50D histogram unreadable

[stevehuyho]

I upgraded from a 20D to the 50D. Canon finally issued a compelling upgrade!

I had a moment of frustration when it first appeared my remote cord wouldn't plug into the socket. After a bit I figured out Canon reversed the orientation. The plug on the remote cord faces forward on the 50D. Why they would do that is a mystery but no more than a mild annoyannce.

I am, however, very frustrated by the histogram display. It is functionally unreadable in outdoor light and barely readable indoors. The histograms themselves are bright enough, but it is impossible to see the boundaries of the box the histogram is inside of. There are four very faint lines that you can sometimes just barely make out that divide the display into 5 sections. But it is impossible to see the outside edge.

I hope this is something that Canon can fix with firmware. They either need to indicate the edges of the histogram display with obvious white lines, or lighten the shade of gray inside the histogram so you can distiguish it from the black background.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

 

[DRG]

The histograms themselves are bright enough, but it is impossible to
see the boundaries of the box the histogram is inside of.

I make extensive use of the histogram, so this concerns me as I consider upgrading my camera body. It's obviously hard to judge outdoor viewing when evaluating a camera inside a store. So let me ask this: is this truly a long-term problem or is it possible that you can focus attention for a few minutes on noting (visually memorizing) where the boundaries of the histogram sit (perhaps in reference to other information) so that you don't need to actually see them well to know where they are?

David

 

[Ron Whitaker]

I shoot-to-the-right and use histograms all the time. On my 50D I am experiencing the same thing.

My coping mechanism is to recognize the right of the histogram is exactly 1/2 way through the CF icon and that the data below shows the line of the histogram right edge. Not exact but a little helpful to me.

I do hope it can be fixed.
--

RonWhitaker.ca

 

[lukx]

Is it harder to read histogram on 50D compared to 40D?
--
http://lukx.zenfolio.com/
http://www.lukx.com/

 

[T_smith]

--
Its the same on all their bodies now. The histogram needs a border around it.

 

[stevehuyho]

The histograms float on a black background so it really isn't possible to memorize the exact boundaries. I'm considering putting a line of tape around the box since I too really rely on the histogram display.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

 

[stevehuyho]

Good suggestions. I had been enjoying the RGB histogram displays but the brightness histogram at the bottom really seemed to float in a sea of darkness.

I think I'll go back to using just the brightness display. Like you observed, in the display the right side of the histogram lines up with the edge of the other information directly below.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

 

[Orcatek]

I just use a hoodman loop. Works great outdoors for just this problem. It would be nice if they could put a nice border on it though, as it is impossible to see outdoors.

--
Dean
http://www.Orcatek.com

 

[Stollen123]

you seems to be a lot frustrated...relax do excercise do streching and yoga drink at least 8 galsses of water a day take multi and fish oil healthy diet with a lot of veggies fruits nuts and seeds...this could help for sure

I upgraded from a 20D to the 50D. Canon finally issued a compelling
upgrade!

I had a moment of frustration when it first appeared my remote cord
wouldn't plug into the socket. After a bit I figured out Canon
reversed the orientation. The plug on the remote cord faces forward
on the 50D. Why they would do that is a mystery but no more than a
mild annoyannce.

I am, however, very frustrated by the histogram display. It is
functionally unreadable in outdoor light and barely readable indoors.
The histograms themselves are bright enough, but it is impossible to
see the boundaries of the box the histogram is inside of. There are
four very faint lines that you can sometimes just barely make out
that divide the display into 5 sections. But it is impossible to see
the outside edge.

I hope this is something that Canon can fix with firmware. They
either need to indicate the edges of the histogram display with
obvious white lines, or lighten the shade of gray inside the
histogram so you can distiguish it from the black background.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

 

[f64]

I met a Pro once who marked the right-hand side with a piece of tape.
--
Greg Koop

 

[J A K]

on on the LCD cover (at the right side edge of the histogram display) on all my bodies just to see that edge when I'm shooting outdoors.

Minus the scratch mark I'm forced to always turn my back to the sun and cover the LCD with my hat; I always wear one and this approach works great unless I'm wearing a white shirt. Unfortunately a white shirt will reflect off the LCD display surface when I'm looking down (you know, while the hat on my head). What's really tragic about my situation is I always wear white to keep cool. .. :-( The new symbol for d@mned if you do and d@mned if you don't.

You know what, I should just get off my lazy rear end, go find a nice sharp metal scribe, and put that scratch mark I was talking about on the LCD. Actually, I might as well wait until my 30 day Amazon refund/exchange period times out; how's that for justifiable procrastination?

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT

 

[Ghozer]

Interesting. I've never been a fan of the histogram display on Canon cameras but the LCD is so much better on the 50D that I can't see how it could possibly be anything but easier to see in sunlight. I've got the 50D but unfortunately the weather was too crappy to take pictures last weekend and this weekend is shaping up to be a real stinker too. :-(

I upgraded from a 20D to the 50D. Canon finally issued a compelling
upgrade!

