R3 tips, tricks and advice.

[Chimpy boy]

Having purchased a R3 and found the guides available to be awful I thought it might be useful to start this thread for all you people who've sold a kidney or 2 and purchased an EOS R3.

I'll start the ball rolling with something that was driving me mad trying to find in the awful guides.

How to change the flexible zones AF areas !

1. Press the AF select button on the back top right of the camera ( a square with a dotted +) and select flexible AF zone 1, 2 or 3.

2. Next press the rate button back top left.

3. Adjust the size and shape of the area using the adjustment wheels (the one on the back of the camera body and the other by the shutter button, when you are happy with the size and shape of the AF area press the set button (the middle of the back adjustment wheel.

I hope this helps you R3 users out there. Please post and share anything on the R3 you think might be helpful. Cheers Chimpy.

 

[gimp_dad]

Sorry for just throwing out a stream of consciousness tip on here but just discovered that the custom modes don't store the "Silent Shooting" state. So if you set that value while shooting it is preserved across all of your custom modes. I have

• C1 for animals in action (1/2000s, animal eye, auto ISO, wide open aperture, electronic 30fps shutter)
• C2 human sports (1/800s, people eye, auto ISO, wide open aperture, electronic shutter at 30fps)
• C3 human candid or portrait (1/160, people eye, auto ISO, mechanical shutter)

Was shooting a granddaughter at a ballet and used Fv with "Silent Shooting" set. All 3 of the above modes were saved without "Silent Shooting" set (the electronic shutter cases give the artificial noise). After the ballet, I went to C3 and it overrode the mechanical shutter and everything so it could be silent. C1 and C2 also had the artificial shutter noise muted. Once I turned off "Silent Shooting" all three modes made noise and C3 automatically went back to being mechanical shutter.

I wasn't expecting this behavior and it's worth noting since you lose some dynamic range in electronic shutter mode. If you have a mode where you expect the best DR (e.g. your landscape or portrait mode) you will want to make sure you manually turn off Silent Shooting.

It might be interesting to compile a list of features which are not saved to the custom mode registry.

 

[Chimpy boy]

Sorry for just throwing out a stream of consciousness tip on here but just discovered that the custom modes don't store the "Silent Shooting" state. So if you set that value while shooting it is preserved across all of your custom modes. I have

• C1 for animals in action (1/2000s, animal eye, auto ISO, wide open aperture, electronic 30fps shutter)
• C2 human sports (1/800s, people eye, auto ISO, wide open aperture, electronic shutter at 30fps)
• C3 human candid or portrait (1/160, people eye, auto ISO, mechanical shutter)

Was shooting a granddaughter at a ballet and used Fv with "Silent Shooting" set. All 3 of the above modes were saved without "Silent Shooting" set (the electronic shutter cases give the artificial noise). After the ballet, I went to C3 and it overrode the mechanical shutter and everything so it could be silent. C1 and C2 also had the artificial shutter noise muted. Once I turned off "Silent Shooting" all three modes made noise and C3 automatically went back to being mechanical shutter.

I wasn't expecting this behavior and it's worth noting since you lose some dynamic range in electronic shutter mode. If you have a mode where you expect the best DR (e.g. your landscape or portrait mode) you will want to make sure you manually turn off Silent Shooting.

It might be interesting to compile a list of features which are not saved to the custom mode registry.

Nice one mate, just a quick question did you have the auto update set on the "C" mode function ? If not this may keep the settings from reverting back to saved values.

 

[gimp_dad]

Sorry for just throwing out a stream of consciousness tip on here but just discovered that the custom modes don't store the "Silent Shooting" state. So if you set that value while shooting it is preserved across all of your custom modes. I have

• C1 for animals in action (1/2000s, animal eye, auto ISO, wide open aperture, electronic 30fps shutter)
• C2 human sports (1/800s, people eye, auto ISO, wide open aperture, electronic shutter at 30fps)
• C3 human candid or portrait (1/160, people eye, auto ISO, mechanical shutter)

Was shooting a granddaughter at a ballet and used Fv with "Silent Shooting" set. All 3 of the above modes were saved without "Silent Shooting" set (the electronic shutter cases give the artificial noise). After the ballet, I went to C3 and it overrode the mechanical shutter and everything so it could be silent. C1 and C2 also had the artificial shutter noise muted. Once I turned off "Silent Shooting" all three modes made noise and C3 automatically went back to being mechanical shutter.

I wasn't expecting this behavior and it's worth noting since you lose some dynamic range in electronic shutter mode. If you have a mode where you expect the best DR (e.g. your landscape or portrait mode) you will want to make sure you manually turn off Silent Shooting.

It might be interesting to compile a list of features which are not saved to the custom mode registry.

Nice one mate, just a quick question did you have the auto update set on the "C" mode function ? If not this may keep the settings from reverting back to saved values.

No. I don't have auto update turned on. And it wasn't reverting. Silent Shooting is apparently unaffected by the custom mode setting. If it's on, it's on for every mode.

It's interesting because you can set and store the shutter mode (mechanical, efcs or electronic) in your custom settings (which is nice) but that setting can be overridden by the Silent Shooting mode.

