7D spot metering problem
Sep 11, 2016 08:59:51 #
I have the 7D set to spot metering. But I still see multi focus points, Tried to reset custom settings, same result. Is there any thing other than a "system reset" that can solve the problem? Thanks in advance.
Sep 11, 2016 09:16:54 #
Sep 11, 2016 09:22:01 #
twowindsbear wrote:
The spot metering area designator is separate from the focusing system. That's my WAG.
Ditto!
Sep 12, 2016 06:02:13 #
boberic wrote:
I have the 7D set to spot metering. But I still see multi focus points, Tried to reset custom settings, same result. Is there any thing other than a "system reset" that can solve the problem? Thanks in advance.
Two different things. The spot meter is in the center and the focus points are......wherever they are.
That said....if you are willing to spend around $6k for a camera body, you can get one where the metering follows the focus point you are using.
Sep 12, 2016 08:35:34 #
Sep 12, 2016 09:19:04 #
Ronsh
Loc: Floresville,Tx.
boberic wrote:
I have the 7D set to spot metering. But I still see multi focus points, Tried to reset custom settings, same result. Is there any thing other than a "system reset" that can solve the problem? Thanks in advance.
What mode are you in?
Sep 12, 2016 10:20:04 #
As has already been pointed out, the focus point display is not the same as spot metering. When spot metering is selected a circle is displayed at the center of the viewfinder that is a bit larger than thefocus point. If all you want is to turn off the unused focus points go to C.fn III-9 display All AF Points.
Sep 12, 2016 11:11:48 #
Sep 12, 2016 12:45:16 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Actually, it sounds as if the camera is working correctly... the problem is with the photographer.
As the other replies have stated, Spot Metering and the AF points are unrelated.
There is a partial relationship between Evaluative metering and AF, in that it emphasizes the area right around any active AF point(s). But the other metering modes (Center Weighted, Partial and Spot) are not linked to the AF system in any way. The camera's metering mode is selected with the left-most button on the righthand shoulder of the camera. Press that and you can scroll through the four different modes with the main dial (behind the shutter release button).
The 7D has a very precise Spot Metering area... smaller than most other Canon models. If memory serves, it's about 1.5% of the image area. But, it is limited to only the center of the image area. When Spot Metering is selected, in addition to the indication on the LCD screen, the are being metered is defined by a small circular area indicated at the center of the image area in the viewfinder. The other three metering modes are not indicated in the viewfinder in any manner.
Sometimes there is confusion because 7D has a focus pattern called "Spot Focus". But that's just one of the user-selectable AF patterns (All Points/auto, Single Point/manual, Expansion Points/auto, Zone/auto, Spot Single Point/manual). Spot Focus uses a single point (user selected) that's smaller than usual for greater precision. It comes in handy shooting things like birds in trees, behind a tangle of branches, where a larger AF point gets distracted by objects between the photographer and the subject. Spot Focus is a little slower acquiring focus and not quite as good tracking movement as standard Single Point.
The AF system is set up using different controls. The second button from the left on the RH shoulder of the camera and the main dial give the user means of choosing the primary focus modes: One Shot, AI Focus or AI Servo. One Shot is for stationary and AI Servo is for moving subjects. AI Focus isn't really a primary AF method at all... it's supposed to decide for you whether or not the subject is moving and then choose the correct mode. Personally I never use AI Focus.. haven't even tried it on my 7Ds, but did on older models and found it slowed down AF response and didn't always choose right. I use AI Servo most of the time (but I have Back Button Focus set up on all my Canon cameras, to make this possible). I only occasionally switch to One Shot for stationary subjects, usually situations where I'm doing very careful and precise focusing. Otherwise, AI Servo can work for both moving and stationary subjects (but there is no Focus Confirmation in AI Servo, so you have to trust yourself and the camera).
Once the primary mode is set, then it's time to choose among the focus patterns. All Canon DSLRs have at least two: All Points/Auto Selection and Single Point/Manual Selection. The 7D has those too, plus Zone, Expansion and Spot (high precision) focus patterns. These user selects among these by first pressing the AF selection button on the rear of the camera (upper RH corner, marked with a little white box with dots inside it), then pressing the M.Fn button (adjacent to the shutter release button) to toggle through the selections.
