Canon EOS R7 Experience
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About this ebook
Canon EOS R7 Experience is an e-book user's guide that goes beyond the manual to help you learn the features, settings, and controls of this versatile and customizable mirrorless camera. Most importantly, it also explains how, when, and why to use these features, settings, and controls in your photography. Written in the clear, concise, and comprehensive style of all Full Stop guides, Canon EOS R7 Experience will help you learn to use your EOS R7 quickly and competently, to consistently make the types of images you desire. As one Canon user has said:
"I don't know how I could fully take advantage of all the features the camera has to offer without this publication! It's well-organized, easy to understand, and succinct enough to keep your attention while still containing a wealth of information to get the most out of your camera."
For Intermediate and Enthusiast Photographers - This guide is designed for enthusiast photographers who wish to take fuller advantage of the capabilities of their camera and shoot competently in Av, Tv, Fv, and M modes take full control of the versatile autofocus system and learn how, when, and why to use and customize the various controls and features of the EOS R7 including the electronic viewfinder and the touch screen. It covers standard camera functions and exposure concepts for those learning digital photography, and explains more advanced camera controls and operation such as Metering Modes, Exposure Compensation, and Histograms.
For Experienced Photographers - This guide explains the new and advanced features, controls, and settings in order to help you quickly take advantage of these capabilities. You will learn how to take control of the new features including the autofocus system with face and subject detection plus subject tracking, Fv shooting mode, Silent Shutter, HDR, Multiple Exposure, cRAW file format, and manual focusing aids. It introduces the 4k, HD, High Frame Rate, and Time-Lapse video capabilities, and guides you through all the Menu and Custom Function items to help you best set up your camera for your specific shooting needs.
Sections include:
-Setting Up Your EOS R7 - All of the Playback, Shooting, Set-up, Movie, and Custom Function Menus, with explanations and recommended settings to customize the advanced features to work best for the way you photograph.
-Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (Tv), Flexible Priority (Fv), and Manual (M) Shooting Modes - How and when to use them to create dramatic depth of field, freeze or express motion, or take total control of exposure settings.
-Auto Focusing Modes and Area Modes, and Release (Drive) Modes - Learn the AF Operations, AF Methods, and AF Custom Functions, how and when to take advantage of them to capture both still and moving subjects.
-Exposure Metering Modes of the EOS R7 - How they differ, how and when to use them for correct exposures in every situation.
-Histograms, Exposure Compensation, Bracketing, and White Balance - Understanding and using these features for adjusting to the proper exposure.
-The Image Taking Process - Tutorials for using the settings and controls to take photos of both still and moving subjects.
-Introduction to Video Settings and Features, including 4K -Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with the Canon Camera Connect.
Douglas Klostermann
Douglas Klostermann is a travel, culture, and humanitarian photographer, as well as the best-selling author of Full Stop photography guides including Nikon D850 Experience and Canon 5D Mark IV Experience. He has photographed for numerous organizations in the United States and Latin America, been recognized by the United Nations Development Programme for his humanitarian photography, and been published in magazines, books, and websites including Conde Nast Traveler, NationalGeographic.org, Sherman's Travel, South American Explorer, and Viva Travel Guides. Doug is a member of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). Learn more about photography techniques and equipment on his blog Picturing Change at blog.dojoklo.com and view his photography at dojoklo.com.
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Canon EOS R7 Experience - Douglas Klostermann
1. GETTING STARTED with the CANON EOS R7
1.1 Introduction to the EOS R7
Following the success of the full-frame EOS R models, Canon has introduced their first RF lens mount cameras with APS-C size sensors, the EOS R7 and the EOS R10. The Canon EOS R7 boasts a 32.5 megapixel CMOS sensor, rapid 30 frames per second continuous shooting speed when using the electronic shutter, and dual UHS II SD memory card slots. The camera has an improved 651-zone autofocus system with the AF points covering nearly the entire frame, which will allow you to automatically detect, focus on, and track subjects, faces, and eyes throughout most of the scene. The EOS R7 also includes a fast DIGIC X processor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), an articulating touch screen, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The EOS R7 offers familiar Canon controls and menus, plus new or modified controls for quickly accessing and changing settings, such as the repositioned rear Quick Control Dial and the versatile Flexible-Priority AE (Fv) Shooting Mode which enables you to control any of the exposure parameters. Plus the EOS R7 includes several advanced video capabilities, including 4K video using the entire width of the sensor (oversampled from 7K), Dual Pixel AF for tracking moving subjects, HDR movies, and the High Frame Rate movie option for creating slow motion video.
Figure 1.1 - The Canon EOS R7 with the RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens.
The EOS R7 offers great image quality at high ISO settings for low-light shooting, with the native ISO range of 100 to 32,000, expandable up to 51,200. Plus, it offers Time-Lapse movie shooting, in-camera processing features such as Multiple Exposures, Focus Bracketing, and HDR shooting, and lens correction features for chromatic aberration, distortion, and diffraction. The cRAW file format enables you to capture files that are 40% smaller than RAW files, yet display no noticeable loss of image quality in most shooting situations. And the HDR PQ option allows you to save HEIF format images, with expanded dynamic range.