I had a moment of frustration when it first appeared my remote cord
wouldn't plug into the socket. After a bit I figured out Canon
reversed the orientation. The plug on the remote cord faces forward
on the 50D. Why they would do that is a mystery but no more than a
mild annoyannce.

I am, however, very frustrated by the histogram display. It is
functionally unreadable in outdoor light and barely readable indoors.
The histograms themselves are bright enough, but it is impossible to
see the boundaries of the box the histogram is inside of. There are
four very faint lines that you can sometimes just barely make out
that divide the display into 5 sections. But it is impossible to see
the outside edge.

I hope this is something that Canon can fix with firmware. They
either need to indicate the edges of the histogram display with
obvious white lines, or lighten the shade of gray inside the
histogram so you can distiguish it from the black background.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

--
Cheers,
Doug

http://doglesby.zenfolio.com/

 

[DRG]

Wouldn't a narrow sliver of (clear) tape be a better alternative to marring the LCD window?

 

[Doug J]

Mark the boundaries with a fine tip Sharpie, if you find it wears off often then mark the display and put a piece of LCD protection film over it. Alternatively, put a piece of LCD protection film on the left & right sides of the boundaries.

--
Best regards,
Doug
http://pbase.com/dougj

 

[chevysales]

I upgraded from a 20D to the 50D. Canon finally issued a compelling
upgrade!

I had a moment of frustration when it first appeared my remote cord
wouldn't plug into the socket. After a bit I figured out Canon
reversed the orientation. The plug on the remote cord faces forward
on the 50D. Why they would do that is a mystery but no more than a
mild annoyannce.

I am, however, very frustrated by the histogram display. It is
functionally unreadable in outdoor light and barely readable indoors.
The histograms themselves are bright enough, but it is impossible to
see the boundaries of the box the histogram is inside of. There are
four very faint lines that you can sometimes just barely make out
that divide the display into 5 sections. But it is impossible to see
the outside edge.

I hope this is something that Canon can fix with firmware. They
either need to indicate the edges of the histogram display with
obvious white lines, or lighten the shade of gray inside the
histogram so you can distiguish it from the black background.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

same way the 40d is too..but one gets used to it.
--

Forty Dee (soon to be Fifty Dee) paired with the Seventy-Two Hundred IS f4L and the Seventeen-FiftyFive IS f2.8 capped off with B+W MRC UV filters and a few Kaesemann Circular Polarizers. All safely wrapped and easily carried in a Kata R102 backpack... constantly growing.

 

[J A K]

better alternative to scratching the LCD cover. Thanks for your great suggestion.

BTW, since it's your idea you now have to research what will be the best possible product to use ... you know, name, model number, etc. and links to a couple of reviews as well as a list of retailers that carry the product. We await your marching orders!

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT

 

[bronxbombers]

wow! i can't believe they did that again and that they have still not fixed that bug in the 40D!

as you say it is next to impossible to see where the critical last stop of highlights ends!

ridiculous, sometimes it makes you wonder what sort of QC and testing canon applies. It can't be by photographers....

I upgraded from a 20D to the 50D. Canon finally issued a compelling
upgrade!

I had a moment of frustration when it first appeared my remote cord
wouldn't plug into the socket. After a bit I figured out Canon
reversed the orientation. The plug on the remote cord faces forward
on the 50D. Why they would do that is a mystery but no more than a
mild annoyannce.

I am, however, very frustrated by the histogram display. It is
functionally unreadable in outdoor light and barely readable indoors.
The histograms themselves are bright enough, but it is impossible to
see the boundaries of the box the histogram is inside of. There are
four very faint lines that you can sometimes just barely make out
that divide the display into 5 sections. But it is impossible to see
the outside edge.

I hope this is something that Canon can fix with firmware. They
either need to indicate the edges of the histogram display with
obvious white lines, or lighten the shade of gray inside the
histogram so you can distiguish it from the black background.
--
Steven Huyser-Honig

 

[bronxbombers]

for the 40D and 50D

it's ridiculous, how hard would it be to add a white box around it or do something, anything ot make it visible. On the 20D it was perfectly useable in the sun.

 

[DRG]

BTW, since it's your idea you now have to research what will be the
best possible product to use ... you know, name, model number, etc.
and links to a couple of reviews as well as a list of retailers that
carry the product. We await your marching orders!

Well, maybe I'll sell that information at a good price to help pay for the upgrade cost from my 40D (assuming I decide to do so ... waiting for PhotoExpo NYC in 2 weeks to get to play with all the new equipment first).

David

 

[DRG]

Its the same on all their bodies now. The histogram needs a border
around it.

I don't have a 50D, but I can usually see at least some contrast indicating the end of the histogram on my 40D. A border would be much better, but I don't find things impossible. Has the original poster turned up the LCD brightness to max when using the camera in strong sun?

David