How to lose weight as an EOS owner

[alanrockwood]

Interesting idea. I do own a complete Leica M equipment, and I use it a lot, mainly for street photography, but the telephoto capabilities are somewhat limited. Unfortunately the Visoflexes were never developed to a level that made them the first choice for action photography: no TTL metering, even with an M7 in AE mode you have to guess a lot, not to mention AF. Myself and many other photographers could simply forget about SLRs if Leitz had developed better mirror boxes (or Nikon, Canon and others that made mirror boxes for their rangefinder cameras).

I use the EOS for everything where AF or telephoto lenses are important, and in bad weather. What I really like about the EOS and it's "L" lenses is the very fast and reliable autofocus, the weather sealing and, for telephoto lenses, the stabilizer. What I dislike are weight, need for heavy batteries, and that it is not simple to focus manually. It has too many too small buttons, and using "Custom Functions" is something that everybody should try once in his life to see how stupid a camera manufacturer can be: open a latch at the side of the camera, press a button as small as a pinhead, look at the lcd display, rotate a wheel until it shows "CF-12" and "0", then press that small button again, the "0" changes to "1". Believe it or not, this is the procedure to engage (or disengage) mirror lockup :rolleyes:

Nikons are much more logical. In the 80s - I was a full-time PJ - I owned a Nikon FM with the loudest motor money can buy, an F3 plus motor, 24, 50, 105 and 80-210 lenses, and I remember it felt heavy, too But going back to manual focus and non-stabilizer telephoto lenses...? I must say I am too lazy for that, and I would have to carry a tripod more often.

Hmmm, weather sealing and stuff... forget my suggestion of using Rebel cameras.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

If you don't like the way Canon has employed tiny little buttons to alter custom functions, then how, as an engineer, would you get around this? Truth be told, many people have been asked this question and cannot fathom an answer that is logically credible in terms of systemic layout and functional design. Credit where due the EOS 1N was a significant design breakthrough over its FD predecessor (T90) upon which electronics and system was based) and the system (particularly the EOS 1N) does have a number of quirks (e.g. the custom functions and metering mode display). True, people with big fingers do have difficulty negotiating the palm-door buttons, but they'll also have difficulty with many other controls: the buttons on the top, the manual-rewind button (itself recessed) proximity of focus point selection and AEL button (the function of which can be changed ie. to act as AF start, like the shutter button). It's not possible to design one camera to fit all types of photographer and their whims, of course.

If there was something I would change of the EOS system, it would be getting rid of "image stabilisation" across the range and getting rid of the silly, expensive CR205 batteries. Weather sealing is excellent on all pro-level models, but problems have been spoken of with the 24-105mm IS L lens.

 

[SilverGlow]

If you don't like the way Canon has employed tiny little buttons to alter custom functions, then how, as an engineer, would you get around this? Truth be told, many people have been asked this question and cannot fathom an answer that is logically credible in terms of systemic layout and functional design. Credit where due the EOS 1N was a significant design breakthrough over its FD predecessor (T90) upon which electronics and system was based) and the system (particularly the EOS 1N) does have a number of quirks (e.g. the custom functions and metering mode display). True, people with big fingers do have difficulty negotiating the palm-door buttons, but they'll also have difficulty with many other controls: the buttons on the top, the manual-rewind button (itself recessed) proximity of focus point selection and AEL button (the function of which can be changed ie. to act as AF start, like the shutter button). It's not possible to design one camera to fit all types of photographer and their whims, of course.

If there was something I would change of the EOS system, it would be getting rid of "image stabilisation" across the range and getting rid of the silly, expensive CR205 batteries. Weather sealing is excellent on all pro-level models, but problems have been spoken of with the 24-105mm IS L lens.

Why would you suggest getting rid of Image Stabilization? It is fantastic, and depending upon lens model can give you 3-4 stops of stability over hand holding. IS works great, and is quiet. I have IS on several lenses.

 

[cmo]

If you don't like the way Canon has employed tiny little buttons to alter custom functions, then how, as an engineer, would you get around this?

