Canon 7D Experience: The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation With the Canon EOS 7D
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About this ebook
Canon 7D Experience is an e-book user's guide for the Canon EOS 7D that goes beyond the manual to help you learn the features, settings, and controls of this camera, plus when and why to use them in your photography. Learn to use your EOS 7D quickly and competently, to consistently capture the images you desire. Take control of your camera, the image taking process, and the images you create!
Canon 7D Experience is for those who wish to take fuller advantage of the capabilities of their camera and to go beyond Auto and Program modes and shoot in Av and Tv modes. Aimed at intermediate photographers, it also covers basic dSLR camera functions and exposure concepts for those new to digital SLR photography, and explains more advanced camera controls and operation, such as taking control of the powerful autofocus system for sharp focus of still or moving subjects, using the various metering modes and exposure compensation for correct exposure of every image, and utilizing dramatic depth of field. This guide focuses on still-photography with an introduction to video settings. You will learn to Set Up Your 7D (All the Custom Function and Menu settings with descriptions and recommended settings), Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority Modes (How and when to use them to create dramatic depth of field or to freeze or express motion), Auto Focusing Modes and Drive Modes (The 7D autofocus system is a complex and powerful tool and taking control of it will enable you to successfully capture more images), Exposure Metering Modes (How they differ, how and when to use them for correct exposures in every situation, plus exposure lock), Histograms, Exposure Compensation, Bracketing, and White Balance (Understanding and using these features for adjusting to the proper exposure in challenging lighting situations), The Image Taking Process, Composition, Canon Lenses, Photography Accessories, and an Introduction to Video Settings.
This Canon 7D guide is an illustrated e-book that expands upon the information found in the 7D manual, to help one begin to master their dSLR and learn to use the Canon 7D to its full capabilities!
Douglas Klostermann
Douglas Klostermann is a travel, culture, and humanitarian photographer, as well as the best-selling author of Full Stop photography guides including Nikon D850 Experience and Canon 5D Mark IV Experience. He has photographed for numerous organizations in the United States and Latin America, been recognized by the United Nations Development Programme for his humanitarian photography, and been published in magazines, books, and websites including Conde Nast Traveler, NationalGeographic.org, Sherman's Travel, South American Explorer, and Viva Travel Guides. Doug is a member of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). Learn more about photography techniques and equipment on his blog Picturing Change at blog.dojoklo.com and view his photography at dojoklo.com.
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Book preview
Canon 7D Experience - Douglas Klostermann
Canon 7D Experience
The Still Photographer’s Guide to
Operation and Image Creation
With the Canon EOS 7D
by: Douglas J. Klostermann
Published by Douglas J. Klostermann / Full Stop.
Smashwords Edition
Version 2.2 - July 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4524-6479-4
Copyright 2011 Douglas J. Klostermann
All rights reserved. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold, file-shared, or given away. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or in print, without expressed permission from the author. Every effort has been made to make this e-book as accurate as possible, but no warranty of fitness is implied. The information is provided on an as-is basis. The author shall have no liability or responsibility with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information provided in this e-book including but not limited to the use of any of the materials or methods described, the products, retailers, Internet web sites, or links provided.
All contents including cover design, text, and photographs, with the exception of products, brands, contents of menus and screenshots, and logos, are copyright by the author. All products, brands, contents of menus and screenshots, and logos are property of the respective companies and websites. Terms which are trademarks or service marks in this e-book are used in an editorial and educational manner, and should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. The author and the contents of this book are not affiliated with or endorsed by Canon.
Copyright 2012 Douglas J. Klostermann
Cover design and photograph by the author.
Author’s website: www.dojoklo.com
Author’s blog: http://blog.dojoklo.com/
Published by Full Stop. good writing for better photography
A division of Douglas J. Klostermann Photography
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
http://www.dojoklo.com/Full_Stop/
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. MENUS and CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
2.1 Menu Settings
2.2 Movie Shooting Mode Menu
2.3 My Menu
2.4 Custom Functions Menus
3. CAMERA OPERATION
3.1 JPEG vs. RAW
3.2 Focusing
3.2a Using Autofocus
3.2b Autofocus - AF Modes
3.2c Autofocus - AF Area Modes
3.2d Autofocus - Custom Function Settings
3.2e Back Button Focusing
3.2f Live View and Movie Focusing
3.3 Drive Modes
3.4 Exposure
3.4a Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO
3.4b Aperture Priority AE Mode (Av) and Shutter Priority AE Mode (Tv)
3.4c Full Stops
3.4d Manual Exposure Mode (M)
3.5 Metering Modes
3.5a Evaluative Metering
3.5b Partial Metering
3.5c Spot Metering
3.5d Center-Weighted Average Metering
3.5e Manual Metering
3.5f Metering Modes and Exposure
3.5g Exposure Lock
3.6 Histograms
3.7 Exposure Compensation
3.8 Auto Exposure Bracketing
3.9 Highlight Tone Priority and Auto Lighting Optimizer
3.10 White Balance
3.11 Picture Styles
3.12 Flash
3.13 Sensor Cleaning
3.14 Putting it all into Practice
4. THE IMAGE TAKING PROCESS
4.1 Still Subjects
4.2 Moving Subjects
5. LENSES
5.1 Lens Notations
5.2 Fixed Maximum Aperture vs. Variable Maximum Aperture
5.3 Which Lens to Buy Next
6. COMPOSITION
7. VIDEO - AN INTRODUCTION
8. PHOTOGRAPHY ACCESSORIES
8.1 Digital SRL Photography Accessories
8.2 Canon 7D Accessories
8.3 Books
9. CONCLUSION
1. INTRODUCTION
With the introduction of the EOS 7D, Canon began to offer an entirely new class of digital SLR camera - one that sits firmly between the 50D/ 60D advanced consumer models and the full frame, professional 5D Mk II. Boasting an advanced and highly customizable autofocus system and blazingly fast 8 frames per second continuous shooting speed, the 7D is designed to excel at capturing motion, sports, wildlife, and many other types of action scenes. With its 18 megapixel sensor, 63-zone dual-layer exposure metering system, high ISO performance, and dual Digic 4 image processors, the 7D is ideal for most every other type of photography as well. And offering additional features including a high resolution rear LCD Monitor, remote flash triggering, magnesium alloy body, and numerous customization options it is one of the most capable consumer dSLR cameras currently available. The Canon 7D is a powerful, advanced tool for digital photography and has the ability to meet most any dedicated photographer’s needs. It is fully capable of capturing professional quality images in most any situation you wish to use it. But it is merely a tool.
