DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Opinions on FV mode

Started Feb 25, 2019 | Polls
analogue Regular Member • Posts: 238
Opinions on FV mode
1

I've had EOS R for couple months now but only just recently have started to mess with FV mode.

I think it might just become my favourite mode on EOS R.

I usually shoot in AV or M but hate setting aperture with the heavy weighted thumb wheel (old style circular thumb wheel used to be such a joy before on Canon DSLR btw!).

The new FV paradigm I'm finding is a bit more comfortable ergonomically and the horizontal exposure layout makes a lot of sense actually.

I've set bringing back to auto & full auto to the arrow keys as recommended.

Still going to need a little bit of muscle memory to be 100% at ease with this new way of shooting but I think it might be my new default.

I'm curious as to what do others think of FV mode on EOS R/RP?

 analogue's gear list:analogue's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Leica M9-P Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS R6 Canon EF 35mm F1.4L USM +7 more
POLL
FV is the bomb!
55.6% 30  votes
I still prefer shooting in M / AV / TV / P.
22.2% 12  votes
Haven't given FV a go yet.
22.2% 12  votes
  Show results
gimp_dad Senior Member • Posts: 2,692
Re: Opinions on FV mode
1

analogue wrote:

I've had EOS R for couple months now but only just recently have started to mess with FV mode.

I think it might just become my favourite mode on EOS R.

I usually shoot in AV or M but hate setting aperture with the heavy weighted thumb wheel (old style circular thumb wheel used to be such a joy before on Canon DSLR btw!).

The new FV paradigm I'm finding is a bit more comfortable ergonomically and the horizontal exposure layout makes a lot of sense actually.

I've set bringing back to auto & full auto to the arrow keys as recommended.

Still going to need a little bit of muscle memory to be 100% at ease with this new way of shooting but I think it might be my new default.

I'm curious as to what do others think of FV mode on EOS R/RP?

Same here. It's already become my primary mode. Great solution that ties in nicely to mirror-less design. I'm now finding it hard to find a case where I don't want to use it. Was primarily an Av shooter for last 15 years with M sometimes.

RichW Forum Pro • Posts: 12,933
Re: Opinions on FV mode

I used Tv and Av for many years.  This makes keeping track of what mode I'm in much easier now.  Excellent.

 RichW's gear list:RichW's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM +7 more
Shaun Gibbs
Shaun Gibbs Contributing Member • Posts: 560
Re: Opinions on FV mode

Just been playing with it today and I love it, but the only quirky thing is...

I set it up for:

TV = Auto

Av = F/4.0 (my widest aperture on the 24-105)

EC = 0 (have that on the control ring anyway)

ISO = Auto

Registered into C3. Works great when switching to C3. Those values are honoured. F4

But...

If you change any values during photo taking e.g. TV, ISO, AV, EC and then Right Arrow to reset them back to AUTO, it doesn't honour the programmed C3 settings e.g. the aperture will become F/4.5 and not F/4.0.

If you then switch to any other mode and then back to C3, it will honour your programmed settings I.e. back to F4

Maybe a fix in firmware hopefully, but apart from that, I think it is great and very FLEXIBLE.

Great innovation by Canon.

-- hide signature --

www.instagram.com/shaungibbsphotography

 Shaun Gibbs's gear list:Shaun Gibbs's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +5 more
RLight Senior Member • Posts: 4,418
Not a fan. Good idea though. C1-C3 are better ideas in my book
1

Not a fan.

Fv is slower and more frustrating actually to achieve what I would otherwise accomplish in PASM as others have noted.

C1-C3 btw, although an advanced feature, are very quick for bringing up not just your favorite mode, but, it's accompanying settings. I have for example C2 assigned to Av with a minimum shutter of 1/250 for my 85mm f/1.4 and I've assigned the AF button to switching between Single and AI Servo so I can quickly bring up eye-AF or prioritize tracking with facial which is pretty good even at f/1.4. Likewise I have all correction off as I use a third party lens in that mode.