The Auto White Balance choices offer the option of either maintaining or eliminating the warm tones of incandescent lighting. The responsive touch screen can be used to quickly navigate menus, change settings, review images, and to position the focus point during both Live View and viewfinder shooting. When capturing images with the high-resolution sensor, small camera movements can negatively impact image sharpness, so Canon has included an electronic Silent Shutter option that eliminates the movement of the mechanical shutter, and a Bulb Timer Exposure Time setting so that the camera doesn’t need to be touched during Bulb exposures. The DIGIC X processor allows for faster frame rates and extended burst rates, including 15 frames per second (fps) when using the mechanical shutter, and 30 fps when using the electronic shutter. It also allows for faster video rates.
Figure 1.2 - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air - Lions Annual Car Show, Waltham, Massachusetts - Canon EOS R7, Shutter speed 1/500, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 100.
The electronic viewfinder of mirrorless cameras differs from the optical viewfinder of a dSLR. The high-resolution (2.36 million dot) OLED viewfinder, with 100% coverage, will enable you to preview the exposure, white balance, Picture Style settings, and depth of field of the final image as you shoot, as well as to make use of a virtual horizon and an Auto Level feature to keep your images straight. You can also access the Quick Control Screen and a customizable M-Fn menu while looking in the viewfinder, so that you can change numerous camera settings without taking the camera from your eye. And you can utilize focus peaking and scene-magnification in the viewfinder, as well as the Focus Guide rangefinder function, to assist with manual focusing.
While many of the controls of the EOS R7 will be familiar to Canon shooters, there are some notable additions. The repositioned Quick Control Dial, located on the rear of the camera, is used to adjust settings while shooting, as well as navigate menus and browse images. The Multi-Function Button (M-Fn Button) on the top of the camera can be used to quickly access and change five shooting settings of your choice, without having to remove your eye from the viewfinder while shooting. The Multi-Controller thumb joystick is used to position the autofocus point, area, or zone. The directional Cross Keys and the rear touch screen can also be used to position the active autofocus point while shooting. The AF switch on the front of the camera can be used to switch the lens to manual focus. And video shooting is accessed by turning the Power switch past On, to the Movie Mode icon.
The Flexible-Priority AE (Fv) Shooting Mode, first introduced on the EOS R, allows you to control any of the exposure parameters, including the shutter speed, aperture setting, ISO setting, and exposure compensation, or to quickly set any of the parameters to Auto and let the camera control them. You can choose to control all of the parameters yourself, as with Manual (M) Mode, or to control some of them and let the camera control the others, as with Av and Tv Modes, or allow the camera to control all of them by setting them all to Auto, similar to Auto+ Mode, all while remaining in the same Fv Shooting Mode.
The 651-zone autofocus system offers face and eye detection, plus a separate subject detection function which can be set for people, animals, or motorsport vehicles. A subject tracking function is now available for use with all of the autofocus AF area modes, and the new Flexible Zone AF area modes allow you to customize the size and shape of the active autofocus area.
For capturing video, the EOS R7 offers HD and 4K UHD video with a choice of frame rates and compression options. The 4K Fine setting will make use of the full width of the sensor, and will generate a 4K movie from a 7K oversampling. The 4K setting will also make use of the full width of the sensor to capture sub-sampled UHD 4K video. The 4K Crop setting will capture 4K at the native pixel crop, and thus make use of a 1.81x crop of the entire sensor. Full HD (1920x1080) will also make use of the full sensor width.
The camera can capture 10-bit HDR video as HDR PQ, with an expanded dynamic range. The 10-bit Canon Log gamma output option will capture a wide dynamic range when recording to the memory card or to an optional external device, retaining details in both the shadows and the highlights, with the View Assist feature to help visualize the final, processed footage. Audio features include built-in stereo microphones with Wind Filter and Audio Noise Reduction options, and video still Frame Grabs can be saved from 4K video files. The High Frame Rate option allows you to shoot HD videos at 119.9 or 100.0 fps, which can then be played back in slow motion.
The EOS R7 makes use of the RF lens mount, and a series of RF lenses are designed for the EOS R system. They have a 54mm mount, which sits close to the sensor plane, a 12-pin electronic communication system with the camera, and optical image stabilization. The RF lenses all include a Control Ring which can be customized to quickly change one of the shooting settings including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation. These lenses also communicate lens information directly to the viewfinder, allowing you to view the current focal length. Available RF lenses include the RF 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS kit lens, RF 28-70mm F2 L, RF 50mm F1.2 L, RF 24-105mm F4 L IS, and RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS.
Three different lens mount adapters enable you to use EF and EF-S lenses with the EOS R7. The Mount Adapter EF-EOS R is the basic adapter that allows you to connect EF and EF-S lenses. The Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R includes a Control Ring, similar to the ring on the RF lenses, which can be used to change various shooting settings. The Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R allows you to insert a circular polarizing filter or variable ND filter. This makes it possible to use these types of filters with any lens, including ultra-wide-angle lenses and tilt-shift lenses.
