Why the H*** did they do that? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

05/29/2015 07:38:54 AM · #1

Ok, this thread is for venting about camera or software UI issues pertaining to photography.

Sometimes, you just want to yell, "Why the H*** did they do that?!?!?!?"

My first example:

Why the H*** did Nikon put the remote control mode option on the D7100 menus, making it time out after no more than 15 minutes.

I set up the camera to shoot a hummingbird feeder. I'm not near the camera, but I have the wireless remote. Every 15 minutes I have to walk over to the camera, open the menu, and turn remote control mode back on. ARGH. It used to be on the shooting mode dial (e.g., on my D600 and D7000).

JakeKurdsjuk

Canon EOS R5

05/29/2015 08:24:26 AM · #2

D750 is the same way. Bugs the snot out of me.

With that said, for things like this I've gone away from the IR remote and just use RF. I have a Vello Freewave Plus wireless remote that it great, particularly for stuff like hummingbirds, because not only can I stand at a distance, I can stand where I can't see the camera. Plus if I set the camera to Constant High shutter and the remote to Bulb it will fire continuously until I press it again. This works better than the repeat mode on the remote which seems to fire in 2 shot bursts.

Or, better yet, if you buy the Vello Freewave Fusion remote flash triggers instead, you can also use that as a wireless remote for your camera. Just swap the trigger that normally sits on your hotshoe with the receiver that is meant for the flash unit, run the cable from the receiver to your camera and you're golden!! And the unexpected benefit here is that it will continue to fire as long as you hold the trigger button, so it acts like you're actually pressing the shutter.

Two things to keep in mind. 1. On both Vello remotes the trigger unit does not have have an on/off switch, so if you toss it in your bag and something presses against the release button you can expect a dead battery, so take them out when transporting. 2. If you're a back button focus person like I am then the unit will not engage the AF function unless you reset the AE/AF button function to something other than AF Lock.

I still use my IR remote when I need to do 2-step shots (Mirror Up, Shutter Release), but otherwise it's the Vellos for me.

herfotoman

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/29/2015 08:43:39 AM · #3

Why isn't it a crime punishable by exile to Iceland without a camera, to design a zoom lens with the zoom direction in the opposite direction as the previous zoom you had...

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

05/29/2015 09:16:20 AM · #4

Can someone explain why my Canon 5D (or any canon I have ever used) wont fire a flash or strobe when in live view?

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

05/29/2015 09:22:47 AM · #5

Originally posted by Mike:

Can someone explain why my Canon 5D (or any canon I have ever used) wont fire a flash or strobe when in live view?

For 5D mkiii:
For flash in Live View, Silent LV Shooting must be set to Disabled. p. 206 of the instruction manual, though it's not worded very clearly. "If you use flash, silent shooting will not be possible regardless of the [Silent LV shoot.] setting."

The issue is addressed better in other manuals. For example, the 7D's has the additional note: "When using a non-Canon flash unit, set it to [Disable]. (If [Mode 1] or [Mode 2] is set, the flash will not fire.)"

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

05/29/2015 09:37:12 AM · #6

thanks I'll have to look into it. I didn't think i had silent shooting enabled, unless it is by default and if it is enabled, its not very silent :P

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/29/2015 12:12:08 PM · #7

Why in H*** do camera manufacturers disable functionality for marketing reasons only (unrelated to hardware capability)? Example: on the Canon 5D Mk III, you can set auto ISO and program the minimum shutter speed to be adjusted as a function of focal length... on the 6D, however, you just get to set a specific minimum speed, and you need to change it if you're changing FL. Shooting primes, no problema. Shooting with a zoom, well, different story!

K3Master

Pentax K-3

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

05/29/2015 01:19:15 PM · #8

Why the H*** did Pentax put the shake reduction on/off into a 3 deep menu setting instead of a hardware switch on the body on the K3!? OMG it's frustrating.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/29/2015 01:43:59 PM · #9

Originally posted by kirbic:

Why in H*** do camera manufacturers disable functionality for marketing reasons only (unrelated to hardware capability)? Example:

A firmware hack can (supposedly) let my camera capture RAW instead of JPEG.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

05/29/2015 01:47:54 PM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Why in H*** do camera manufacturers disable functionality for marketing reasons only (unrelated to hardware capability)? Example:

A firmware hack can (supposedly) let my camera capture RAW instead of JPEG.

every digital camera could capture RAW if you can hack the firmware :P

05/29/2015 03:20:38 PM · #11

Neil - D7100 is a pretty recent camera, doesn't it have WiFi so you could just run the remote app on your phone/tablet and also get a live view as well as control your camera? I find out that I am used to do things the "old way" even though there maybe a new/better way out there just because it did not occurred to me that it could be done this other way...