However, I'll give Canon 10 points for coming up with something new that'll be useful for more novice shooters, or advanced shooters that prefer that route. I personally don't.

I am a huge fan of the control ring / control ring adapter as it's another dial.

Likewise, although I'm not a huge fan of the M-FN bar, I do use it for quick image accept/reject in preview/review mode by assigning the right click to favorite so I'll quickly tag keepers as favorite and then when I ingest in DPP4 on my MacBook, I'll filter on favorite and archive the rest to external. Very quick way to sort and can be used in line at McDonalds, etc for sorting/culling images.

Fv though I don't find a use for, yet (maybe I'll reconsider/re-try).

 RLight's gear list:RLight's gear list
Canon EOS R3 Canon EOS R50 Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM Canon RF-S 18-45mm Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM
sobrien
sobrien Senior Member • Posts: 1,756
Re: Opinions on FV mode

Shaun Gibbs wrote:

Just been playing with it today and I love it, but the only quirky thing is...

I set it up for:

TV = Auto

Av = F/4.0 (my widest aperture on the 24-105)

EC = 0 (have that on the control ring anyway)

ISO = Auto

Registered into C3. Works great when switching to C3. Those values are honoured. F4

But...

If you change any values during photo taking e.g. TV, ISO, AV, EC and then Right Arrow to reset them back to AUTO, it doesn't honour the programmed C3 settings e.g. the aperture will become F/4.5 and not F/4.0.

If you then switch to any other mode and then back to C3, it will honour your programmed settings I.e. back to F4

Maybe a fix in firmware hopefully, but apart from that, I think it is great and very FLEXIBLE.

Great innovation by Canon.

I don't think that is quirky or something that should/will be fixed in firmware.

Reset to auto does exactly what is says on the tin - resets everything to "auto".

It is not a "reset to whatever values I have stored as a starting point in the custom mode I happen to be in, some of which may be auto and some of which may be fixed values" button. That would be a totally different button. I'm not saying it wouldn't be useful - it would - though it is addressing a different issue.

-- hide signature --

"The simple things are also the most extraordinary things and only the wise can see them."
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135843555@N03/

 sobrien's gear list:sobrien's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon Extender EF 2x III +16 more
Shaun Gibbs
Shaun Gibbs Contributing Member • Posts: 560
Re: Opinions on FV mode

sobrien wrote:

Shaun Gibbs wrote:

Just been playing with it today and I love it, but the only quirky thing is...

I set it up for:

TV = Auto

Av = F/4.0 (my widest aperture on the 24-105)

EC = 0 (have that on the control ring anyway)

ISO = Auto

Registered into C3. Works great when switching to C3. Those values are honoured. F4

But...

If you change any values during photo taking e.g. TV, ISO, AV, EC and then Right Arrow to reset them back to AUTO, it doesn't honour the programmed C3 settings e.g. the aperture will become F/4.5 and not F/4.0.

If you then switch to any other mode and then back to C3, it will honour your programmed settings I.e. back to F4

Maybe a fix in firmware hopefully, but apart from that, I think it is great and very FLEXIBLE.

Great innovation by Canon.

I don't think that is quirky or something that should/will be fixed in firmware.

Reset to auto does exactly what is says on the tin - resets everything to "auto".

It is not a "reset to whatever values I have stored as a starting point in the custom mode I happen to be in, some of which may be auto and some of which may be fixed values" button. That would be a totally different button. I'm not saying it wouldn't be useful - it would - though it is addressing a different issue.

Thanks, yeah I understand that and it makes sense.

I'll try with a few different lenses to see what AV it chooses automatically. It would be great if it chose wide open or as close as for each lens.

-- hide signature --

www.instagram.com/shaungibbsphotography

 Shaun Gibbs's gear list:Shaun Gibbs's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +5 more
RLight Senior Member • Posts: 4,418
Giving it a chance

I'm giving Fv another go... After I realized Auto on the R does not permit DLO or Distortion corrections (Yes, I use Auto when I'm being lazy, which happens a lot these days). Thus I went to P. And then I realized, Fv represents P+. Then you realize Fv starts to make sense for being lazy but quickly becoming not lazy when you want.

