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Does Canon withold information?

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deepak rao

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Regarding what a firmware update does? I updated the 350 from 1.0.2 to 1.0.3 and I had about 130 indoor flash shots today and I found that I had remarkably better flash exposures than before the update.

I do know how to use EOS flash systems and understand how the metering is done [had a 300D and that really needed much more care for flash photography]

Cant really post a before/after image as I had no idea that this would happen, but it definitly has improved flash exposures.

Maybe Canon do not want to 'admit' to all the improvements that a camera may require?

--
Regards,

Deepak

http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
 
but I wouldn't use the term 'witholding information'. Now, I doubt they would make a noticable improvement in flash exposure, and not say anything. If you improve something, why not get the word out? That just makes no sense for them to do that.
 
I have to agree that the flash exposure has changed. Usually I use a Sigma EF-500 DG Super flash. The other evening that wasn't possible and the photos I took all seemed somewhat over exposed. Back when I had version 1.0.1, I set the flash compensation to +1/3. At about the same time I upgraded the software to 1.0.3 and purchased the flash. My flash compensation has always been at +1/3. Last nights flash photos all are a little over exposed. I am guessing that the firmware upgrade may have hsd something to do with that.
 
Hmm,

Did the upgrade myself. Before with 1.02 I would get some really underexposed pictures with my 580EX/ Rebel Xt set on fully automatic. M is the only flash mode I'll use (trust) and the results are very good. Typically I shoot at 1/60th of a sec, 2nd curtain sync, center weighted average on the meter ( I guess that don't matter if I am selecting shutter and F stop).

OK. with 1.03 I notice "better" or LESS underexposure - so your observations are correct. M is still the same - good or normal exposures. I will still will use M. I think Canon's Software engineers have over active minds and in theory have a good concept for automatic flash photography. However in practice the actual results are proof that their calculations don't correspond with the real world. I mean how much more of a Flash do I need than a 580EX on my Rebel XT to get good rich flash exposures inside a house where most shots are between 5 and 20 feet? And if auto was working, why do I have to switch to M to get correct exposure? Obviously I am within the Guide number range because M works just fine. Come on Canon - fix the problem.

1.03 makes automatic flash exposures better, but the exposures are still underexposed.
 
Techblast said:
Hmm,

Did the upgrade myself. Before with 1.02 I would get some really
underexposed pictures with my 580EX/ Rebel Xt set on fully
automatic. M is the only flash mode I'll use (trust) and the
results are very good. Typically I shoot at 1/60th of a sec, 2nd
curtain sync, center weighted average on the meter ( I guess that
don't matter if I am selecting shutter and F stop).

OK. with 1.03 I notice "better" or LESS underexposure - so your
observations are correct. M is still the same - good or normal
exposures.
Click to expand...
Even when you shoot M [I always use M for flash except for fill], there is a matter of the preflash being evaluated and the camera deciding at what output to fire the main flash. I think that is what has improved .

I will still will use M. I think Canon's Software
Techblast said:
engineers have over active minds and in theory have a good concept
for automatic flash photography. However in practice the actual
results are proof that their calculations don't correspond with the
real world. I mean how much more of a Flash do I need than a 580EX
on my Rebel XT to get good rich flash exposures inside a house
where most shots are between 5 and 20 feet? And if auto was
working, why do I have to switch to M to get correct exposure?
Obviously I am within the Guide number range because M works just
fine. Come on Canon - fix the problem.

1.03 makes automatic flash exposures better, but the exposures are
still underexposed.
Click to expand...
--
Regards,

Deepak

http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
 
We're you getting underexposed shots on M with 1.02 firmware? At first I used fully automatic with my Xt and 580ex Speedlite with 1.02 firmware. I would get in a shooting situation and every shot was dark. It was quite frustrating especially being only 10 feet away. The problem seemed worse with ultra wide angle lenses as the autofocus LED's seemed to always want to lock on the nearest object. I suspect the Camera would then optimize for the nearest object leaving everything else underexposed. Then I read here in another forum that "M" was providing good flash exposures and yes the results are very good. BUT if you look at the overall photo there will be "spots" that are overexposed. So I guess this is what Canon is trying to eliminate.

I will have to look again. But I don't see anything changed with "M" from 1.02/1.03 firmware, I do see a better exposures using fully automatic with 1.03, but not enough that I would shoot fully automatic.

:)
 
Techblast said:
We're you getting underexposed shots on M with 1.02 firmware? At
first I used fully automatic with my Xt and 580ex Speedlite with
1.02 firmware. I would get in a shooting situation and every shot
was dark. It was quite frustrating especially being only 10 feet
away. The problem seemed worse with ultra wide angle lenses as the
autofocus LED's seemed to always want to lock on the nearest
object.
Click to expand...
Use a single point AF and you decide what to focus on.

I suspect the Camera would then optimize for the nearest
Techblast said:
object leaving everything else underexposed. Then I read here in
another forum that "M" was providing good flash exposures and yes
the results are very good. BUT if you look at the overall photo
there will be "spots" that are overexposed. So I guess this is what
Canon is trying to eliminate.

I will have to look again. But I don't see anything changed with
"M" from 1.02/1.03 firmware, I do see a better exposures using
fully automatic with 1.03, but not enough that I would shoot fully
automatic.
Click to expand...
Let me put it this way. I have not found the need to FEL after the upgrade. Prior to that I would have pretty varied exposures depending on what the active focus point was on at the time of preflash and I would often need to lock flash exposure on a midtone but now even without FEL exposures are better
Techblast said:
:)
Click to expand...
--
Regards,

Deepak

http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
 
Techblast said:
We're you getting underexposed shots on M with 1.02 firmware? At
first I used fully automatic with my Xt and 580ex Speedlite with
1.02 firmware. I would get in a shooting situation and every shot
was dark. It was quite frustrating especially being only 10 feet
away. The problem seemed worse with ultra wide angle lenses as the
autofocus LED's seemed to always want to lock on the nearest
object.
Click to expand...
The camera still has the confirmed problem that it can't read your mind.
Don't blame the camera for selecting the wrong subject to focus on.

And wrong focus will cause wrong exposure and the XT, due to the distance information being used.
Techblast said:
I suspect the Camera would then optimize for the nearest
object leaving everything else underexposed.
Click to expand...
You're using flash. Only ONE subject can be correctly exposed. Anything in front of it, will be overexposed, anything behind will be underexposed. That's the nature of flash. It's simply physics. Nothing Canon can do to change that.

You can only partly compensate for that by bouncing.
Techblast said:
Then I read here in
another forum that "M" was providing good flash exposures and yes
the results are very good. BUT if you look at the overall photo
there will be "spots" that are overexposed. So I guess this is what
Canon is trying to eliminate.
Click to expand...
Small overexposure somewhere in the scene in flash shots is quite normal. It happens to any object closer then the subject, and in reflections of flash light. This can NOT be elimated.
 
I hoped the upgrade to 1.0.3 would solve my problems with underexposure and flash, but sadly nothing has changed. Every shot is underexposed by 1 to 1 1/3 stops, regardless of subject, whether I use the built-in flash or my Sigma 500 Super DG, Program or Manual, grey card or not.

My only option is to use +1 FEC all the time. I can understand Canon wanting to expose in order to preserve highlights but a whole stop surely isn't right.
 
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