With its high-resolution, high-quality image sensor, 651-zone autofocus system with face, eye, and subject detection and tracking, up to 30 frames per second continuous shooting speed, DIGIC X processor, and high ISO capabilities in low light, the Canon EOS R7 enables photographers to consistently capture sharp, clean, and well-exposed images. The EOS R7 is clearly a powerful, advanced tool for digital photography and is fully capable of capturing professional quality images in most any situation you wish to use it.
But the EOS R7 is merely a tool. It is up to you to make use of its features and capabilities to create the images you envision. While the camera’s manual will tell you about the settings and controls, how to change them, and their intended functions, this guide will build upon that and explain when and why you may want to use and customize them. Every button, feature, menu item, and Custom Function setting of the EOS R7 is there for a reason: to help you capture the images you want. Some of them are more useful to different types of photographers and shooting situations and you don’t necessarily need to learn and use them all immediately, but this guide will help to give you the knowledge to confidently use the ones that turn your Canon EOS R7 into an image capturing tool that works best for you and the photography situations you work in.
1.2 Take Control of Your Camera
Since the Canon EOS R7 is a tool to take the images you want to take, you obviously can’t always allow the camera to make decisions for you. You have to take control of the camera to ensure that you capture exactly the images you intend - by autofocusing precisely where you want, setting the aperture or shutter speed that you want, and obtaining the exposure you want. While it is an intelligent camera, the EOS R7 cannot read your mind and your intentions and does not know that you wish to focus on and properly expose a detail of a fallen tree, while making the closer details and the background appear out of focus, with the leaves and twigs captured still and not blurred from the motion of the wind, in a shaded setting, on a sunny day (see Figure 1.3). You have to tell the camera to do all of this through the various controls and settings, such as the autofocus AF Area (focus on a specific part of the tree), the Exposure Metering Mode (properly expose for the tree bark and the scene), the Aperture setting (the out-of-focus near leaves and background), the Shutter Speed (freeze the motion of the leaves and twigs), the ISO setting (relatively low-light setting) and the White Balance setting (sunny day).
5D4_0611-04sFigure 1.3 - Fallen Birch Tree, Whipple Hill, Lexington, Mass. - Autofocus, exposure metering mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance all considered in capturing this image. Shutter speed 1/500, Aperture f/2.8, ISO 1250.
One has to think about all this stuff for every photo? Well, yes, that is what digital photography is all about! At least if you wish to consistently create the well-made, interesting, and compelling images you envision. And that is why the EOS R7 has all the buttons, controls, settings, Custom Functions, and features for you to make use of.
Learning to use and get the most from a highly advanced mirrorless camera like the EOS R7 takes time, practice, patience, mistakes, and experimentation. If you have switched or upgraded from a previous model such as one of the 7D models, the 90D or one of its predecessors, or a Rebel model, you are in for a treat. The additional features and capabilities will more easily help you to capture photographs that you may have been limited in consistently attaining before. The versatile and accurate autofocus system, highly customizable camera controls, plus the advanced exposure metering system and high ISO capabilities of the EOS R7 will help you capture sharp, detailed images of subjects and moments that previously you may have missed.
5D4_0166-03sFigure 1.4 - Great Blue Heron Taking Flight, Arlington, Mass. - Shutter speed 1/1600, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 640.
If you are relatively new to digital photography and are still in the process of learning all the controls of an advanced digital camera and the exposure concepts of digital photography, you have perhaps ventured into the proverbial deep end of the pool by choosing the advanced EOS R7! But don’t worry, this book will help guide you through the features, controls, and capabilities. Be sure to take it slowly and patiently as you learn the features and concepts that I will explain. With practice and experience you will soon be shooting with confidence and can begin to take advantage of your camera’s more advanced functions. Even if you are an intermediate photographer, don’t expect to just pick up all the new information at once, in one or two readings of a single book. In fact, you wouldn’t want to, as the never-ending journey of learning and mastering photography is a big part of what it’s all about! Try not to become frustrated if you don’t quite understand something or aren’t always getting the results you desire. Instead learn the controls, functions, settings, and concepts bit by bit, try them out in real life shooting situations, and return to this guide, the manual, and other photography books to address questions and problems you encounter. Continue to learn and to photograph often and it should all begin to come together, sometimes slowly and sometimes in rapid bursts of discovery and understanding.
1.3 Using This Guide
There are many different ways to use an advanced digital camera and its controls to capture images, and many diverse situations in which photographers work. I’m going to concentrate on the techniques that I believe are the most practical, useful, and effective for the majority of photographers using the EOS R7, while also explaining how settings can apply to specialized uses. The settings and techniques I discuss will apply to various types of photography including general photography, nature, action, portrait, and travel photography. Once you have a firm grasp of the controls, settings, and basic techniques you will have the tools and knowledge to address different issues, specific situations, and challenging scenes. I encourage you to then experiment and continue to learn, and to find the techniques that work best and are most comfortable or intuitive for you.
