Canon Rebel - Auto Schmauto - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

09/26/2004 04:44:07 PM · #1

I am still acclimating to my new Canon Rebel; today, I took my first hike with it. I am used to working in aperature priority mode with my G2, and also using bracketing. After my walk today, I found that having to deal with these on the rebel, the way the buttons and menus go, was not worth the pain. I found that it was much easier to bracket using "M", full manual. I also, surprisingly, found that I don't really care for autofocus. Moving the zone lights around was a pain in the rear, and the AI focus was not seeing what I wanted it to see. I found it was much easier and faster just to focus myself manually.

Now what I haven't figured out is how to set the metering better. There doesn't seem to be a choice of metering elsewhere--rather, it seems to be selected for you based whether on auto or manual? In manual, or Av or Tv, it seems to only meter in the center. I'd prefer to have the option to move the spot elsewhere, e.g., using the focus point lights. I'd also like the 'option' of evaluative metering, even while in manual. Any way to do this?

I note that holding the shutter down doesn't seem to lock the exposure. I guess you have to use the exposure lock (the asterisk?) (Also: I've pressed this a couple of times by accident--and there doesn't appear to be a cancel!)

Anyway, kudos to them that at least this camera is easy to focus manually (even without a split image viewfinder), and easy when in manual to adjust the settings.

How do you all use the settings on the dRebel?

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

09/26/2004 04:54:16 PM · #2

I'm eagerly awaiting some response to this as well, as my digital rebel arrives this week...

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/26/2004 05:38:13 PM · #3

Originally posted by nshapiro:

There doesn't seem to be a choice of metering elsewhere--rather, it seems to be selected for you based whether on auto or manual?

Yep, that's true. I don't think there is a way to select metering mode.

Originally posted by nshapiro:

In manual, or Av or Tv, it seems to only meter in the center. I'd prefer to have the option to move the spot elsewhere, e.g., using the focus point lights.

I've not come across this, possibly because I always use the center point. Seems strange to meter off the center point if you have another point selected for focus? :-/

Originally posted by nshapiro:

I'd also like the 'option' of evaluative metering, even while in manual. Any way to do this?

Not that I know of. :-(

Originally posted by nshapiro:

I note that holding the shutter down doesn't seem to lock the exposure. I guess you have to use the exposure lock (the asterisk?) (Also: I've pressed this a couple of times by accident--and there doesn't appear to be a cancel!)

I've always used the exposure lock for that purpose. I have managed to cancel it once, but I can't remember how. It's quite annoying though!

Originally posted by nshapiro:

How do you all use the settings on the dRebel?

Mine's always set on the centre focus point in Av mode. Auto-focus too - I'm lazy like that. ;-)

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/26/2004 05:44:33 PM · #4

Metering mode on the Rebel is automatic based on the shooting mode you're in.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/26/2004 06:49:03 PM · #5

To change the focus point press the button on the top right with the + in the magnifying glass, then use the wheel to select. Selecting all at once will focus on whatever is closest.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/26/2004 07:59:58 PM · #6

Originally posted by Konador:

To change the focus point press the button on the top right with the + in the magnifying glass, then use the wheel to select. Selecting all at once will focus on whatever is closest.

Thanks, I know, but changing the focus point is pretty useless if the metering is still in the center!

kellybean

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

09/26/2004 08:11:16 PM · #7

Originally posted by nshapiro:

In manual, or Av or Tv, it seems to only meter in the center. I'd prefer to have the option to move the spot elsewhere, e.g., using the focus point lights.
I've not come across this, possibly because I always use the center point. Seems strange to meter off the center point if you have another point selected for focus? :-/

I've done this when I want to expose for, say, the sky, while focusing on something in the foreground. So I'll meter the sky, hold it halfway down and then turn towards my subject. That way I get a nice blue sky and a dark backlit object.

dr rick

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

09/26/2004 08:44:31 PM · #8

Bracketing the shutter speed is just as easy in Tv as M mode, and Tv mode does evaluative metering (as do all the modes except M, which does centerweighted average metering). That might work for you.

The only other metering option is partial metering, using only the center of the screen (it can't be moved around like the focus point). This is what AE Lock uses in P, Tv, Av, M, and A-DEP modes. AE Lock is useful, but it sometimes drives me crazy since it is reset after about 5 seconds when the viewfinder display goes away, and it sometimes takes me longer to compose my shots. My solution to that is to use AE Lock and note the values, then switch to M mode and set those values.

jimmythefish

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

09/26/2004 09:07:20 PM · #9

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Thanks, I know, but changing the focus point is pretty useless if the metering is still in the center!

Don't you have a * button on the Rebel? On my 10D I set the focus point to the center and when I shoot, I focus on what I want, press the shutter button halfway down to lock focus AND press the * button to lock the metering at the same time. The same button can be used to suspend autofocusing in AI Servo mode, which is one of the most useful functions ever. If you're not using the * button you're not getting the most out of the camera.

09/26/2004 09:10:56 PM · #10

Originally posted by dr rick:

Thanks, you're right--I misread the manual which says it uses partial metering in the "creative zone' when using AE lock, not all the time. Otherwise, it's evaluative. (I missed the part about "when using AE lock") That might be workable, I just have to use the AE button to spot meter read, or otherwise, it will be evaluative.

You cannot bracket exposures "easily" in Tv mode, only shutter speed. I use bracketed exposure--one under, and one right. In manual, you can do this by simply changing shutter speed or F stop to underexpose/overexpose. This is easier than turning AEB on and off, and it's also easier because I really only need two bracket shots, not three. In single shot mode, with AEB, you can stop after two shots, but then the only way to take a normal shot next is to turn off the camera or go through the menu options. (Though I've yet to learn about whether I can program a quick AEB mode as a shortcut somewhere.) In any case, manual works well for this.