I still have C modes which get used for specific shooting. But, I can see Fv possibly taking the place of where I would use Tv/Av/M. Need to play with it more and play around with settings but it's not bad. First impression was just all wrong. Then again I could say the same of the R. My impression of it too was bad. Sometimes you need to give things a chance...

Suddenly btw, I can see why Ken Rockwell uses Fv as his base on M modes. You can setup minimum / maximum ISOs and shutters and couple that with Fv? That's a mean green killing machine.

I still feel this would work even better once Canon releases their long promised firmware upgrade which should improve what you can do with M-FN and the control rings.

 RLight's gear list:RLight's gear list
Canon EOS R3 Canon EOS R50 Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM Canon RF-S 18-45mm Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM
RLight Senior Member • Posts: 4,418
Changed my vote
1

True confession, changed my vote. Fv is very useful. Takes a little bit of getting used to, little, not much, but you have to give it a chance. Glad I did.

 RLight's gear list:RLight's gear list
Canon EOS R3 Canon EOS R50 Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM Canon RF-S 18-45mm Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM
juanmaasecas Senior Member • Posts: 1,497
Re: Opinions on FV mode

Just bought the eos r today and I was falling in love with the FV mode until I realised the minimum shutter speed for auto iso is ignored... 😢

 juanmaasecas's gear list:juanmaasecas's gear list
Canon EOS M50 Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art +4 more
Phylloxera Regular Member • Posts: 256
Re: Opinions on FV mode

After a lot of tests I finally came to Fv.

Since I try to avoid/hate the thumb wheel I adapted the M-Fn-bar for Fv-select whose four possible steps can be controlled better than most of the other M-fn-bar applications. To reset to auto Fv I its left and right arrows are used (reset all/one) and thus two arrow buttons are available for other settings.

If you touch the bar by accident it won't ruin the following takes.

 Phylloxera's gear list:Phylloxera's gear list
PTGui Pro
Shaun Gibbs
Shaun Gibbs Contributing Member • Posts: 560
Re: Opinions on FV mode

juanmaasecas wrote:

Just bought the eos r today and I was falling in love with the FV mode until I realised the minimum shutter speed for auto iso is ignored... 😢

Yes, indeed, it doesn't honour the minimum shutter speed as set in Auto ISO settings.

The options are to set a min shutter speed manually e.g. 1/125 when using Fv mode or Use Av mode.

I have my Mf.n button set to cycle through Av, C1, C2 & C3 modes for that reason.

-- hide signature --

www.instagram.com/shaungibbsphotography

 Shaun Gibbs's gear list:Shaun Gibbs's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +5 more
hwzjerry Regular Member • Posts: 178
Re: Opinions on FV mode

I have 2 gripes with FV mode, so hopefully Canon will be able to improve it in the future.

FIrst, the shutter speed doesn't follow the Auto ISO minimum shutter speed. Enough has been said about it.

Secondly, if I'm changing Aperture, Shutter and ISO off auto, the exposure compensation bar doesn't indicate exposure, like normal Manual mode does. I don't know what the metered value for exposure is. Only way to have an idea is to have histogram active.

So, hopefully Canon is able to implement a few improvements for FV mode to be usable for me.

 hwzjerry's gear list:hwzjerry's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM +17 more
jmg621 New Member • Posts: 6
Re: Opinions on FV mode

hwzjerry wrote:

I have 2 gripes with FV mode, so hopefully Canon will be able to improve it in the future.

FIrst, the shutter speed doesn't follow the Auto ISO minimum shutter speed. Enough has been said about it.

Secondly, if I'm changing Aperture, Shutter and ISO off auto, the exposure compensation bar doesn't indicate exposure, like normal Manual mode does. I don't know what the metered value for exposure is. Only way to have an idea is to have histogram active.

So, hopefully Canon is able to implement a few improvements for FV mode to be usable for me.