The EOS R7 is a highly sophisticated tool that deserves to be used to its full potential, and that involves taking control of your camera and its functions, which means taking it off Auto+ and Program AE Shooting Modes, and off automatically selected autofocus points (when not needed). While this may be more challenging at first, these are the techniques that are necessary to take full advantage of the capabilities of any mirrorless or dSLR camera, including the EOS R7, and will lead you to having more control and consistency over your image making. Hopefully this will inevitably lead to better images!
This guide is most effective when used with the camera in your hands. That is the best way to directly follow and understand the controls, functions, and settings as they are being explained. It is also intended to be used in addition to the camera’s manual, not to completely replace it, so every bit of information in the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide will not be repeated here. Among the official manual’s often brief descriptions and sometimes frustratingly incomplete explanations, there is some very valuable information, as well as the basics for buttons, controls, and how to access and change all the settings. And I will refer to the manual for very specialized or rarely used functions that are well-explained there. In this guide, the references to the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide, including page numbers, are based on version CT2-D181-B of the Canon manual. A PDF version of the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide can be obtained from the Canon website:
https://cam.start.canon/en/C005/
Figure 1.5 - 1961 Chevrolet Corvette - Lions Annual Car Show, Waltham, Massachusetts - Canon EOS R7, Shutter speed 1/3200, Aperture f/4.0, ISO 100.
The site also contains links to additional manuals, software, and apps. If you have an iPad or tablet you will find that it is helpful to download the manual onto your device for reading and reference (along with this e-book). As you can see, there is a lot to make sense of regarding terminology and controls, so I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the controls and displays of the camera body, as shown on pages 29-34 of the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide and explained in the following chapter of this book, as well as read through the Canon manual at some point and attempt to understand or absorb as much as possible. Yes, some of it may be complicated and confusing at first, but this guide will explain and clarify the numerous buttons, controls, menus, functions, and settings and explain how, when and why you will want to use them in your photography.
Also be sure to read and follow all the official use, safety, and handling instructions and precautions explained in the manuals provided with the camera and software, including those on pages 23-28 of the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide. Additional cautions throughout the Canon manual are important to read because they explain things such as the high internal temperature that the camera can reach due to prolonged Live View or movie use, and how using a non-compatible external flash can cause your camera to malfunction. General shooting cautions and movie shooting cautions are found throughout the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide.
Figure 1.6 - Detail of the Canon EOS R7 body and controls.
Various settings of the EOS R7 can be controlled in multiple ways: using the buttons and dials on the camera body while reading the settings on the rear Screen or in the Viewfinder, through the Quick Control Screens accessed with the Q / SET Button and viewed on the rear Screen, in the menus accessed with the Menu Button, or even by customizing the buttons and controls on the camera body via the Custom Functions. Plus, you can use the touch screen in conjunction with the menu screens and Quick Control Screens to change the settings. Explore the options, which will be explained throughout this guide, and find the ways that work most quickly and intuitively for you.
Any time I capitalize something in the text, it is a proper term that can be looked up in the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide. I will capitalize the names of actual buttons, controls, camera parts, and menu items, such as Quick Control Dial, M-Fn Button, White Balance, and Auto Lighting Optimizer. Again, please review the Camera Controls chapter below and the camera diagrams in your EOS R7 manual (pages 29-34) to familiarize yourself with the names of various parts, controls, and displays, as I will use these proper names in this text.
Many of the functions and controls of an advanced mirrorless camera such as the EOS R7 are closely inter-related, such as the shooting modes, exposure settings, and the metering modes. As a result of this I must sometimes indicate that a previous or upcoming section of the text has further explanation of a related function. However, there is no need to jump ahead or back in the text - this is merely a heads-up
that the feature will be fully explained in the appropriate section. It is best to read through the entire text, in the order it is organized. The Menu Settings and the Custom Functions Menu Settings chapters are particularly prone to referring to upcoming chapters, but this complete menu walkthrough is needed at the front of the guide in order to help set up your camera before use. Most all of the features and functions introduced in that chapter will be addressed in detail in the applicable sections of the text.
After reading the text you may then wish to return to specific sections for further study. It may take multiple readings followed by experimentation and practice to fully understand both the individual functions and the relationships between functions.
Example Images - In the captions to the example photos throughout the text, I include the camera settings that were used. With digital photography there is not necessarily a correct
setting or best
setting for any given situation. Advanced mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R7 give you quick access to the basic and essential settings, and the ability to customize the controls for your specific needs, because they often need to be changed to adapt to the subject, the scene, the lighting, and perhaps most importantly your creative intentions. Although you will want to properly expose your photographs, there is not necessarily a correct
aperture setting for any given image or scene, or a proper
shutter speed setting, or an ideal
histogram. The choices you or the camera make depend on a number of variables and relationships as well as the photographer’s desires. Because the settings used for the sample images are based on many variables including the lighting and time of day, the motion of the subject, the lens and focal length used, as well as the overall situation being photographed with a combination of moving subjects, still subjects, and changing lighting, these settings should not be viewed as proper
or best
settings. In truth, they often more accurately reflect the reality of photography, and of adjusting (or failing to adjust) to fluid situations.
