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7D ii exposure indicator broken?
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Sep 18, 2015 19:56:27   #
cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos
 
I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfinder and turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does not move. It just stays in the middle position. BUT when I switch to live view without changing anything else, when I turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does move.

I tried resetting everything back to factory defaults but no help. I doubt if this is a setting problem, but does anyone have any ideas? I sure hope it's something I have done, and not that it needs repair.

Thanks in advance

Janyce

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Sep 18, 2015 21:03:31   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
cosmo54 wrote:
I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfinder and turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does not move. It just stays in the middle position. BUT when I switch to live view without changing anything else, when I turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does move.

I tried resetting everything back to factory defaults but no help. I doubt if this is a setting problem, but does anyone have any ideas? I sure hope it's something I have done, and not that it needs repair.

Thanks in advance

Janyce
I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfi... (show quote)

Janyce. I feel your pain. I agonized over that seemingly odd feature myself several months ago., and like you i thought the camera might have a problem. Bottom line, there is nothing wrong with your camera. What shooting mode are you using? If it's manual with auto ISO set that's one way for that to happen. You need to use the second exposure meter on the right side of the viewfinder. Its sometimes difficult to see. The exposure meter in the top LCD will also stay in the center, while the exposure meter on the rear LCD will give you the results you're expecting. It's all because of this cameras ability to modify EV (Exposure values) even when shooting in manual. Most cameras only allow you to modify EV in Av or Tv modes. The bottom exposure meter in the viewfinder effectively becomes the EV meter and only plots plus and minus EV values. If you don't modify EV using the rear wheel the indicator stays centered regardless of the exposure you've set for the aperture or shutter speed. Select a specific ISO value and the meter will work as expected.

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Sep 18, 2015 22:44:07   #
cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos
 
AHA! That was it.....Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I actually knew about the one on the side and having the one on the bottom disappear.....but this was the first time I noticed that sometimes it doesn't move.

Camera is just too darn smart. Lol. Thanks again!!!!

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Sep 18, 2015 23:01:00   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
cosmo54 wrote:
AHA! That was it.....Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I actually knew about the one on the side and having the one on the bottom disappear.....but this was the first time I noticed that sometimes it doesn't move.

Camera is just too darn smart. Lol. Thanks again!!!!

You're very welcome. I'm glad I could relieve your angst. The 7D Mark II is not a camera for the faint of heart. One can't just turn on and understand how to use it intuitively. All its strengths and many features require a fairly stiff learning curve. I spent many hours trying to understand all its features. That's why it has a huge 550 page manual.

Just an update, my last statement of my previous post, "Select a specific ISO value and the meter will work as expected,", is actually incorrect. As you've noted when you select an specific ISO value in manual mode the meter on the bottom of the viewfinder disappears altogether. It is in Av and Tv modes when the exposure meter works as expected.

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Sep 18, 2015 23:17:13   #
cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos
 
mwsilvers wrote:
You're very welcome. I'm glad I could relieve your angst. The 7D Mark II is not a camera for the faint of heart. One can't just turn on and use to its fullest. All its strengths and many features require a fairly stiff learning curve. That's why it has a huge 550 page manual.

Just an update, my last statement of my previous post, "Select a specific ISO value and the meter will work as expected,", is actually incorrect. As you've noted when you select an specific ISO value in manual mode the meter on the bottom of the viewfinder disappears altogether. It is in Av and Tv modes when the exposure meter works as expected.
You're very welcome. I'm glad I could relieve your... (show quote)


Yes indeed. I actually have read the manual...some sections several times. But I still have a lot of practising to go. Sometimes im just a little to quick to fall back on my 5d iii.....since I'm pretty knowledgeable with that one. :-)

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Sep 18, 2015 23:24:44   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
cosmo54 wrote:
Yes indeed. I actually have read the manual...some sections several times. But I still have a lot of practising to go. Sometimes im just a little to quick to fall back on my 5d iii.....since I'm pretty knowledgeable with that one. :-)

I'm fairly familiar with most of the features of this camera and some of its quirks. I am a bit less knowledgeable about the 6 AF Cases. If you run into any other features that are not working as you expected feel free to PM me and pick my brain. I can't guaranty I'll have an answer to every question, but I'll probably be able to help you.

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Sep 19, 2015 07:09:13   #
Dan Copeland Loc: Hamilton Ontario Canada
 
[quote=cosmo54]I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfinder and turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does not move. It just stays in the middle position. BUT when I switch to live view without changing anything else, when I turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does move.

double posting

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Sep 19, 2015 07:09:50   #
Dan Copeland Loc: Hamilton Ontario Canada
 
[quote=cosmo54]I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfinder and turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does not move. It just stays in the middle position. BUT when I switch to live view without changing anything else, when I turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does move.

