custom Prefix (Make up your own text, such as Smith_Wedding, Horses, etc.) Sequential Number (Auto Incrementing) Shooting Date (yy/mm/dd, mm/dd/yy, dd/mm/yy) Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-36

37 Shooting Time (hours, minutes, seconds) Download Time (hours, minutes, seconds) Folder Number Image Number Owner s Name ISO Speed Camera Body Serial Number Camera Model Instead of IMG_0001, IMG_0002, etc., you might end up with something easier to sort and much more meaningful to you such as: _Smith_Wedding_001, _Smith_Wedding_002, etc. 4. Adjust Camera Settings EU supports a wide variety of modifications and other settings that can be uploaded to your EOS Digital SLR via the USB interface. Some of these include: Owner s Name: Up to 31 characters, including spaces, can be uploaded to your camera and appended to every image you record. This data can be viewed in Canon software and most other image viewers. Copyright Info: Author and copyright holder data (up to 63 characters per field) entered for this setting is recorded to the Exif metadata for each file. This feature is compatible with the EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D, EOS 50D, EOS 60D, and EOS Rebel models including T3i, T3, T2i, and T1i. Date/Time: You can set date and time manually or automatically from the computer. The automatic option is extremely useful when you wish to synchronize the date and time information for several cameras. Firmware Updates: You can update your camera s firmware directly from your computer, without using a card reader. (A formatted memory card must be installed in the camera to access this feature.) Custom Picture Style: Custom Picture Style files downloaded from Canon s web site or created by you in Picture Style Editor software can be uploaded to the camera. Peripheral Illumination Correction (PIC): Your compatible EOS Digital SLR can store Peripheral Illumination Correction data for up to 40 lenses. EU lets you add or remove PIC data for supported lenses. EU is updated when Canon introduces new lenses. More than 80 lenses are currently supported. Live View Settings: You can enable or disable Live View and adjust specific Live View settings from your computer with this function. Enabling Live View lets you initiate video recording to a memory card in the camera or capture still images directly to your computer via Remote Live View. For more information, see below. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-37

38 In this illustration, we ve overlaid EOS Utility s Remote Shooting window in DPP. Look for Set-up Menu in the lower portion of the Remote Shooting window. 5. Remote Live View Shooting EOS Utility supports both Remote Shooting and Remote Live View with compatible EOS Digital SLRs. Remote Shooting can be done without initiating Live View, but Remote Live View will enable you to see what your camera is seeing on your computer screen. In addition to providing a remote shutter release capability, EOS Utility allows you to adjust many camera settings at the computer, such as: Shooting Mode (EOS-1D/1Ds series only 3 ) Shutter Speed & Aperture Metering Pattern Image Size (RAW, MRAW, SRAW, JPEG, etc.) White Balance Exposure Compensation Recording to the computer only or to the camera s memory card plus the computer 3 Shooting mode can be preset directly on the camera for EOS Digital SLRs other than the EOS-1D/1Ds series. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-38

39 Live View is a useful feature for many reasons, but it can become even more powerful and versatile when you operate your camera remotely with EOS Utility software. As the name implies, you see the Live View from your camera directly on your computer s screen, and you can adjust multiple camera settings remotely. In addition to the settings listed above, Remote Live View adds the following features: Automatic and Manual Focusing High-Magnification View Live Histogram Click White Balance Depth of Field Preview Optional Grid Overlay Aspect Ratio Overlay (Compatible EOS models only) Image Rotation (for vertical format shooting) Video Capture (to the camera s memory card or an external storage device connected to the camera via its optional Wireless File Transmitter accessory) Once a video clip has been recorded, you have the option to download it from the camera to the computer. Remote Live View works with USB or a Wireless File Transmitter. 6. Timer/Interval Shooting EOS Utility supports time-lapse photography through its Timer/Interval Shooting function. Once a compatible camera is connected and the Remote Shooting menu is Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-39