 

[Hoka Hey]

If you use the Silent Shooting mode be aware that the shutter does not come down to protect the sensor when you turn the camera off.

You can turn the volume of the "shutter" all the way down in the regular ES mode and it will be silent AND the shutter will come down to protect the sensor when you turn the R3 off.

 

[gimp_dad]

If you use the Silent Shooting mode be aware that the shutter does not come down to protect the sensor when you turn the camera off.

You can turn the volume of the "shutter" all the way down in the regular ES mode and it will be silent AND the shutter will come down to protect the sensor when you turn the R3 off.

 

[Chimpy boy]

If you use the Silent Shooting mode be aware that the shutter does not come down to protect the sensor when you turn the camera off.

You can turn the volume of the "shutter" all the way down in the regular ES mode and it will be silent AND the shutter will come down to protect the sensor when you turn the R3 off.

Great tip Hoka Hey! I'm going to try that.

Another thing to note is that if you turn the "beep" off it turns all the sounds off not just the focus "beep" .

 

[Chimpy boy]

If you use the Silent Shooting mode be aware that the shutter does not come down to protect the sensor when you turn the camera off.

You can turn the volume of the "shutter" all the way down in the regular ES mode and it will be silent AND the shutter will come down to protect the sensor when you turn the R3 off.

Great tip Hoka Hey! I'm going to try that.

Another thing to note is that if you turn the "beep" off it turns all the sounds off not just the focus "beep" .

Here is a link for great screen protectors I got they are thick and not cheap thin film unlike some other products I have used. They fit perfectly and don't hinder the touch screen use. I hope this is useful ?

Screen Protector for Canon EOS R3 + Top [2+2Pack], ULBTER EOSR3 Tempered Glass Screen Protector 0.3mm High Definition 9H Hardness Anti-Scrach Anti-Bubble https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JMLB...abc_85X0Z6654PV15XZ38HCP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[tom b]

If you use the Silent Shooting mode be aware that the shutter does not come down to protect the sensor when you turn the camera off.

You can turn the volume of the "shutter" all the way down in the regular ES mode and it will be silent AND the shutter will come down to protect the sensor when you turn the R3 off.

Great tip Hoka Hey! I'm going to try that.

Another thing to note is that if you turn the "beep" off it turns all the sounds off not just the focus "beep" .

Here is a link for great screen protectors I got they are thick and not cheap thin film unlike some other products I have used. They fit perfectly and don't hinder the touch screen use. I hope this is useful ?

Screen Protector for Canon EOS R3 + Top [2+2Pack], ULBTER EOSR3 Tempered Glass Screen Protector 0.3mm High Definition 9H Hardness Anti-Scrach Anti-Bubble https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JMLB...abc_85X0Z6654PV15XZ38HCP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks, I was thinking about looking for one and this one was in stock.

 

[Hoka Hey]

This is a simple one that everybody else probably already knows.

I was having to turn the On/Off with my thumb and forefinger because it's so stiff. I was turning it from the right side of the camera with the white dot. I just realized that if I used the left side of the switch, I could easily flip it with only my thumb.

It the same operation as the Canon flash that I have, but I use flash so rarely that I had forgotten.

 

[Chimpy boy]

What do you R3 owners think of the servo eye tracking settings/ scenarios ? I have been playing around with them for a few days and up to now I think setting case 1 works very well for most subjects.

The thing I have noticed though is that the animal eye servo tracking doesn't seem to like it if the animal/bird is stationary ? To clarify if a bird is moving the AF pretty much sticks like glue but if the bird stops moving/perches then it can miss AF slightly on the odd shot, it's fractional but the shots can be off slightly.

These are my observations what do you guys think ?

P.s I'm shooting with the RF 100-500 with the latest firmware.

 

[spec68]

How is the eye-control AF with birds in trees? Does it recognize you are focusing on the bird, not the twig in the forfront?

 

[Chimpy boy]

How is the eye-control AF with birds in trees? Does it recognize you are focusing on the bird, not the twig in the forfront?

It works very well picking up birds in trees and locks on to the birds almost immediately. Here is a straight shot with no post processing.

The pigeon was about 50ft away up in a tree, the lens was the RF 100-500 mm at 500 mm, f9. 1,3200 sec at ISO 1,600. It was a grab shot and normally I would shoot at a lower shutter speed and low ISO but I grabbed the camera during a very rare burst of winter sun.

The camera picked out the pigeons eye perfectly.



I haven't had access to my PC to play with the files properly so hence all my shots having no PP on them, the files look really clean and sharp on my tablet so I imagine once processed they look a hell of a lot better.

 

[Hoka Hey]

What do you R3 owners think of the servo eye tracking settings/ scenarios ? I have been playing around with them for a few days and up to now I think setting case 1 works very well for most subjects.

The thing I have noticed though is that the animal eye servo tracking doesn't seem to like it if the animal/bird is stationary ? To clarify if a bird is moving the AF pretty much sticks like glue but if the bird stops moving/perches then it can miss AF slightly on the odd shot, it's fractional but the shots can be off slightly.

These are my observations what do you guys think ?