Make bigger buttons? Did you ever try using these buttons in winter? I have got hands like a piano player and dislike these buttons. Is the next step that they put them inside the film chamber, under a hood with a tiny padlock?

The first measure would be to fire Rube Goldberg as the director of the ergonomics department in Canon's R&D group... here is the new idea from Canon for a ground-breaking remote control:

http://www.pxleyes.com/images/contests/rube goldberg/fullsize/rube goldberg_4a3b7785bafcf_hires.jpg

People buy Canon (D)SLRs because of the great IS and telephoto lenses, the good AF and weather sealing, but probably not because they make such 'wonderful' wide-angles and kafkaesque custom function ergonomics.

If there was something I would change of the EOS system, it would be getting rid of "image stabilisation" across the range and getting rid of the silly, expensive CR205 batteries.

But why? I love stabilized lenses, because I can often leave the tripod at home. If I had the money and a baggage porter I would buy a 500/f4, one of the sharpest lenses ever made.

I got rid of the 2CR5 batteries by using rechargeable AAs in the power booster. As I will sell that one soon I will buy a rechargeable 2CR5 and a charger for it.

 

[trip_wt]

Get a 50/1.4 and use your feet.

Hmm, I have always found that my hands were better for holding cameras but, hey, do whatever works best for you!

 

[Perry Way]

Get a 50/1.4 and use your feet.

My two cents: This was the best advice in this thread.

One thing I don't understand is this quibbling over ounces. My RB67 kit with Manfrotto on my backpack is about 40 pounds. Yeah, I have the whole kit with me when I shoot the RB. Most of the time I'm hiking too. Uphill through chaparral is fun. So is downhill on loose gravel. You do that enough and you'll forget the difference of ounces.

 

[cmo]

My two cents: This was the best advice in this thread.

One thing I don't understand is this quibbling over ounces. My RB67 kit with Manfrotto on my backpack is about 40 pounds. Yeah, I have the whole kit with me when I shoot the RB. Most of the time I'm hiking too. Uphill through chaparral is fun. So is downhill on loose gravel. You do that enough and you'll forget the difference of ounces.

40 pounds...? OMG....

Canon has a lens for you...

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRq18WpQZC0&feature=fvsr[/YOUTUBE]

In the meanwhile I figured out a few things. I will sell the 2.8/70-200 and 400mm Novoflex lenses and get a 2/135 and 4/300, I already have a 1.4x Extender. That will save a lot of weight.

 

[film_man]

If you don't like the way Canon has employed tiny little buttons to alter custom functions, then how, as an engineer, would you get around this?

I don't mind the fiddly CF button under the flap for rare setup things but for mirror lock-up there is a very simple way to do it: just add it as another mode in the single/continuous/timer selector. Job done.

 

[cmo]

I don't mind the fiddly CF button under the flap for rare setup things but for mirror lock-up there is a very simple way to do it: just add it as another mode in the single/continuous/timer selector. Job done.

Can you show me how to do this with an EOS 1v?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I think he is referring to how the mirror lock-up Cf engagement could be improved by redesign (I thought of making it a combination of the three buttons (1N), similar to the short-cut of AEB bracketing (pressing all three buttons simultaenously is a Cf variation to engage AEB).. The EOS 1N and 1V share very similar engagements for mirror lock-up (I frequently use 2sec S/T + mirror lock up).

 

[film_man]

Can you show me how to do this with an EOS 1v?

Read my post and you will see I was replying to Poisson Du Jour's question on how it can be improved.

One of the things I loved when I had a Nikon D2H was that the drive mode dial was just like that: Single shot, Low Speed, High Speed, Timer, MLU. Just one twist of the button and job done. Now that I'm back to a EOS 3 I have to fiddle with the CF functions.

 

[cmo]

Read my post and you will see I was replying to Poisson Du Jour's question on how it can be improved.

One of the things I loved when I had a Nikon D2H was that the drive mode dial was just like that: Single shot, Low Speed, High Speed, Timer, MLU. Just one twist of the button and job done. Now that I'm back to a EOS 3 I have to fiddle with the CF functions.

Yes, sorry, I misunderstood that. The bad story is that Canon learned this lesson. The feature you describe is used in their better DSLRs.