40 displayed, you can click on the Timer icon in the middle of the menu screen to generate a pop-up window that allows you to enter the desired settings. Click on the Clock icon in EOS Utility s Remote Shooting window to display the Timer/Interval Shooting window. (Self) Timer: This setting determines the length of time before an individual exposure, or the first exposure in a sequence. The range is 0 seconds to 99 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds in one second increments. Interval Timer: This setting determines the length of time between exposures in a sequence. The range is 5 seconds to 99 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds in one second increments. Bulb Timer: This setting determines the length of individual exposures when the Bulb setting is selected. The range is 5 seconds to 99 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds in one second increments. Shots: This setting determines the number of frames in a sequence. The range is determined by the capacity of the storage drive. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-40

41 A sequence of still images recorded with the Interval Timer function can be compiled into a video clip with various software applications on the market, such as Windows Movie Maker and Apple QuickTime Pro. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-41

42 V. Ten Quick Tips Here are ten quick tips to help stimulate your creativity: 1. Using the Quick Control Screen The concept is simple: Push in the Q button on the back of your EOS 7D, 60D, Rebel T3i, Rebel T3, or Rebel T2i, or the 8-way multi-controller on the back of your EOS 5D Mark II or 50D, and you get an immediate display of the major shooting settings on the rear LCD monitor. Instead of having to press different buttons or navigate through menus to change settings such as ISO levels, metering modes, white balance, image quality, etc the Quick Control screen gives you instant access to the most common settings, all in one place! It s a great way to quickly confirm or change settings while you re shooting. The Quick Control screen is particularly useful when you're shooting from a tripod or monopod, with the camera at eye level, because it eliminates the need to view the LCD data panel on top of the camera while changing settings. For more information, be sure to visit the Canon Digital Learning Center here: This is the EOS 7D s Quick Control Screen. Similar screens are available with the EOS 5D Mark II, 50D, 60D, Rebel T3i, Rebel T3 and Rebel T2i. 2. One Touch Raw + JPEG (7D only) The One Touch RAW + JPEG button is another simple but useful feature, available exclusively with the EOS 7D. When the camera is set for RAW or JPEG only, pressing the button will activate RAW + JPEG for the next single frame or sequence. You can go into Recording Menu 3 on the LCD screen and preset the desired RAW or JPEG size when this feature is activated. Choose between RAW, MRAW and SRAW for RAW mode, and Large, Medium or Small JPEG with your choice of Fine or Normal compression. This feature cancels itself automatically after one frame or sequence, and is unavailable when the camera is already set for RAW + JPEG recording. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-42

43 3. Dual Axis Electronic Level (7D) The EOS 7D is the first EOS camera to feature a Dual Axis Electronic Level a feature that is capable of indicating both pitch and roll angle. This is particularly useful for landscape photographers to ensure level horizons and for photographers shooting with tilt and shift lenses who need to level the pitch of the camera to ensure that verticals are captured vertically. It will also prove useful in low light where it is hard to see reference points that would otherwise give you an indication of whether the horizon is level or not. Accessing the electronic level is done via pressing the INFO button. This will display 360 of roll and +/-10 of pitch in 1 increments. When in Live View Mode a smaller display is overlaid on top of the image. The electronic level is accurate to +/-1 at up to +/-10. Between +/-10 and +/-45 the accuracy is +/-3. When using the viewfinder the electronic level is displayed using different combinations of the AF points. The viewfinder can display +/-6 of roll and +/-4 of pitch in 1 increments. If the camera is held vertically the viewfinder will then display +/-6 of pitch and +/-4 of roll. 4 (text courtesy of Canon Professional Network) 4 The EOS 60D has a Single-Axis Electronic Level that s similar to the Dual-Axis version in the 7D, but it can only detect pitch. The rear LCD display is basically the same, but the viewfinder display uses the exposure level scale rather than the focusing points to indicate the degree of pitch. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-43

44 The EOS 7D s Dual Axis Electronic Level can be displayed on the LCD screen with or without Live View. It can also be displayed on the camera s focusing screen. 4. Adjust Viewfinder Clarity Every EOS Digital SLR is equipped with a Dioptric Adjustment Knob next to the viewfinder eyepiece that lets you adjust the clarity of the viewfinder to match your eyesight. The adjustment range is -3 to +1 diopter. If the camera s built-in dioptric adjustment is not strong enough, Canon offers optional dioptric adjustment lenses that slip on over the eyepiece. These accessories are available in a range from -4 to +4 diopters. Canon s dioptric adjustment lenses can correct simple myopia (nearsightedness) or presbyopia (farsightedness), but they cannot correct astigmatism. Turn the dioptric correction adjustment knob to adjust the clarity of the viewfinder. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-44