I am pretty sure D750 would have WiFi so same applies to it.

05/29/2015 03:23:41 PM · #12

My gripe is with EOS M / M2: Why have a dedicated movie record button that can't do anything unless you turn the mode dial to movie mode? With very few physical buttons, a customizable Fn button its place would be awesome. In picture shooting modes, its a dead button that does absolutely nothing!

Also for nearly all Canons: Why not provide a built-in intervalometer?

Message edited by author 2015-05-29 15:31:57.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/29/2015 03:34:02 PM · #13

Originally posted by kirbic:

Same goes for 6D not being able to save the RAW files in HDR or source files in multiple exposure modes while 5DIII can.

Message edited by author 2015-05-29 15:37:48.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

05/29/2015 03:39:40 PM · #14

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Why in H*** do camera manufacturers disable functionality for marketing reasons only (unrelated to hardware capability)? Example:

A firmware hack can (supposedly) let my camera capture RAW instead of JPEG.

every digital camera could capture RAW if you can hack the firmware :P

Yeah, but "they" made the hack for my camera -- I've just never figured out how to get it to work ... :-(

05/29/2015 04:47:20 PM · #15

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Yeah, but "they" made the hack for my camera -- I've just never figured out how to get it to work ... :-(

If you are talking about the S3 IS, even if you were able to get the RAW files from it, there would be very little to gain due to small sensor size (1/2.3") + lower color depth (most likely). You are better off processing the JPGs from it. It might not have worth your time/effort. I myself had the S1 IS and then S2 IS before I jumped to SX40HS and loved each and every one of those. They produce beautiful JPEGs.

Message edited by author 2015-05-29 16:47:57.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/29/2015 04:51:53 PM · #16

Originally posted by MEJazz:

No, the D7200 might, but the 2 year old D7100 doesn't have WIFI. It's just a stupid design anyway, it used to be on a dial. It wouldn't be a problem on the menu if they had "no timeout" rather than turning it off automatically in 15 minutes max.

Message edited by author 2015-05-29 16:53:14.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

05/29/2015 04:54:13 PM · #17

Originally posted by MEJazz:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
Yeah, but "they" made the hack for my camera -- I've just never figured out how to get it to work ... :-(

If you are talking about the S3 IS, even if you were able to get the RAW files from it, there would be very little to gain due to small sensor size (1/2.3") + lower color depth (most likely). You are better off processing the JPGs from it. It might not have worth your time/effort. I myself had the S1 IS and then S2 IS before I jumped to SX40HS and loved each and every one of those. They produce beautiful JPEGs.

I probably don't have a computer which would handle the RAW files anyway.

Mostly it would be handy for when I've screwed up the WB, and I thought it might help with the bad noise (even at ISO 200, really bad at 400). And I'd probably still be using the S1 IS if it hadn't been stolen years ago ... :-(

05/29/2015 04:54:29 PM · #18

Originally posted by MEJazz:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Why in H*** do camera manufacturers disable functionality for marketing reasons only (unrelated to hardware capability)? Example: on the Canon 5D Mk III, you can set auto ISO and program the minimum shutter speed to be adjusted as a function of focal length... on the 6D, however, you just get to set a specific minimum speed, and you need to change it if you're changing FL. Shooting primes, no problema. Shooting with a zoom, well, different story!

Same goes for 6D not being able to save the RAW files in HDR or source files in multiple exposure modes while 5DIII can.

Most cameras don't save the RAWs when you shoot HDR mode. That's a great feature of some Canons, and it sucks that no one else does it.

05/29/2015 04:58:14 PM · #19

Panny FZ1000...for the most part, this is a well designed camera. Better features and controls than my XT-1 in my opinion.

BUT - Why the H**** did they put the self timer/delayed exposure on the same dial as the bracketing selector? So if you bracket exposures, you can't add a shot delay. I use that with my Nikons so I dont' need to use the remote on a tripod. Just put in a 2 second delay, bracketed exposure, and viola. But you can only do either bracketing or delay mode on the FZ1000.

Message edited by author 2015-05-29 16:58:32.