If the selected AF pattern is anything other than All Points/Automatic, the user then can move around the AF Point(s) if they wish. This is done by pressing the AF selection button on the rear of the camera (upper RH corner, marked with a little white box with dots inside it), then using the joystick or the main dial and rear dial to move the AF point(s) selection. It's also possible in the Custom Functions to set up the joystick to always give direct access to move the AF point(s) selection, without having to first press any other buttons. The joystick also can be pressed like a button to immediately return the AF selection to a pre-selected point (usually centered, but this is up to the user).
In addition to the above methods of setting up either the metering or auto focus systems, the 7D also has the fast access screen using the "Q" button. Press that and the rear LCD will display many of the camera's major settings... which can then be accessed and changed using various controls. I find this screen really helpful when working in low light situations, but it also provides quick access. The only downside is that using the rear LCD screen draws a lot of battery power. If used frequently it will reduce the number of shots per charge considerably.
The 7D's AF system is fairly complex and takes a while to learn to use well. But once you're accustomed to it and understand how it works, it's quite fast and accurate.
Personally I found my best results were done by keeping it simple: I use Single Point/Manual Selection probably 90% of the time. Then it's up to me to keep the AF point where I want the camera and lens to focus. I have very few missed focus shots doing this.... and probably the majority of those are my fault, not the camera's!
Besides Single Point, I do find the other focus patterns the 7D offers useful at times...
Spot Focus, in particular, is great for high precision work where slightly slower AF isn't a problem. Actually, it's not all that slow... I know some people like to use it for moving things like butterflies, and find it works pretty well.
Expansion Points starts with a single point that I select, but allows the camera to switch to any of four adjacent points (right, left, immediately above and underneath the selected point), if I am unable to keep the selected point on the subject. This can be helpful if shooting subjects that are moving erratically and/or changing directions, making them difficult to follow.
Zone Focus is similar to All Points, except smaller. Any of the points in the zone can start and follow focus. I've found it works best with fast moving subjects without any distracting elements behind or in front of them... such as birds in flight against a plain sky or a very distant background.
All Points is obvious and is what I use the least... virtually never. Leaving it entirely up to the camera to decide where to focus way too often ends up not focusing where I want it. I might use this at similar times as Zone, such as photographing a bird in flight against a plain sky. But not very often. All Points and Zone will usually focus on whatever is closest and covered by any of the active AF points.
There are some other tweaks and fine-tuning tricks with the 7D's AF system. But the above covers the basics.
It sounds as if you're relatively new to the camera.... If so, the user manual is 400 pages plus and can be kind of intimidating, but can be helpful. If you don't have it, download a copy from the Canon website. There also are guide books specifically covering the 7D. I found David Busch's and Charlotte Lowrie's both to be very good, but there are some others which I haven't read.
As the other replies have stated, Spot Metering and the AF points are unrelated.
There is a partial relationship between Evaluative metering and AF, in that it emphasizes the area right around any active AF point(s). But the other metering modes (Center Weighted, Partial and Spot) are not linked to the AF system in any way. The camera's metering mode is selected with the left-most button on the righthand shoulder of the camera. Press that and you can scroll through the four different modes with the main dial (behind the shutter release button).
The 7D has a very precise Spot Metering area... smaller than most other Canon models. If memory serves, it's about 1.5% of the image area. But, it is limited to only the center of the image area. When Spot Metering is selected, in addition to the indication on the LCD screen, the are being metered is defined by a small circular area indicated at the center of the image area in the viewfinder. The other three metering modes are not indicated in the viewfinder in any manner.
Sometimes there is confusion because 7D has a focus pattern called "Spot Focus". But that's just one of the user-selectable AF patterns (All Points/auto, Single Point/manual, Expansion Points/auto, Zone/auto, Spot Single Point/manual). Spot Focus uses a single point (user selected) that's smaller than usual for greater precision. It comes in handy shooting things like birds in trees, behind a tangle of branches, where a larger AF point gets distracted by objects between the photographer and the subject. Spot Focus is a little slower acquiring focus and not quite as good tracking movement as standard Single Point.