45 The ideal way to adjust the built-in diopter (or when sampling accessory dioptric adjustment lenses) is to remove the camera lens, and look through the viewfinder at an adequately lit subject. Observe the sharpness of the focusing points and/or metering circle(s) etched on the focusing screen. Rotate the adjustment knob; when these screen elements appear sharpest to your eye, the viewfinder is properly adjusted for your individual eyesight. Now, when you focus on any real-life subject, you ll get the sharpest possible view of it in your finder. 5. Adding Copyright Info to the EXIF Data Adding copyright information to your images can help to protect your legal rights if your images are published without your permission. Current EOS models including the 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 7D, 50D, 60D, Rebel T3i, Rebel T3, Rebel T2i and Rebel T1i make it easy for you to embed copyright information into the EXIF metadata of every still image or video clip you record. As we discussed earlier, EOS Utility software allows you to upload this information to your camera s memory, after which it s added to the EXIF data of every image you subsequently take. Additionally, the EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS 7D models allow you to enter or change the data directly on the camera, using the Quick Control Dial and the LCD screen. Author and copyright holder data (up to 63 characters per field) entered for this setting is recorded to the EXIF metadata for each file. Be aware of two things: this in no way puts a visible copyright notice on your actual image files (there s no watermarking with this feature), and having a copyright notice in your image s EXIF information is not a substitute for proper registration of copyright with government authorities if it s a critical image and you re concerned about possible future copyright protection. 6. Orientation-Linked AF Point Selection (1D Mark IV, 7D only) With this feature, you can set the AF point for the vertical orientations separately from the AF point for the horizontal orientation. During shooting, the camera detects changes in the camera's orientation and instantly switches to the corresponding AF point or zone that was set. With this feature, you can also select the AF point or zone to be used in three different camera orientations: horizontal, vertical (grip on top), and vertical (grip on bottom). Automatic AF point selection is selectable in any orientation as the corresponding AF point. If you clear the camera settings to their defaults, the selected AF points for the respective orientations will all be reset to the center AF point. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-45

46 To use this feature, you must first enable it with the appropriate Custom Function in your camera. 7. Download the User Manual Even though you receive a printed copy of the User Manual when you purchase an EOS camera, it s a good idea to download a PDF version of it as well. Having the electronic version available comes in handy if you misplace the printed copy or forget to take it with you on a trip. Also, Canon occasionally updates its user manuals, as in the case of the EOS 5D Mark II with Version and higher firmware. In such a case, downloading the latest version of the manual can provide you with important information on new camera features provided by the firmware. See VI. Canon Digital Imaging Resources & Customer Support below for details on downloading user manuals and other useful information from Canon s web site. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-46

47 8. Eyepiece Cover When you use your EOS camera on a tripod, you may want to take pictures without looking through the viewfinder. In such cases, it is very important to cover the viewfinder eyepiece in order to ensure accurate exposure metering, especially in automatic exposure modes. EOS-1D/1Ds series cameras have built-in eyepiece shutters for this purpose, but you may not realize that Canon supplies an eyepiece cover with all other EOS models. This cover is a small rubber flap that is stored on the camera s neckstrap, as shown in the following photo. Look for your camera s eyepiece cover on the supplied Canon neckstrap. 9. Intelligent Macro Tracking (7D only) A very useful feature of the EOS 7D camera is its Intelligent Macro Tracking function. This helps reduce blur during macro shooting by recognizing when a Canon macro lens is attached and automatically adjusting the AI Servo sampling frequency when the lens is focused on a close-up subject. The AI Servo adjustment accounts for camera movement forward and back, a typical occurrence when moving in close for a macro shot as photographers rock back and forth, or a flower blows in the wind. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-47

48 The EOS 7D s Intelligent Macro Tracking function reduces blur when using EF or EF-S Macro lenses at close range. (photo by Darrell Gulin, Canon Explorer of Light) No special settings or Custom Functions need to be enabled on the EOS 7D to take advantage of this; you only need to have the camera set to AI Servo AF mode, and be Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-48

49 focused upon a small object at 1/3 life-size (0.3x magnification) or greater with a Canon Macro lens having an Ultrasonic focusing motor. With all other Canon lenses, or with a macro lens at magnifications less than 0.3x, AI Servo AF reverts to ordinary focustracking operation. 10. Battery Info (1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 60D & 7D) Communications with the LP-E4 and LP-E6 Battery Packs enable the battery s remaining capacity to be displayed with compatible EOS models as listed above. The remaining capacity is indicated in one of six levels by the battery check icon displayed on the top LCD panel, in the viewfinder (during metering), and in precise 1% increments on the Battery Info menu. On the Battery Info menu screen, you can register the battery serial number and check the remaining battery capacity, shutter count and recharge performance (in 3 levels). Information for up to 6 battery packs can be registered. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-49

50 VI. Canon Digital Imaging Resources & Customer Support 1. Introduction In addition to these Class Notes for the EOS Immersion Seminars from Canon Live Learning, Canon U.S.A., Inc. provides a wealth of online resources and customer support to EOS System owners. In this section, we take a look at some of the key types of content that are available. 2. Canon USA Consumer Web Site Canon USA Consumer Web Site Home Page This is the home page for Canon U.S.A., Inc s consumer web site. It is the starting point for a broad range of content that s useful for anyone interested in EOS cameras or Canon SLR System Accessories. Please visit this web site to locate any of the following items: Product Registration: Product registration is available at no charge for owners of EOS Digital SLRs, EF/EF-S Lenses and EX Speedlites. Benefits include discounts on accessory purchases and automatic notification of service announcements as well as firmware and software updates. Optional notifications of new product announcements and seasonal promotions are also available. Product registration will allow Canon to keep Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-50

51 the model number and date of purchase of your new Canon products on file to help you refer to this information in the event of an insurance claim such as loss or theft. Product Registration Top Menu Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-51

52 Direct Purchasing: We encourage customers to patronize authorized Canon dealers, but Canon USA also offers its U.S.-based customers direct online purchasing of EOS cameras and SLR system accessories including lenses, hoods, caps, speedlites, battery packs, etc. Direct online purchasing through Canon USA Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-52

53 Seasonal Promotions: Canon USA is pleased to inform you of current promotional campaigns including rebate programs and seasonal savings on EOS equipment. Canon USA Seasonal Promotions New Product Announcements: In addition to press releases and product photos, the Canon USA consumer web site also provides up-to-the-minute detailed information on new products as they are announced. Sample Press Release: e e Sample Product Information: bel_t2i_ef_s_18_55mm_is_kit Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-53

54 Firmware Updates, Software Updates & Product Manuals: Canon USA encourages EOS customers to download and install the latest firmware updates, software updates and product manuals for their equipment, all at no charge. These complimentary items are available on the support page for individual EOS camera. To locate the latest updates, start by navigating to the product page for your Canon equipment from the Support & Drivers index page: Browse the menus to locate downloads for your Canon product. Once you locate your product in the Models section, click on Drivers & Software for that product. Be sure to select your computer s OS from the pulldown menu to see the available software updates. Please scroll down to find the latest firmware. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-54

55 Click on the Drivers and Software link, then select your OS from the pulldown menu to display all available downloads for your camera. Scroll down the page to find firmware updates and software updates. Repair Information: To locate your nearest Canon Factory Service Center, initiate a repair or track a repair in progress, start here: Once you locate your product, click on the Service & Support link. You can use this web page to locate Canon Factory Service Centers, arrange repairs, approve estimates, and track repair status, among other things. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-55

56 Product Advisories: If there is a Product Advisory or Service Notice for your Canon product, it will be posted on the web page for that product. Please navigate to the product page via the Download Library Index or Support Index as mentioned above, and look for Product Advisories on the right side of the page. Sample Product Advisory digital_slr_cameras?pagekeycode=prdadvdetail&docid=0901e024801c4e55 This is a Product Advisory to inform EOS 7D owners about a new firmware update. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-56

57 3. Telephone & Technical Support In addition to its consumer web site, Canon USA offers technical support by telephone and through its Customer Support Center. Here are the details: Canon Customer Support Center Hours: Phone: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight. ET Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., excluding holidays OK-CANON (toll free) TTD: (toll free) carecenter@cits.canon.com The tech support staff at the Canon Customer Support Center is fully dedicated to customer satisfaction. They re a big part of the reason why Canon has been awarded the #1 ranking in PC Magazine s Readers Choice Digital Camera Reliability Survey for 7 consecutive years as of Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-57