The second point was my major issue with Fv mode as well.

 jmg621's gear list:jmg621's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM +1 more
Desertbilly New Member • Posts: 21
Re: Opinions on FV mode

I like it and use it most of the time. I usually have Aperture on the lens control ring. I hope the mode is in future bodies.

 Desertbilly's gear list:Desertbilly's gear list
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 5DS R Leica M10 Canon EOS R Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art +3 more
frisbfreek Regular Member • Posts: 123
Re: Opinions on FV mode

I would love FV mode if I could use the touchbar to move between SS/Ap/EC/ISO instead of the back wheel. I like keeping my back wheel on dedicated Exp Comp. Just a little bit more customizability Canon!

 frisbfreek's gear list:frisbfreek's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro +1 more
Dan W Senior Member • Posts: 1,154
I don't get it?

OK, I just had to read up on the Fv mode and tried it out. I'm not sure the usefulness for me. If I'm using studio light/s I use manual. ISO and shutter speed are a constant. Otherwise I'm using Av mode to control DOF, again ISO set to the lighting available. If it's contrasty light I go back to fully manual and not rely on the camera meter to do what it thinks I want. But mostly I'm in Av when doing travel or casual stuff. Even lazy shooting I'm in Av. lol

I'm curious why you would need to switch back and forth on the run. Of course I switch back and forth but I setup the camera for what I'm doing that day or shoot. Even run and gun like at events I use Av out doors or Manual indoors and just let TTL hopefully make good decisions on the fill.

Some people seem to love it and that's great but I must be missing something I guess.

 Dan W's gear list:Dan W's gear list
Canon EOS R5 Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM +3 more
sobrien
sobrien Senior Member • Posts: 1,756
Re: Opinions on FV mode

frisbfreek wrote:

I would love FV mode if I could use the touchbar to move between SS/Ap/EC/ISO instead of the back wheel. I like keeping my back wheel on dedicated Exp Comp. Just a little bit more customizability Canon!

Hmmm, I’m pretty sure that’s one of the few things you can actually use the M-Fn bar to do.

-- hide signature --

"The simple things are also the most extraordinary things and only the wise can see them."
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135843555@N03/

 sobrien's gear list:sobrien's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon Extender EF 2x III +16 more
frisbfreek Regular Member • Posts: 123
Re: Opinions on FV mode

sobrien wrote:

frisbfreek wrote:

I would love FV mode if I could use the touchbar to move between SS/Ap/EC/ISO instead of the back wheel. I like keeping my back wheel on dedicated Exp Comp. Just a little bit more customizability Canon!

Hmmm, I’m pretty sure that’s one of the few things you can actually use the M-Fn bar to do.

I misspoke -- I would like the touchbar to move between SS/Ap/EC/ISO ANDkeep my back wheel dedicated to Exp Comp. If you're saying the latter is possible, let me know!

 frisbfreek's gear list:frisbfreek's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EF 70-200mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro +1 more
sobrien
sobrien Senior Member • Posts: 1,756
Re: Opinions on FV mode
1

frisbfreek wrote:

sobrien wrote:

frisbfreek wrote:

I would love FV mode if I could use the touchbar to move between SS/Ap/EC/ISO instead of the back wheel. I like keeping my back wheel on dedicated Exp Comp. Just a little bit more customizability Canon!

Hmmm, I’m pretty sure that’s one of the few things you can actually use the M-Fn bar to do.

I misspoke -- I would like the touchbar to move between SS/Ap/EC/ISO ANDkeep my back wheel dedicated to Exp Comp. If you're saying the latter is possible, let me know!

Sorry, I think you’re out of luck there! Yes, I agree that it would be good to give you that option. Fair point.

I use Fv mode but keep exposure comp on the lens control ring which I find works well.

-- hide signature --

"The simple things are also the most extraordinary things and only the wise can see them."
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135843555@N03/

 sobrien's gear list:sobrien's gear list
Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon Extender EF 2x III +16 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads