R6II 1.6 Firmware Flash Exposure Simulation Does Nothing

[Boo Radley]

I've tried looking this up, asking the AI, etc, but can't find any information. I normally use exposure simulation and am used to how that works (not at all) with OCF. I use a light meter most of the time so it doesn't matter. But everything acts the same as before and I've tried several combinations of things. I use a Godox trigger and strobe, so I'm wondering if I need the flash mounted on the camera? Not even sure how it can tell the difference. Anyhow, what am I missing? And however it works, does that involve a pre-flash every time you change flash power? I was looking forward to seeing how this works and if it would be useful. Apparently, others are having success.

Thank you,

Brian

 

[Ephemeris]

I've tried looking this up, asking the AI, etc, but can't find any information. I normally use exposure simulation and am used to how that works (not at all) with OCF. I use a light meter most of the time so it doesn't matter. But everything acts the same as before and I've tried several combinations of things. I use a Godox trigger and strobe, so I'm wondering if I need the flash mounted on the camera? Not even sure how it can tell the difference. Anyhow, what am I missing? And however it works, does that involve a pre-flash every time you change flash power? I was looking forward to seeing how this works and if it would be useful. Apparently, others are having success.

Thank you,

Brian

The advanced manual I think has been updated to version 1.5.0. it can be found here. Sorry I don't have the camera myself but perhaps the manual may help (sorry if you have already gone down this path).

https://www.canon.co.uk/support/consumer/products/cameras/eos-r/eos-r6-mark-ii.html

 

[Boo Radley]

Thank you. I haven't look at this yet. Funny it didn't come up in searches. Appreciate your help!

 

[Higgins2002]

Thank you. I haven't look at this yet. Funny it didn't come up in searches. Appreciate your help!

 

[rodc]

I've tried looking this up, asking the AI, etc, but can't find any information. I normally use exposure simulation and am used to how that works (not at all) with OCF. I use a light meter most of the time so it doesn't matter. But everything acts the same as before and I've tried several combinations of things. I use a Godox trigger and strobe, so I'm wondering if I need the flash mounted on the camera? Not even sure how it can tell the difference. Anyhow, what am I missing? And however it works, does that involve a pre-flash every time you change flash power? I was looking forward to seeing how this works and if it would be useful. Apparently, others are having success.

Thank you,

Brian

Did you ever get any success with this?
I have tried playing around with it on my R5II with v1.1.1 and don’t see any improvements with Flash Exposure Simulation.

 

[Boo Radley]

No. Someone in the comments gave me a link to the advanced manual, but it hasn't been updated since December. I assume eventually someone will make a YouTube video or something, but for now it just acts the same with the flash trigger on.

 

[Boo Radley]

Thank you for posting this, but what I'm asking about is flash exposure *simulation* in the EVF. Flash exposure simulation is a new feature in 1.6 but some people can't get it to work.

 

[Ephemeris]

Thank you for posting this, but what I'm asking about is flash exposure *simulation* in the EVF. Flash exposure simulation is a new feature in 1.6 but some people can't get it to work.

The manual sits at version 1.6 to match the firmware for the online version. Couldn't find anything above 1.5 to download. Probably my fault

Is it not described within it?

Try the online/interactive version.

https://cam.start.canon/en/C012/manual/html/index.html

 

[Higgins2002]

Thank you for posting this, but what I'm asking about is flash exposure *simulation* in the EVF. Flash exposure simulation is a new feature in 1.6 but some people can't get it to work.

If you have set the exposure comp. to be done with the speedlite then nothing happens when you try compensate in camera.

 

[Blindingly]

I've tried looking this up, asking the AI, etc, but can't find any information. I normally use exposure simulation and am used to how that works (not at all) with OCF. I use a light meter most of the time so it doesn't matter. But everything acts the same as before and I've tried several combinations of things. I use a Godox trigger and strobe, so I'm wondering if I need the flash mounted on the camera? Not even sure how it can tell the difference. Anyhow, what am I missing? And however it works, does that involve a pre-flash every time you change flash power? I was looking forward to seeing how this works and if it would be useful. Apparently, others are having success.

Thank you,

Brian

I have the R8, which has recently received the same update.

I don't have a trigger, my flash is in the hot shoe.

The update is rudimentary, it doesn't rely on pre-flash or anything sophisticated such as varying the brightness for different flash power, it simply brightens the screen so that you can see what's going on.

Test by setting to M, select a definite ISO (choose 100), select aperture and shutter speed to deliberately darken the scene. Now switch the flash to on and allow it to power up. On a further half press of the shutter button the darkened scene will light up to a "normal" lit view.

No amount of flash compensation, either up or down, will alter the screen brightness. It's a useful function, in line with the functionality I've had with my Fuji cameras for years, but it's not very sophisticated.

 

[Boo Radley]

Thank you. That is pretty rudimentary and probably not something I'd use. In the studio it's quite dark and I meter everything, so the camera (knowing there is a flash) just brightens the screen so I can see what I'm shooting. Outside I either meter for manual exposure or turn the hot shoe trigger off so I can get the ambient part right with the histogram, then turn the trigger back on and meter for flash percentage vs ambient. (I love that my Sekonic will tell me that.) Sometimes when a lot is going on I use ETTL because I don't have time to meter anything and deal with it in post. Probably too much info, but if this feature is as simple as you say I don't think it will help me, maybe the opposite if it can't be turned off. I hope it would use a pre-flash or something. Oh, well. Thanks again.