58 4. Canon Digital Learning Center Canon Digital Learning Center Home Page The Canon Digital Learning Center is hosted on the Canon USA web site, but it has a completely different look and feel of its own. Like Canon USA s consumer web site, the CDLC is available 24/7. It provides a wealth of content devoted to Canon s professional imaging products including the EOS system, Canon professional video products, and Canon professional printers. Here are the main areas of interest: Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-58

59 Product Tutorials: The CDLC offers tutorials on a wide variety of products, ranging from EOS Digital SLRs like the 7D to ImagePROGRAF large format printers. Software applications like Canon Digital Photo Professional and Studio Solutions are also covered. Here are some examples: Canon EOS 7D On-Camera Tutorial Videos EOS 7D On-Camera Tutorials. As of January, 2011 On-Camera Tutorials are also available for the EOS-1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, and 60D. Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-59

60 Canon Advanced Printing Techniques with George Lepp Canon Advanced Printing Techniques with George Lepp Canon Digital Photo Professional Software Tutorial DPP Online Tutorial Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-60

61 Canon Studio Solutions Software Tutorial Studio Solutions Software Tutorial Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-61

62 White Papers: Canon White Papers are PDF documents that provide detailed, in-depth looks at the major features of select EOS cameras. They explain the technology behind new advancements in camera performance and provide a comprehensive overview of Canon software and accessories for each camera model. The Canon White Paper Index page is located here: Canon Digital Learning Center White Paper Index Page Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-62

63 Tips & Techniques Articles: These web pages provide detailed information on specific camera features like Back Button AF, etc., as well as recommended techniques for photographing difficult subjects like snow. The articles go into much greater depth than an instruction book or even a White Paper would offer, with easy-to-follow explanations that explore the reasons behind the development of these features and suggest realistic situations when the feature or technique can be used most effectively. Here are some sample articles: Back Button Autofocus Explained Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-63

64 Quick Tip: Photographing Snow There are many, many more Tips & Techniques articles on a wide range of topics, and new articles are added to the CDLC every month. Shooter s Insight Series: Going beyond basic product information, the Shooter s Insight series follows professional photographers from Canon s renowned Explorers of Light program, such as Vincent Laforet, Simon Bruty and David Stoecklein among others as they use EOS equipment for specific shooting assignments. You can see the equipment in action and hear directly from the photographers as they explain how they use their Canon gear to achieve high quality results. Here are some recent Shooter s Insight Webisodes : Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-64

65 EOS-1D Mark IV HD Video with Vincent Laforet Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-65

66 EOS-1D Mark IV Autofocus Special with Simon Bruty Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-66

67 EOS 7D On Location with David Stoecklein Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-67

68 Lens of the Month: Learn more about popular lenses in the Canon EF series from professional photographers, including sample images, interviews, and technical information. This series began in July 2009 and updates are posted regularly. Here is a link to the index page for the series: Recent Lens of the Month articles include: March 2010: EF24-105mm f/4l IS USM with Ric Peterson April 2010: EF50mm f/1.4 USM with Jill Brazel May 2010: EF70-200mm f/4l IS USM with Stephen Green Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-68

69 Explorers of Light Gallery: The Explorers of Light concept came out of Canon USA in the mid 1990's as a broad-ranging initiative for photographic education and inspiration. Today, the group is comprised of more than 60 of the most influential photographers in the world, each a master of their own creative specialty. The Explorers share their photographic passions and technical expertise with eager audiences of photo professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts in a variety of personal appearances, seminars and gallery showings throughout the United States. Examples of the Explorers' work may be found online at the Explorers of Light Gallery as well as numerous museums, galleries and publications. Explorers of Light use Canon EOS photographic equipment. Explorers of Light Gallery Index Page Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-69

70 Sponsored Event Calendar: Canon USA sponsors a wide range of photographic seminars, classes and workshops that are staffed by the Explorers of Light photographers as well as Canon Professional Market Representatives. With more than 400 sponsored events scheduled in 2011, the CDLC s Event Calendar is the best place to look for events that you may be interested in attending. Here is the URL: Copyright 2011 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 1-70