I tried resetting everything back to factory defaults but no help. I doubt if this is a setting problem, but does anyone have any ideas? I sure hope it's something I have done, and not that it needs repair.

Thanks in advance


Touch the shutter button about half way.. this activates the meter and now you can change the setting. I have noticed this awhile ago and wondered the same thing but I get it, it can not show the change without the meter being active

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Sep 19, 2015 09:47:01   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
[quote=Dan Copeland]
cosmo54 wrote:
I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfinder and turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does not move. It just stays in the middle position. BUT when I switch to live view without changing anything else, when I turn the main dial, the exposure indicator does move.

I tried resetting everything back to factory defaults but no help. I doubt if this is a setting problem, but does anyone have any ideas? I sure hope it's something I have done, and not that it needs repair.

Thanks in advance


Touch the shutter button about half way.. this activates the meter and now you can change the setting. I have noticed this awhile ago and wondered the same thing but I get it, it can not show the change without the meter being active
I noticed this today: when I look thru the viewfi... (show quote)

Do you have a 7D II? She is referring to a specific set of circumstances with this camera and the way the exposure meter on the bottom of the viewfinder is displayed when in manual mode with auto ISO. It really has nothing to do with what you are suggesting.

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Sep 19, 2015 10:15:24   #
mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA
 
mwsilvers wrote:
I'm fairly familiar with most of the features of this camera and some of its quirks. I am a bit less knowledgeable about the 6 AF Cases. If you run into any other features that are not working as you expected feel free to PM me and pick my brain. I can't guaranty I'll have an answer to every question, but I'll probably be able to help you.


I just recently got my 7dii...I'm loving it, but yes, there's a lot more in its brain than mine.
I couldn't understand the 6 cases but just yesterday came across this canon info that has really helped me with exactly that:
http://downloads.canon.com/camera/brochures/EOS_7D_Mark_II_AF_guide_CUSA_9-2014.pdf

And this one:
http://www.timboyerphotography.com/2015/01/how-to-set-up-the-canon-eos-7d-mark-ii-part-3-auto-focus-and-flight-photography/

Hope they help, and aren't too far off base from the OP questions. Still learning...

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Sep 19, 2015 11:00:20   #
Dan Copeland Loc: Hamilton Ontario Canada
 
mwsilvers wrote:
Do you have a 7D II? She is referring to a specific set of circumstances with this camera and the way the exposure meter on the bottom of the viewfinder is displayed when in manual mode with auto ISO. It really has nothing to do with what you are suggesting.


Yes I do since Dec last year and this is normal as far as I can see

I also have two backfocus buttons setup, one for spot and the other for multipoint. Spot when the object or bird is in a cluttered location or flying low along the water. Multipoint when the bird is flying in the sky and is hard to pin point when out of focus.

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Sep 19, 2015 11:04:09   #
cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos
 
Dan Copeland wrote:
Yes I do since Dec last year and this is normal as far as I can see


Thanks Dan. I do know about pressing the shutter half way...but that was not the problem in my case.

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Sep 19, 2015 11:04:51   #
cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos
 
mrova wrote:
I just recently got my 7dii...I'm loving it, but yes, there's a lot more in its brain than mine.
I couldn't understand the 6 cases but just yesterday came across this canon info that has really helped me with exactly that:
http://downloads.canon.com/camera/brochures/EOS_7D_Mark_II_AF_guide_CUSA_9-2014.pdf

And this one:
http://www.timboyerphotography.com/2015/01/how-to-set-up-the-canon-eos-7d-mark-ii-part-3-auto-focus-and-flight-photography/

Hope they help, and aren't too far off base from the OP questions. Still learning...
I just recently got my 7dii...I'm loving it, but y... (show quote)



Thanks for the links. I'll check tem out. :-)

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Sep 19, 2015 11:25:06   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
It's broken. Send it to me and I'll fix it and send it back when I'm done testing it - some time down the road.

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Sep 19, 2015 11:39:15   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
mrova wrote:
I just recently got my 7dii...I'm loving it, but yes, there's a lot more in its brain than mine.
I couldn't understand the 6 cases but just yesterday came across this canon info that has really helped me with exactly that:
http://downloads.canon.com/camera/brochures/EOS_7D_Mark_II_AF_guide_CUSA_9-2014.pdf

And this one:
http://www.timboyerphotography.com/2015/01/how-to-set-up-the-canon-eos-7d-mark-ii-part-3-auto-focus-and-flight-photography/

Hope they help, and aren't too far off base from the OP questions. Still learning...
I just recently got my 7dii...I'm loving it, but y... (show quote)


The Canon 7D II AF guide is "must" reading for anyone using this camera, but the OPs problem was unrelated to any of the info in that guide. Her problem was based on the somewhat quirky behavior of the bottom exposure meter in the viewfinder when shooting in manual mode with, and without, auto ISO.

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