Please note, some of the example photos in this guide were taken with a variety of cameras, not always the EOS R7. Due to the fact that I am usually working with a variety of different camera bodies in my shooting and research for writing, I wish to use images that best exemplify the topic or point I am describing, such as shutter speed, metering modes, or exposure bracketing. Any images that are critical to illustrating a specific EOS R7 capability, such as its high resolution and its ISO performance, are taken with the EOS R7, as well as numerous other example images throughout the guide which are noted with "Canon EOS R7" in the captions. All the example photographs from this text, as well as additional EOS R7 photos I took, can be viewed online, in color, and larger (for closer inspection of image detail, ISO comparisons, digital noise, etc.).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dojoklo/albums/72177720302185386
Figure 1.7 - 1958 Pontiac Star Chief - Lions Annual Car Show, Waltham, Massachusetts - Canon EOS R7, Shutter speed 1/400, Aperture f/6.3, ISO 100, converted to black and white in Photoshop.
Updates to the Text - Although I have carefully proof-read and edited this text, I may later find typos or wish to make corrections. And sometimes as I use the camera more and answer user questions, I may discover changes I would like to make to the text to clarify an explanation or better describe a process, setting, or function. So I will keep a log of updates, corrections, and clarifications for Canon EOS R7 Experience on my blog at:
http://blog.dojoklo.com/canon-eos-r7-experience-updates-page/
You can also sign up to receive notices of any important updates and to be contacted about receiving free e-book copies of updated versions of Canon EOS R7 Experience (if any major updates are made to the text). For example, Canon sometimes releases updated firmware which adds features and menu items, and I will update the guide accordingly (as I have done with my guides to the 7D and the 5D Mark III). Or I will update the guide if an important addition or correction is made to the text. Please sign up to be notified of these updates, here:
http://blog.dojoklo.com/ebooks/sign-up-for-full-stop-e-book-updates/
1.4 Quick Start for Previous Canon Users
For those coming to the EOS R7 from cameras such as one of the 7D models or the 90D (or any of its predecessors), who already have a solid grasp of the functions and controls and wish to immediately learn about the new and upgraded features and buttons, and differences of a mirrorless camera, you can have a look at the following chapters and sections of this guide:
Camera Controls (Chapter 2) - There are some new, changed, or additional buttons and controls from what you may be accustomed to, especially if coming from an older Canon model. For example, there is a repositioned rear Quick Control Dial (see Figure 1.8 - left), and a M-Fn Button to quickly access and change five selected shooting settings. The EOS R7 includes the Multi-Controller thumb joystick for positioning the autofocus point. There is a different way to zoom in and out during image review due to the single Magnify Button. Plus, many of the controls can be customized in a variety of ways, as will be explained in Chapter 5 - Custom Controls - Advanced.
Figure 1.8 - Left: Detail of the camera controls, including the rear Quick Control Dial and Multi-Controller joystick. Right: Using the touch screen during Live View to change the shutter speed setting by swiping the scale.
Touch Screen (Chapter 2) - In addition to the camera controls, you can use the touch screen to adjust camera settings, navigate the menus, position the AF Point, and for image playback using familiar tap, swipe, and pinch motions. And while some may feel that the touch screen is extraneous for these operations, you will soon find that it is very responsive, and can be a quick and useful way to review your images and to access numerous settings during Viewfinder and Live View shooting (see Figure 1.8 - right). The touch screen can also be used for Touch and Drag AF. This is a function where you use the touch screen during Viewfinder shooting to locate the AF Point to the desired position.
Electronic Viewfinder (Chapter 2) - The electronic Viewfinder of the EOS R7 (and other mirrorless cameras) enables you to preview the exposure, white balance, Picture Style settings, and depth of field of the final image, as you shoot, as well as make use of a virtual horizon to keep your images level. You can also change numerous camera settings, access the menus, and review images without taking the camera from your eye. And you can utilize focus peaking, focusing aids, and scene-magnification in the Viewfinder, to assist with manual focusing.
Quick Control Screens (Chapter 2) - When viewing the rear Screen, you can press the Info Button repeatedly to display a shooting settings screen, with various exposure and camera settings. Press the Q / SET Button or touch screen icon to activate
this shooting settings Quick Control Screen (see Figure 1.9 - left). This screen will allow you to quickly access and change applicable settings for whichever shooting mode you are currently working in. When viewing the Live View scene on the rear Screen or in the Viewfinder, you can press the Q / SET Button to access the Live View Quick Control screen, which offers access to various shooting settings (see Figure 1.9 - right). You can use the Cross Keys and Q / SET Button to navigate this screen, or else use the touch screen icons. Similar Quick Control Screens are accessible for movie shooting and for image playback.