The AF system is set up using different controls. The second button from the left on the RH shoulder of the camera and the main dial give the user means of choosing the primary focus modes: One Shot, AI Focus or AI Servo. One Shot is for stationary and AI Servo is for moving subjects. AI Focus isn't really a primary AF method at all... it's supposed to decide for you whether or not the subject is moving and then choose the correct mode. Personally I never use AI Focus.. haven't even tried it on my 7Ds, but did on older models and found it slowed down AF response and didn't always choose right. I use AI Servo most of the time (but I have Back Button Focus set up on all my Canon cameras, to make this possible). I only occasionally switch to One Shot for stationary subjects, usually situations where I'm doing very careful and precise focusing. Otherwise, AI Servo can work for both moving and stationary subjects (but there is no Focus Confirmation in AI Servo, so you have to trust yourself and the camera).
Once the primary mode is set, then it's time to choose among the focus patterns. All Canon DSLRs have at least two: All Points/Auto Selection and Single Point/Manual Selection. The 7D has those too, plus Zone, Expansion and Spot (high precision) focus patterns. These user selects among these by first pressing the AF selection button on the rear of the camera (upper RH corner, marked with a little white box with dots inside it), then pressing the M.Fn button (adjacent to the shutter release button) to toggle through the selections.
If the selected AF pattern is anything other than All Points/Automatic, the user then can move around the AF Point(s) if they wish. This is done by pressing the AF selection button on the rear of the camera (upper RH corner, marked with a little white box with dots inside it), then using the joystick or the main dial and rear dial to move the AF point(s) selection. It's also possible in the Custom Functions to set up the joystick to always give direct access to move the AF point(s) selection, without having to first press any other buttons. The joystick also can be pressed like a button to immediately return the AF selection to a pre-selected point (usually centered, but this is up to the user).
In addition to the above methods of setting up either the metering or auto focus systems, the 7D also has the fast access screen using the "Q" button. Press that and the rear LCD will display many of the camera's major settings... which can then be accessed and changed using various controls. I find this screen really helpful when working in low light situations, but it also provides quick access. The only downside is that using the rear LCD screen draws a lot of battery power. If used frequently it will reduce the number of shots per charge considerably.
The 7D's AF system is fairly complex and takes a while to learn to use well. But once you're accustomed to it and understand how it works, it's quite fast and accurate.
Personally I found my best results were done by keeping it simple: I use Single Point/Manual Selection probably 90% of the time. Then it's up to me to keep the AF point where I want the camera and lens to focus. I have very few missed focus shots doing this.... and probably the majority of those are my fault, not the camera's!
Besides Single Point, I do find the other focus patterns the 7D offers useful at times...
Spot Focus, in particular, is great for high precision work where slightly slower AF isn't a problem. Actually, it's not all that slow... I know some people like to use it for moving things like butterflies, and find it works pretty well.
Expansion Points starts with a single point that I select, but allows the camera to switch to any of four adjacent points (right, left, immediately above and underneath the selected point), if I am unable to keep the selected point on the subject. This can be helpful if shooting subjects that are moving erratically and/or changing directions, making them difficult to follow.
Zone Focus is similar to All Points, except smaller. Any of the points in the zone can start and follow focus. I've found it works best with fast moving subjects without any distracting elements behind or in front of them... such as birds in flight against a plain sky or a very distant background.
All Points is obvious and is what I use the least... virtually never. Leaving it entirely up to the camera to decide where to focus way too often ends up not focusing where I want it. I might use this at similar times as Zone, such as photographing a bird in flight against a plain sky. But not very often. All Points and Zone will usually focus on whatever is closest and covered by any of the active AF points.
There are some other tweaks and fine-tuning tricks with the 7D's AF system. But the above covers the basics.
It sounds as if you're relatively new to the camera.... If so, the user manual is 400 pages plus and can be kind of intimidating, but can be helpful. If you don't have it, download a copy from the Canon website. There also are guide books specifically covering the 7D. I found David Busch's and Charlotte Lowrie's both to be very good, but there are some others which I haven't read.
Sep 17, 2016 13:22:44 #
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