Canon live view functionality change with 7d2?

mipevo6

mipevo6

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Martin
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Folks,

Posting on behalf of a friend who is struggling with his 7D2 using manual focus and live view exposure simulation.

I asked in the owners thread and got zero answers so broadening out.

5d3 or 7d behaviour
  • Lens in MF
  • Camera in AV
  • Hit live view button, focus square visible on image.
  • Exposure simulation active, move the square around the image to select where the metering is aligned (ie expose for the sky etc..)

7d2
  • Lens in MF
  • Camera in AV
  • Hit live view button, NO focus square visible.
  • Exposure simulation active for whole image
  • Hit Magnify button to bring up Focus Square in x1 magnification
  • Exposure simulation is deactivated

My friend Dave is used to using the 7d in this mode on a tripod for night / tricky shots

Manually focusing, then using the exposure simulation to balance the histergram

Anybody understand the operation of this? (it functions the same on another 7d2)

or is this a bug?

Thanks in advance
 
I guess this one isn't going to get an easy answer.....
 
I'll have a play today, Martin, and compare the operation the two bodies.....see what gives.

Bob
 
I had a quick play with my 5d3 and 7d2 and it appears to be as described by my friend Dave.

He says the 7d functions the same way as the 5d3.

I have never used it the way he has but he finds it very useful for low light exposures when the camera is struggling to AF.

Thanks for taking a look.
 
It's not something that I use either, Martin, but it does seem to function differently on the 7D2 (versus the 5D3).....just ran the two side by side and used the same button sequence to confirm your description.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
It's not something that I use either, Martin, but it does seem to function differently on the 7D2 (versus the 5D3).....just ran the two side by side and used the same button sequence to confirm your description.

Bob
Click to expand...

Who do I complain to for the change.... it pretty much makes it useless the way it functions right now.

Even in AF mode I can't zoom in to focus on a location and have exposure sim active.
 
Firmware update no 1 coming perhaps if enough people complain. Can we have the six second timer on all buttons as well please.
 
I have pinged CPS to ask them the question.
 
Folks,

I posted on this a while ago. I have been playing ping pong with Canon and received the following.

My explanation of the change

Its a complex use case and you missed a key element of my original question which is the combination of exposure sim and MF with Live View.

5d3 & 7D operation

1) Put lens in MF
2) Focus using live View
3) Exposure Sim is active
4) Square focus box is present at all times and can be manoeuvred around the screen
5) Exposure sim changes the exposure as you move the box around the screen
6) You can utilise the histogram to balance the exposure

7d2 Operation

1) Put lens in MF
2) Focus using Live View
3) Square focus box is NOT present
4) Exposures sim is active
5) Press the magnify button to turn on the square focus box in x1 mode as per the manual
6) Exposure sim turns off so cannot be used to balance the exposure.

As you can see from the above cases the functionality has changed to prevent the combination of MF and exposure sim in the manner described in the 5d3 case.

The Canon Final Response

Thank you for your detailed explanation of your case. The metering mode has been changed in the new EOS 7D Mk II compared to the previous cameras, e.g. On the EOS 5D Mk III there was no option for partial metering / spot metering / centre weighted average options as in live view the evaluative metering was the only option.

In older cameras the frame in the middle had multiple functions as it is used as AF area in live mode AF, also it is a starting point for magnification and also the centre point of the metering. This has also been changed in the new camera as the frame in the middle is now only part of the magnification feature, which is only there for MF assist. (Hence why the AE Lock is applied to 5x and 10x magnifications)

In EOS 7D Mk II When you move around the 1x frame when the magnification feature is activated you are only moving the frame to an area that will be further magnified (5x or 10x) when the button pressed again.

The metering will always remain the same as previously selected. It is even more pronounced when partial or spot metering is selected in live view on the EOS 7D Mk II as there will be a circle to show the area that is metering. The circle will remain in the middle even if the magnification frame is moved around.

Unfortunately the development team do not share their plans with us for future upgrades/updates, but I will pass your feedback to them

My Comment:-

Interesting to see we now have all the metering modes but have to AEL lock and recompose to be able to take a meter reading from outside of the center of the frame. This feels like a backwards step for what is primarily used for landscape shooting.
 
Hey Martin, Recently purchased the 7D Mk II and have the exact same issue as your friend. Did anything else come to light in the end or is it a "like it or lump it" kind of deal?
 
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