 

[Blindingly]

Thank you. That is pretty rudimentary and probably not something I'd use. In the studio it's quite dark and I meter everything, so the camera (knowing there is a flash) just brightens the screen so I can see what I'm shooting. Outside I either meter for manual exposure or turn the hot shoe trigger off so I can get the ambient part right with the histogram, then turn the trigger back on and meter for flash percentage vs ambient. (I love that my Sekonic will tell me that.) Sometimes when a lot is going on I use ETTL because I don't have time to meter anything and deal with it in post. Probably too much info, but if this feature is as simple as you say I don't think it will help me, maybe the opposite if it can't be turned off. I hope it would use a pre-flash or something. Oh, well. Thanks again.

Perhaps I'm missing something?!

When you say that "In the studio it's quite dark and I meter everything, so the camera (knowing there is a flash) just brightens the screen so I can see what I'm shooting". That's the feature, given by the f/w upgrade, that I'm describing.

Are you saying you've always had that functionally. or has the ability to do that come with this latest f/w upgrade? Personally I don't think it was there before the upgrade - but I may be wrong.

 

[Boo Radley]

No, what I describe has always been there. Exposure simulation turns off when you have a flash connected and it defaults to standard and just brightens the screen so you can see everything. Otherwise, if you were in a dark studio you'd have no idea what you were shooting since 100% of the light comes from the strobe. I have a modeling light so there is some light, but if the camera didn't turn off exposure simulation and I'm shooting at f8 or whatever I wouldn't be able to see anything through the viewfinder. I had an EOS R and it worked this way. I don't use ETTL in the studio, so don't know what it does when you change flash compensation, maybe that's what's new. But I've done hundreds of sessions and this is how it's always behaved since the R. I looked through the online manual someone linked to and nothing. I'm going to call them tomorrow and will let everyone know what I find out.

 

[Blindingly]

No, what I describe has always been there. Exposure simulation turns off when you have a flash connected and it defaults to standard and just brightens the screen so you can see everything. Otherwise, if you were in a dark studio you'd have no idea what you were shooting since 100% of the light comes from the strobe. I have a modeling light so there is some light, but if the camera didn't turn off exposure simulation and I'm shooting at f8 or whatever I wouldn't be able to see anything through the viewfinder. I had an EOS R and it worked this way. I don't use ETTL in the studio, so don't know what it does when you change flash compensation, maybe that's what's new. But I've done hundreds of sessions and this is how it's always behaved since the R. I looked through the online manual someone linked to and nothing. I'm going to call them tomorrow and will let everyone know what I find out.

I see. So what I've described has always been there, so please ignore my earlier post - I was missing something.

I hadn't noticed, but rarely, if ever, use manual.

 

[Ephemeris]

No, what I describe has always been there. Exposure simulation turns off when you have a flash connected and it defaults to standard and just brightens the screen so you can see everything. Otherwise, if you were in a dark studio you'd have no idea what you were shooting since 100% of the light comes from the strobe. I have a modeling light so there is some light, but if the camera didn't turn off exposure simulation and I'm shooting at f8 or whatever I wouldn't be able to see anything through the viewfinder. I had an EOS R and it worked this way. I don't use ETTL in the studio, so don't know what it does when you change flash compensation, maybe that's what's new. But I've done hundreds of sessions and this is how it's always behaved since the R. I looked through the online manual someone linked to and nothing. I'm going to call them tomorrow and will let everyone know what I find out.

I see. So what I've described has always been there, so please ignore my earlier post - I was missing something.

I hadn't noticed, but rarely, if ever, use manual.

This is the described change. When a flash is added in the past this wasn't possible on the bodies I've had (r, r5, r52)

1. Adds the ability to enable [Exposure Simulation] when a flash unit is attached.

 

[Boo Radley]

Yes, but this was my whole point. Flash trigger off, exp simulation works as usual. Flash trigger on, screen is constant brightness (exp compensation off) so you can see what's going on even in dark environments. With the trigger on if I adjust shutter, arp, flash power, etc- it does nothing to change screen brightness. Just like it's always worked. And I can't find a new menu option. As I mentioned, calling Canon tomorrow and will post what they say.

 

[Blindingly]

Yes, but this was my whole point. Flash trigger off, exp simulation works as usual. Flash trigger on, screen is constant brightness (exp compensation off) so you can see what's going on even in dark environments. With the trigger on if I adjust shutter, arp, flash power, etc- it does nothing to change screen brightness. Just like it's always worked. And I can't find a new menu option. As I mentioned, calling Canon tomorrow and will post what they say.

I took what I was seeing as the new function. You were saying it's always been that way. I was now agreeing.

 

[Ephemeris]

Yes, but this was my whole point. Flash trigger off, exp simulation works as usual. Flash trigger on, screen is constant brightness (exp compensation off) so you can see what's going on even in dark environments. With the trigger on if I adjust shutter, arp, flash power, etc- it does nothing to change screen brightness. Just like it's always worked. And I can't find a new menu option. As I mentioned, calling Canon tomorrow and will post what they say.

I couldn't find a specific change in the R52 1.1.0 manual (1.1.1 not yet available) related to this. Will hope Canon can provide a decent answer to you.

 

[Boo Radley]

Sorry- I think you were reading my reply to someone else. I don't use the forums much here, so I should start using names and quotes. All good. Will update tomorrow.

 

[Blindingly]

Sorry- I think you were reading my reply to someone else. I don't use the forums much here, so I should start using names and quotes. All good. Will update tomorrow.

Yes, sorry, I see now.

We don't have the same cameras, so perhaps that's the difference. I'm coming around to my original opinion.

I'm happy to stand corrected but I'm of the opinion that, at least with my R8, the ability to artificially brighten the screen with a flash attached and powered up wasn't there before, and now, after the new firmware, it is.

Will continue to read this thread, hopefully Canon will be forthcoming and clear this up.