trouble with shutter speed settings on Canon 7D, need help! I have my 7D for 3 years now and I'm very happy with it. However, I noticed a problem when I'm photographing in low light...

artsyfan Loc: Thousand Oaks

I have my 7D for 3 years now and I'm very happy with it.

However, I noticed a problem when I'm photographing in low light with the camera settings.
I was trying to set the camera to a slow shutter in TV to photograph the beach at sunset in El Capitan. The camera took the pictures in a much faster shutter even though it was on shutter priority.
What am I doing wrong? I hope it is something I do wrong rather than my camera having a problem.

Thank you for you comments,
Barbara.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

I've never heard of something like this. If you're in tv mode, that's "timed value" mode and it should always shoot at that value you have set. The only possibility I can think of is that if you switch orientation to portrait shooting rather than normal landscape orientation (the way you hold the camera), I find that without a battery grip, I can sometimes move the mode knob without realizing it and switch to aperture priority or some other mode; in which case, it might have a fixed aperture and change the shutter speed.
One question I have is what auto modes you have turned on. For instance, is AutoISO on? I never use that, so I can't say how that might affect things. I would think that if it were on, rather than change shutter speed, it would just bump ISO up or down, depending on the available light.

I wish I could give you a better answer. It is an odd thing to happen, and the 7D is a great camera. I'm jealous. I only have a 40D.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

artsyfan wrote:

I have my 7D for 3 years now and I'm very happy wi... (show quote)

Barbara:
Check to see if you have enabled "Safety Shift". It is in the Custom Function menue for exposure:C.Fn I-06. This enables the camera to adjust the shutter speed if it runs out of f/stops as it tries to adjust for changing lighting conditions.

artsyfan Loc: Thousand Oaks

OMG, that's it!! Thank you birdpix :) You have no idea how happy I am to have this problem fixed. I would have never ever guessed this. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Barbara.

Barbara:
Check to see if you have enabled "Safety Shift". It is in the Custom Function menue for exposure:C.Fn I-06. This enables the camera to adjust the shutter speed if it runs out of f/stops as it tries to adjust for changing lighting conditions.[/quote]

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

birdpix wrote:

quote=artsyfan I have my 7D for 3 years now and I... (show quote)

I'm so glad I heard about this. I hope to get a 7D and this is an obscure feature that I wouldn't think of otherwise. Thanks for the useful information.

artsyfan Loc: Thousand Oaks

Thank you les-stockton. Yes, I use auto ISO, but that does not cause the problem. I was so puzzled by this, luckily the problem is solved now.
Thanks again, Barbara.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

Hi, I just checked my 7D and mine indicates it is enabled but I can't get rid of it. What am I missing. I have used the set button but nothing changes. Help! Thanks, Mike

artsyfan Loc: Thousand Oaks

olcoach wrote:

Hi, I just checked my 7D and mine indicates it is enabled but I can't get rid of it. What am I missing. I have used the set button but nothing changes. Help! Thanks, Mike

go to C.Fn I: Exposure
set
set again
use the front wheel to go to O:Disable
set

that's how it works in my 7D :)

artsyfan Loc: Thousand Oaks

artsyfan wrote:

olcoach wrote:

Hi, I just checked my 7D and mine indicates it is enabled but I can't get rid of it. What am I missing. I have used the set button but nothing changes. Help! Thanks, Mike

go to C.Fn I: Exposure
set
set again
use the front wheel to go to Disable
set

that's how it works in my 7D :)

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Barbara: you should also check your ISO. The only way for "Safety Shift" to need to RAISE your shutter speed in low light conditions is if the ISO is high enough to cause the light meter to require an f/stop above the maximum (smallest opening) available for your lens, usually f/22. If you are shooting sunsets with a bright sun in the photo this with a high ISO could cause the problem.

artsyfan Loc: Thousand Oaks

birdpix wrote:

Barbara: you should also check your ISO. The only way for "Safety Shift" to need to RAISE your shutter speed in low light conditions is if the ISO is high enough to cause the light meter to require an f/stop above the maximum (smallest opening) available for your lens, usually f/22. If you are shooting sunsets with a bright sun in the photo this with a high ISO could cause the problem.

I will play with it tomorrow at sunset. I will watch the ISO, probably set it manually. So far it is working, even in very low light.
By the way, I LOVE your bird photos!

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

It shouldn't happen but sometimes when your flash is attached and on, it can make the shutter on the 7D go to 1/250 of a second. If your flash is attached, make sure it's off.

My best, J. Goffe
Remember the f/stops here!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

You can do this in most post production programs, but in Windows right-click on the photo, choose Properties and click on the Details tab. The 12th item down is Exposure Program. If you were in Tv it will say Shutter Priority.

Jackinthebox Loc: travel the world

artsyfan wrote:

OMG, that's it!! Thank you birdpix :) You have no idea how happy I am to have this problem fixed. I would have never ever guessed this. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Barbara.

Barbara:
Check to see if you have enabled "Safety Shift". It is in the Custom Function menue for exposure:C.Fn I-06. This enables the camera to adjust the shutter speed if it runs out of f/stops as it tries to adjust for changing lighting conditions.

[/quote]

Thank you birdpix, I had the same thing happen with my 60D and now I know why.