P.s I'm shooting with the RF 100-500 with the latest firmware.

For birds - Case 4 with -2 t and +2 a/d or Case Auto.

I’m getting excellent results with that lens on small birds. Im even having some success with SBIF with that combo which I could not get with the R5.

 

[Chimpy boy]

What do you R3 owners think of the servo eye tracking settings/ scenarios ? I have been playing around with them for a few days and up to now I think setting case 1 works very well for most subjects.

The thing I have noticed though is that the animal eye servo tracking doesn't seem to like it if the animal/bird is stationary ? To clarify if a bird is moving the AF pretty much sticks like glue but if the bird stops moving/perches then it can miss AF slightly on the odd shot, it's fractional but the shots can be off slightly.

These are my observations what do you guys think ?

P.s I'm shooting with the RF 100-500 with the latest firmware.

For birds - Case 4 with -2 t and +2 a/d or Case Auto.

I’m getting excellent results with that lens on small birds. Im even having some success with SBIF with that combo which I could not get with the R5.

 

[Fred Greaves]

Thanks Chimp Boy for starting this discussion.

I wish I had some unique R3 tip to add, but really appreciate all the great tips shared by everyone else!!

 

[Chimpy boy]

1. Fred Greaves wrote:

Thanks Chimp Boy for starting this discussion.

I wish I had some unique R3 tip to add, but really appreciate all the great tips shared by everyone else!!

 

[Barney Hamilton]

Having purchased a R3 and found the guides available to be awful I thought it might be useful to start this thread for all you people who've sold a kidney or 2 and purchased an EOS R3.

I'll start the ball rolling with something that was driving me mad trying to find in the awful guides.

How to change the flexible zones AF areas !

1. Press the AF select button on the back top right of the camera ( a square with a dotted +) and select flexible AF zone 1, 2 or 3.

2. Next press the rate button back top left.

3. Adjust the size and shape of the area using the adjustment wheels (the one on the back of the camera body and the other by the shutter button, when you are happy with the size and shape of the AF area press the set button (the middle of the back adjustment wheel.

I hope this helps you R3 users out there. Please post and share anything on the R3 you think might be helpful. Cheers Chimpy.

Thank you for this!

I must be doing something really daft though - when I try this, I the area refuses to change - the dials just make changes to aperture etc as per normal, even though I am holding the rate button.

I have definitely chosen a flexible AF area... Is there a setting elsewhere that locks this area? Or that takes away the rate button's functionality?

 

[Chimpy boy]

Having purchased a R3 and found the guides available to be awful I thought it might be useful to start this thread for all you people who've sold a kidney or 2 and purchased an EOS R3.

I'll start the ball rolling with something that was driving me mad trying to find in the awful guides.

How to change the flexible zones AF areas !

1. Press the AF select button on the back top right of the camera ( a square with a dotted +) and select flexible AF zone 1, 2 or 3.

2. Next press the rate button back top left.

3. Adjust the size and shape of the area using the adjustment wheels (the one on the back of the camera body and the other by the shutter button, when you are happy with the size and shape of the AF area press the set button (the middle of the back adjustment wheel.

I hope this helps you R3 users out there. Please post and share anything on the R3 you think might be helpful. Cheers Chimpy.

Thank you for this!

I must be doing something really daft though - when I try this, I the area refuses to change - the dials just make changes to aperture etc as per normal, even though I am holding the rate button.

I have definitely chosen a flexible AF area... Is there a setting elsewhere that locks this area? Or that takes away the rate button's functionality?

Hi Barney I found the instructions on how to resize the flexible AF area in the instructions here is a screenshot I hope it helps you? Page 437/8 if you have the guide.

 

[Barney Hamilton]

Having purchased a R3 and found the guides available to be awful I thought it might be useful to start this thread for all you people who've sold a kidney or 2 and purchased an EOS R3.

I'll start the ball rolling with something that was driving me mad trying to find in the awful guides.

How to change the flexible zones AF areas !

1. Press the AF select button on the back top right of the camera ( a square with a dotted +) and select flexible AF zone 1, 2 or 3.

2. Next press the rate button back top left.

3. Adjust the size and shape of the area using the adjustment wheels (the one on the back of the camera body and the other by the shutter button, when you are happy with the size and shape of the AF area press the set button (the middle of the back adjustment wheel.

I hope this helps you R3 users out there. Please post and share anything on the R3 you think might be helpful. Cheers Chimpy.

Thank you for this!

I must be doing something really daft though - when I try this, I the area refuses to change - the dials just make changes to aperture etc as per normal, even though I am holding the rate button.

I have definitely chosen a flexible AF area... Is there a setting elsewhere that locks this area? Or that takes away the rate button's functionality?

Hi Barney I found the instructions on how to resize the flexible AF area in the instructions here is a screenshot I hope it helps you? Page 437/8 if you have the guide.

Thank you!

And now I discovered the cause of why it wouldn't work for me: if you customise the AF point button to Direct AF Area selection (which I had done) then the flexible AF areas can't be changed with the rate button.

However if you keep the AF point button on the default AF point selection choice, and use M-Fn to cycle through to AF flexible areas, then the custom size options come up!