Figure 1.9 - Left: Press the Info Button to select the Shooting Settings Screen, then press the Q / SET Button to access the Quick Control Screen. Right: During Live View shooting, press the Q / SET Button to access the Live View Quick Control screen.
Menu Settings and Custom Functions Menus (Chapters 3, 4, and 5) - Learn about all the new Menu and Custom Function options in the EOS R7 menu system, and the custom controls options in the Custom Function 3 (C.Fn 3) Menu, used to customize the functions of various camera buttons and controls. Other new menu items will allow you more control over what information is shown on the shooting and playback displays. And the EOS R7 allows you to adjust the color tone of the Viewfinder and the rear Screen, using the Screen/ Viewfinder Color Tone item of the Set-up 4 Menu.
Figure 1.10 - Flexible-Priority AE (Fv) Shooting Mode - Left: Selecting Fv Shooting Mode by turning the Mode Dial. Right: Making use of Fv Shooting Mode during Live View or Viewfinder shooting.
Flexible-Priority AE (Fv) Shooting Mode (Section 10.3) - Flexible-Priority AE Mode, or Fv Mode, is a new shooting mode first introduced on the EOS R (see Figure 1.10 - left). It is an extremely versatile mode that allows you to control any of the exposure parameters, including the shutter speed, aperture setting, ISO setting, and exposure compensation, or to set any of the parameters on Auto and let the camera control them (see Figure 1.10 - right). You can choose to control all of the parameters yourself, or to control some of them and let the camera control the others, or allow the camera to control all of them by setting them all to Auto - all while remaining in the same Fv Shooting Mode. Fv Mode can act as either Auto+, Tv, Av, or M shooting mode, depending on which settings you control and which are set to Auto, but the advantage is that you can quickly change any of the exposure settings without having to change the shooting mode.
Dual Pixel RAW (Section 3.3) - The Dual Pixel technology of the EOS R7 sensor, where each pixel contains two photodiodes, allows for some unique post-processing capabilities when using Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software. You will need to enable this Dual Pixel RAW item in the Photo Shooting 1 Menu, and capture RAW images. This will then allow for three different post-processing options: Image Micro-adjustment, to slightly adjust the focus of an image, Bokeh Shift, to slightly adjust the out-of-focus areas of an image, and Ghosting Reduction, to reduce the effects of haze or flaring in an image, caused by internal lens reflections. Note that you can only apply a single one of these adjustments to each Dual Pixel RAW image. If you do not plan on making use of these adjustments, you will not want to enable Dual Pixel RAW, since it will cause the image files to be much bigger, and it will reduce the maximum shooting speed and burst rate.
Image Playback (Section 6.1) - The previously separate Playback Shooting Information Display screens for playback are now all on the same screen, and you press up or down on the Cross Keys to change the information at the bottom half of the screen, rather than clicking through several different detailed screens (see Figure 1.11 - left). The single Magnify Button and the Main Dial are used to zoom in on a playback image (see Figure 1.11 - right).
Figure 1.11 - Left: The Playback Shooting Information Display Screen, where you can press up or down on the Cross Keys to view different information at the bottom of the screen. Right: Zoom-in on a playback image using the single Magnify Button and the top Main Dial.
Set Image Search Conditions (Section 3.5) - This search feature allows you to search for images on a memory card based on their Rating or Date taken, or for all images in a specific Folder, or images that are protected with the Protect feature, or specific types of files such as Stills, Movies, RAW, and JPEG files. You can include more than one of the parameters in the search, in order to locate a very specific set of images. This feature can be accessed in the Playback 5 Menu, or on the image playback Quick Control Screen (see Figure 1.12).
Figure 1.12 - Left: Access the Playback Quick Control Screen by pressing the Q / SET Button during image playback. Right: The Image Search options, which allow you to search for images based on various parameters.
Autofocusing (Chapters 7 and 8) - Learn the ins and outs of the autofocus system, and how to use it to capture still and moving subjects. The AF system of a mirrorless camera such as the EOS R7 is more similar to the Live View autofocusing system of previous cameras, and makes use of autofocus areas (AF Areas) such as 1-Point AF, Expand AF Area, and Flexible Zone AF options. Perhaps the most important improvement of the autofocus system is that subject detection, subject tracking, and face and eye detection can be used with any of the AF Area modes (see Figure 1.13 - left). These options are found in the AF 1 Menu.
The EOS R7 also allows you to use either the Multi-Controller, the Cross Keys or the touch screen to position the active AF Point. Plus, the EOS R7 includes autofocus Cases and parameters for tracking and retaining focus on a variety of moving subjects (see Figure 1.13 - right). Other new autofocusing menu options will help you to gain more control over the autofocus system, the autofocus points, and where and how the camera focuses. And various manual focusing aids including Focus Peaking will assist you with accurate manual focus.
Figure 1.13 - Left: Making use of Subject Detection and Eye Detection to automatically locate and focus on the subject's eye. Right: The AF 2 Menu tab with the autofocus Cases, for tracking and maintaining focus on different types of moving subjects.
Auto ISO (Chapter 10) - The EOS R7 offers additional control over Auto ISO, where you can specify the ISO range in which you wish the camera to remain, and set the minimum shutter speed. You can even let the camera choose the minimum shutter speed based on the current lens focal length, and adjust that setting if you want the camera to choose a faster or slower minimum shutter speed (see Figure 1.14 - left).
Figure 1.14 - Left: When using Auto ISO, you can allow the camera to choose the Minimum Shutter Speed based on the current lens focal length, and also adjust that setting for a faster or slower minimum shutter speed. Right: The EOS R7 allows you to adjust Exposure Compensation in Manual Mode, if using Auto ISO.
If shooting still images or movies in Manual (M) Mode, you can use Auto ISO and allow the camera to adjust the ISO setting to maintain the proper exposure, plus you can apply Exposure Compensation in this situation, if you wish to adjust to a brighter or darker exposure (see Figure 1.14 - right).
HDR Shooting, Multiple Exposures, and Time-Lapse (Chapters 12, 17) - These sections of the guide will explain these in-camera features and their various shooting and processing options. The HDR PQ option will enable you to capture images with increased brightness, wider tonal range, and wider color gamut, when viewed on HDR-compatible devices. These can be saved in the HEIF file format.
Bulb Timer (Chapter 10) - When working in Bulb (B) Shooting Mode, you can set the Bulb Timer (in the Photo Shooting 7 Menu) to dictate how long the shutter will remain open, rather than having to hold down the Shutter Button for the entire duration (see Figure 1.15 - left). This will also help to eliminate camera movement.
Figure 1.15 - Left: Enable the Bulb Timer and press the Info Button to set the exposure time, for when using Bulb (B) Shooting Mode. Right: The Sharpness parameters, which are available with each of the Picture Styles.
New Picture Style Options (Chapter 13) - The EOS R7 offers the Fine Detail Picture Style, designed to help maximize the level of image detail. Plus, advanced Sharpness parameters of Strength, Fineness, and Threshold are available for all of the Picture Styles (see Figure 1.15 - right).
New Auto White Balance Options (Chapter 13) - When making use of Auto White Balance (Shooting 4 Menu), you can choose between two settings. The Ambience Priority setting will retain the warm color cast of incandescent (tungsten) lighting, which you may be used to or expect with images of indoor scenes. This setting is most similar to the Auto White Balance of previous Canon cameras. The White Priority setting will render more neutral whites and color tones, and reduce the red or yellow tones of incandescent lighting (see Figure 1.16 - left).
Figure 1.16 - Left: The Auto White Balance options, Ambience Priority and White Priority. Right: The Movie shooting screen, displaying various video settings.
Video (Chapter 17) - The EOS R7 includes important video features, most notably 4K Fine and 4K video using the entire width of the sensor, 4K Crop video, and 10-bit HDR PQ video with an expanded dynamic range (see Figure 1.16 - right). It also offers the ability to adjust the Movie Servo AF speed, as the camera autofocuses on a subject at a different distance, dictating how quickly the new subject comes into focus. The High Frame Rate option allows you to shoot HD videos at 119.9/100.0 fps, which can then be played in slow motion. The camera provides 4K Frame Grab stills, various file compression options, and 10-bit Canon Log options. The video chapter provides a full description of the 4K and HD video capabilities of the camera including all the Movie Shooting Menu settings options, such as image size and frame rates, compression formats, time codes, and audio features.
There are additional changes noted and explained throughout the guide, such as new lens correction capabilities and multiple My Menu tabs, so I encourage you to read through the entire text.
1.5 Maximizing Resolution with the EOS R7
While the 32.5 megapixel sensor will allow you to capture a high level of detail (see Figure 1.17), one of the downsides of such high resolution is that with the amount of detail that is captured, flaws, dust spots, lint, stray hairs, and fingerprints, etc. will be more visible on your subjects. This will require additional care both when preparing and capturing subjects (in controlled situations) and when post-processing the images. In addition, the small internal and external camera movements that can lead to visible blur or reduced sharpness in your images will be more noticeable in the EOS R7 images. The camera offers several features to help you capture the sharpest images possible.
Figure 1.17 - Left: An image of a 1967 Ford Mustang, taken at 24mm focal length. Right: A cropped detail of the image, showing the chips and flaws in the paint finish.
To help reduce small internal camera movements that can negatively impact image sharpness, the EOS R7 offers an electronic silent shutter with no mechanical shutter movement, and an electronic 1st-curtain shutter option. The Shutter Mode setting where this is selected is found in the Photo Shooting 7 Menu. Enabling the Silent Shutter Function item of the Photo Shooting 7 Menu will also make use of the Electronic Shutter. You can also set a Bulb Timer Adjust Exposure Time setting so that the Shutter Button doesn’t need to be physically held down during the duration of the Bulb exposure. Another important element of capturing sharp images is a steady camera. Thus you will want to develop a good stance with stable arm and hand positions as you hold the camera and release the shutter, or make use of a quality tripod and remote shutter release. You will also need to use high quality lenses in order to get the most from the EOS R7 sensor. With Canon lenses, this generally means the current RF and L Series lenses, though it can also include the high-quality prime lenses such as the 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8, and 85mm f/1.8. During hand-held shooting, you will also want to use faster shutter speeds than were necessary for previous models, as well as take advantage of the image stabilization feature of many lenses. This will help to reduce blur caused by camera movement as the image is being captured.