71 About Canon Live Learning The Growing Demand for Imaging Education With the democratization of personal imaging made possible by the digital revolution, many of Canon s customers have felt empowered to do more, be more expressive and communicate more effectively via Canon personal imaging products. This empowerment has stimulated an ongoing and intense demand for imaging education. Meeting the Needs of our Customers In 2008, we here at Canon USA set out to provide our loyal and passionate advanced amateur customers with an exclusive, Canon- centric choice in on- site photo education. From the beginning, we envisioned Canon Live Learning (CLL) as a new kind of intensive and high- quality photographic educational experience, with Canon s proven photographic expertise as the leading selling point and Canon professional imaging products as the demonstrated tools of choice throughout the workshops and seminars. Industry- leading instructors and top- grade venues are also hallmarks of the program. As CLL has evolved, we have expanded our offerings to appeal to professional photographers and videographers as well as advanced amateurs. Growing Customer Relationships Seeking to expand the Canon ownership experience beyond a purely product- based connection, CLL engages customers directly within their respective quests for personal growth in the imaging disciplines they love. Meeting and working together with our customers in high- context and high- quality settings has proven to be mutually beneficial: Customers obtain top- quality education, while Canon gains invaluable direct feedback resulting in new products that are ever more closely aligned with customer wants and needs. Customers value and enjoy the direct connection with Explorers of Light and other Canon experts as they learn about the subjects that mean the most to them. Our experts help them take better landscape photos and portraits; master their Canon Speedlites; create better HD video projects; and make better prints. The intimacy of those learning connections, combined with the ready availability of the Canon personal imaging products that they already love improves their ownership experience in ways that cannot be realized in even the most elite independent photo workshops. Keeping in Touch Our home page on the Canon Digital Learning Center is here: You can also follow us on Facebook here: CLL welcomes feedback, comments and questions by e- mail here: canonlivelearning@cusa.canon.com If you are interested in more information about Canon Live Learning, or if you just want to keep up to date on Canon events and activities that may be offered in your area, we encourage you to sign up for the EOS Newsletter here:

72 About Canon Live Learning Offering More Choices in More Places As CLL enters its third full season in 2011, the program has expanded to encompass a wider range of subject matter and to reach a bigger audience than ever before. Key offerings include: EOS Immersion Seminars & Workshops: EOS Immersion Saturday Seminars are full- day events consisting of individual presentations on Creative Essentials, Speedlite Creativity & Techniques, HD Video Basics, and Travel & Landscape Photography. Professional photographers and Canon Explorers of Light perform live demos on stage and deliver inspiring multimedia presentations for up to 200 attendees. Offered separately, EOS Immersion Sunday Workshops provide a full- day hands- on educational experience for up to 16 attendees. Topics vary by city, but typically students can choose workshops on Speedlite Techniques or HD Video. Occasionally, there are EOS Immersion Sunday workshops on nature photography, urban landscapes or other topics. Ten EOS Immersion weekends are scheduled to date in EOS Destination Workshops: Unlike the EOS Immersion Seminars and Workshops which are typically offered in major metropolitan areas, EOS Destination Workshops are usually held in intriguing locations that have been chosen specifically for their natural beauty. In 2011, Canon is offering at least 9 EOS Destination Workshops in scenic locations such as Moab, UT; Bar Harbor, ME; Sedona, AZ; and Montrose, CO among others. These are 2- day hands- on shooting workshops conducted by award- winning professional photographers and Canon Explorers of Light including Bruce Dorn, George Lepp, Arthur Morris, Ken Sklute, Tyler Stableford, and Jennifer Wu. Subjects will include Tilt- Shift lenses, Environmental Portraiture, Sunrise/Sunset Photography, and even Hot- Air Balloons. Attendance is limited to 16 students, providing an exceptionally intimate learning environment. Professional Track: In 2010, Canon Live Learning offered two different series of multi- day workshops geared towards professional videographers: The 2- day Canon Cinema Caravan series developed in conjunction with stillmotion and the 3- day EOS Moving Image series developed in conjunction with Createasphere. Look for additional CLL workshops designed for professional image- makers in Details and scheduling will be announced on the Canon Digital Learning Center web site.