Can't believe I didn't know this

J

joescrivens

Suspended / Banned
Messages
15,052
Name
Joe
Edit My Images
Yes
I've had a dSLR for over 2 years now and I only just figured out the most basic of features this weekend for something that has been bugging me forever.

I realise I'm probably the only person to not know this but I thought I'd mention it in case there was one person like me out there who didn't either and can be given a eureka moment. Sometimes the most simplest of things can pass you by.

In Live view on a canon when you have the little white box in the middle that you can zoom in x5 and x10 to help with manual focus. Until this weekend I never knew you could move that box around the screen using the directional controller :bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

If there was something in the shot i wanted to zoom in on, i've always moved the camera to get that spot on it then had to recompose. How could I have not ever tried to think about moving it instead?

So there it is - :lol::lol::lol:
 
The box changes size (gets bigger I think) if the lens is on auto focus or manual focus too... (at least it does on my 450d)
 
Actually on trying to remember, as Im not getting my 40d out at this time of the morning :) I dont think the focus point moves round. it is just the part that is magnified that is moving round with the arrows at the sides and top for seeing which part of the image you want to see bigger.

But then again.... perhaps I had better RTFM!! :D:D
 
Janice said:
Actually on trying to remember, as Im not getting my 40d out at this time of the morning :) I dont think the focus point moves round. it is just the part that is magnified that is moving round with the arrows at the sides and top for seeing which part of the image you want to see bigger.

But then again.... perhaps I had better RTFM!! :D:D
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone said it was the focus point did they? It is the magnified part of the image that is being moved around
 
Awesome. Be surprised how much i don't know (Looks for on switch on camera) lol
 
Only the other week I surprised someone with the revelation that you can drag the focus rectangle to a different part of the view when using EOS utility for live shooting.

The main one's I missed where setting the custom function correctly for locking the exposure and I only discovered the other day that even when shooting raw only if I set the picture style to monochrome, the preview image and the raw preview on the laptop will be B&W, this helps a lot when the final shot is planned as ending up in B&W
 
I am trying to set mine so it shows all the time without cutting out not sure if one can do this on a 7D :shrug:

Handy for when waiting for kites etc instead of moving.
 
This doesn't appear to work on my 5D :thinking:

(or on my Yashica 124G, for that matter)
 
Last edited:
joescrivens said:
I don't think anyone said it was the focus point did they? It is the magnified part of the image that is being moved around
Click to expand...

On the 450d, if you're using the AF mode in Liveview (the liveview slow one, not the normal one which puts the mirror back down), moving the square does indeed move the focus point.
 
jgs001 said:
On the 450d, if you're using the AF mode in Liveview (the liveview slow one, not the normal one which puts the mirror back down), moving the square does indeed move the focus point.
Click to expand...

Yep...
 
jgs001 said:
On the 450d, if you're using the AF mode in Liveview (the liveview slow one, not the normal one which puts the mirror back down), moving the square does indeed move the focus point.
Click to expand...

I think we're talking about two toally different things? I'm talking about the magnification block (wrong name i know but the big white box you get) not the AF focus point :suspect: you have to be in live mode focus, the block when moved can become your focus selection method for auto focus too. But it can't go all the way to the edge of the screen
 
Last edited:
joescrivens said:
I think we're talking about two toally different things? I'm talking about the magnification block (wrong name i know but the big white box you get) not the AF focus point :suspect: you have to be in live mode focus, the block when moved can become your focus selection method for auto focus too. But it can't go all the way to the edge of the screen
Click to expand...

Just ways of using the block... I use both... the magnification for manual focusing the telescope... and occasionally when silly low to the ground, the AF live mode.
 
joescrivens said:
I think we're talking about two toally different things? I'm talking about the magnification block (wrong name i know but the big white box you get) not the AF focus point :suspect: you have to be in live mode focus, the block when moved can become your focus selection method for auto focus too. But it can't go all the way to the edge of the screen
Click to expand...

I don't know about the 5D2 but on the 500D it does indeed move the focus point as well and wont move completely to the edges as it has to stay within area's covered by the focus points
 
applause.gif


487.gif
 
joescrivens said:
I think we're talking about two toally different things? I'm talking about the magnification block (wrong name i know but the big white box you get) not the AF focus point :suspect: you have to be in live mode focus, the block when moved can become your focus selection method for auto focus too. But it can't go all the way to the edge of the screen
Click to expand...

The magnification block, when contrast detect AF is enabled, is the focus point as well.
 
Janice said:
Actually on trying to remember, as Im not getting my 40d out at this time of the morning :) I dont think the focus point moves round. it is just the part that is magnified that is moving round with the arrows at the sides and top for seeing which part of the image you want to see bigger.

But then again.... perhaps I had better RTFM!! :D:D
Click to expand...

It depends. And this is something that is bugging me at the moment.
If you are in 'quick' focus mode, there appears to be no way of changing the focus point.
If you are in either of the other two modes, then the focus should change with the box. This box is the area that will be magnified when you zoom in.
 
Last edited:
+1 Knowledge today for me haha.

When i thought i knew all the buttons on my camera it appears i dont haha. Didnt remeber seeing it when i read the manual - can confirm it works on the 1ds Mk III.
 
adenphoto said:
+1 Knowledge today for me haha.

When i thought i knew all the buttons on my camera it appears i dont haha. Didnt remeber seeing it when i read the manual - can confirm it works on the 1ds Mk III.
Click to expand...

Hurray! I helped one other person too!!!!!
 
iancandler said:
I don't know about the 5D2 but on the 500D it does indeed move the focus point as well and wont move completely to the edges as it has to stay within area's covered by the focus points
Click to expand...

ok I guess I'm not explaining myself well at all. :lol:

yes the big white block moves, yes this is a focus point - but it is not an AF point - what I mean is, it;s not one of the nine allocated AF points. It uses contrast AF to focus. So whilst it is a point at which you can use auto focus it isn't one of the 9 AF points you see through the viewfinder, hope thats cleared up what I mean :thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top