1.6 Batteries and Memory Cards
Batteries: The first thing to do, if you haven’t done so already, is to fully charge the battery. When exhausted, it will take about 2.5 hours for a full charge. You will probably want an extra battery or two, the LP-E6NH, so you should get those right away. The camera is also compatible with the previous LP-E6N batteries. I recommend Canon batteries and not a cheaper third-party brand, as they may not communicate properly with the camera and charger.
Figure 1.18 - Canon LP-E6NH battery, plus SD memory cards. Memory cards with fast speeds and high capacities are recommended for use with the EOS R7.
There is a handy trick to quickly remind yourself which of your Canon batteries are full and which are exhausted. You can attach the included plastic battery cover on a spare battery in one of two orientations, and in one of the orientations a blue area will show through the little window. Create a system where blue means fully charged or indicates empty, and consistently make use of that, such as blue=bad (exhausted)
. The included charger will work with 100v to 240v electrical systems, though you may need a plug adaptor if you use it in a different country.
At the end of this book I provide a list of the accessories and items that I mention throughout the text, as well as other Photography Accessories, complete with links to Amazon if you wish to view or purchase the items. The full list is also available, with Amazon links, on my blog:
http://blog.dojoklo.com/2011/02/10/gear-accessories-and-books/
Memory Cards: You will also need a few SD memory cards. You will need to pay attention to the read/ write speeds of the cards if you wish to take full advantage of the maximum buffer capacity of the EOS R7 (shown on page 943 of the Canon EOS R7 Advanced User Guide). Due to the large file sizes of the EOS R7, you will also need to use large capacity memory cards, at least 32 GB, but preferably 64 GB or larger. These large image files, often around 30 MB to 50 MB in size, will fill up a memory card much faster than you may be used to with a previous camera.
I suggest using the SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-I SD Memory Cards, which are rated at read/ write speeds of 200 MB/s read and 90 MB/s write, or the faster SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-II SD Memory Cards, which are rated at read/ write speeds of 300 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write. This type of card is recommended by Canon in order to obtain the maximum number of images in a continuous burst. When using an SD card, whether you intend to mostly shoot stills or video, higher speed class 10 cards are recommended as they will also speed-up transfer times when storing and backing up your images to your computer and external hard drives.
Format memory cards in the camera before use, with the Format Card item of the Set-up 1 Menu. Some people advocate the use of several smaller capacity memory cards so that if you lose a card or lose all the images on one due to card error, then you don’t lose all your vacation or event photos at once. However, if you are taking many images of an event or activity, smaller cards may unexpectedly fill up, causing you to miss the action as you switch cards. So you may wish to take the opposite approach and use larger capacity memory cards (at least 32 GB for the EOS R7), then back up the images in two or three places each night after shooting. With the dual card slots of the EOS R7, you can use the Record to Multiple function to save images to both cards as you shoot, or the Auto Switch Card function, where images will be saved to the second card once the first card is full.
Be sure to always insert and remove a memory card only when the camera is turned off. When downloading the images from a card to a computer, use a card reader and simply copy or import the images, then remove the card once the card reader has been stopped or ejected and you are sure it is no longer being accessed by the computer. Do not add or delete photos or files to a card via the computer. Only erase or format a card in the camera itself. This will all help to prevent card errors or corruption. If a memory card has functioned properly after several uses, with proper care it is likely to continue to work properly for a long time.
2. CAMERA CONTROLS
As I stated earlier, the EOS R7 is an image making tool. It is up to you to make use of its features and capabilities to create the images you envision, so you can’t typically allow the camera to make decisions for you. You have to take control of the camera in order to consistently capture the images you intend - by autofocusing where and how you want, setting the aperture or shutter speed that you want, and obtaining the exposure you want. Each of these functions, and more, go into the making of most every image, whether you choose to control them or not, and each should be understood in order to get the most out of your EOS R7 and your photography. To help you accomplish this, the EOS R7 offers numerous external controls and the ability to customize them for your shooting needs. Many of the controls are designed to be easily accessible while the camera is held to your eye and in use, so that you can quickly adjust settings as you work.
2.1 EOS R7 Camera Controls
Have a look at your camera and the diagrams below, and I’ll go over the controls on your camera that you will be using and learning about throughout this guide. Customizing the various buttons and controls will be discussed in the Custom Controls - Advanced chapter. The controls will also be discussed in more detail throughout this text, in conjunction with the functions they perform and control.
Figure 2.1 - View of the top controls of the Canon EOS R7.
On the top of the camera (see Figure 2.1), you will find:
Focal Plane Mark - The