Figure 1 - Detail of the Canon 7D.
It is up to you to make use of its features and capabilities to create the images you envision. While the camera’s manual can tell you about the settings and controls and how they function, this guide will build upon that and tell you when and why you want to use them. Every button, menu item, and Custom Function setting of the 7D is there for a reason: to help you capture the images you want. Some of them are more useful to different types of photographers and shooting situations and you don’t need to learn and use them all immediately, but this guide should help to give you the knowledge to confidently use the ones that turn your Canon 7D into an image capturing tool that works best for you.
Take Control of Your Camera
Since the camera is a tool to take the images you want to take, you can’t always allow the camera to make decisions for you. You have to take control of the camera to ensure that you capture exactly the images you intend - by autofocusing where you want, setting the aperture or shutter speed that you want, and obtaining the exposure you want. While the 7D is an intelligent camera, it cannot read your mind and your intentions and does not know that you wish to focus on and properly expose the small blossoms in the foreground, while making the background appear out of focus, and the branches to be caught still and not be blurred from the motion of the wind, on this bright, sunny day (see Figure 2). You have to tell the camera to do all of this, through the various controls and settings, such as the autofocus AF Mode and AF Area Mode (focus on the blossoms), the Exposure Metering Mode (properly expose the blossoms), the Aperture setting (the out-of-focus background), the Shutter Speed (freezing the motion of the branches), the ISO (bright day) and the White Balance (sunny day).
Figure 2 - Japanese Garden, Brooklyn, NY - Autofocus modes, exposure metering mode, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance all considered in creating this image. Shutter speed 1/125, aperture f/6.3, ISO 200.
One has to think about all this stuff for every photo? Well, yes, that is what digital SLR photography is all about. At least if you wish to consistently create dramatic and compelling images. That is why the 7D has all these controls and features for you to make use of. You’re not in the realm of point-and-shoots and entry-level dSLR cameras anymore!
Learning to use and get the most out of an advanced dSLR camera like the 7D takes time, practice, patience, mistakes, and experimentation. If you are not yet familiar with all the controls of a dSLR and the exposure concepts of digital photography, don’t expect to just pick it all up at once, in one or two readings of a single book. (In fact, you wouldn’t want to, as the never ending journey of learning and mastering photography is a big part of what it’s all about!) Try not to become frustrated when you don’t quite understand something or aren’t yet getting the results you desire. Instead learn the controls, functions, settings, and concepts bit by bit, try them out in real life shooting situations, and return to this guide, the manual, and other photography books to address questions and problems you encounter. Continue to learn and to photograph often and it should all begin to come together, sometimes slowly and sometimes in rapid spurts of discovery and understanding.
If you have upgraded from an older dSLR to the 7D, you are in for a treat. Its additional features and capabilities will more easily help you to capture images and photographs that you were limited in consistently attaining before. Its autofocus system and rapid continuous shooting speed in particular will help you capture sharp images of subjects and moments that previously you may have missed. If you are new to dSLR photography, you have perhaps jumped right into the proverbial deep end of the pool by starting out with the advanced 7D! But don’t worry, this book will help guide you through its features, controls, and capabilities. Be sure to take it slowly and patiently and start with the basic features and concepts that I will explain. With practice and experience you will soon be shooting with confidence and can begin to take advantage of the camera’s more advanced functions.
Using This Guide
There are many different ways to use a digital SLR camera and its controls to capture images, and many diverse situations in which photographers work. I’m going to concentrate on the techniques that I believe are the most practical, useful, and effective for the majority of intermediate and dedicated photographers. The settings and controls I discuss can apply to various types of photography including everyday general photography, action, and travel photography. Once you have a firm grasp of the controls, settings, and basic techniques you will have the tools and knowledge to address different issues and challenging situations, and I encourage you to experiment and continue to learn.
Since this guide is intended to help you get the most out of your 7D, it will not go into detail about all the automatic features. The Canon 7D is a highly sophisticated tool that deserves to be used to its full potential, and that involves taking control of the camera and its functions, which means taking it off Auto, off Program, off automatically selected auto-focus points, off Auto ISO. While this may be more challenging at first, these are the techniques that are necessary to take full advantage of the capabilities of any dSLR including the 7D, and will lead you to having more control and consistency over your image making. Hopefully this will inevitably lead to better images!
This guide is intended to be used with the camera in your hands. That is the best way to directly follow and understand the controls, functions, and settings as they are being explained. It is also intended to be used in conjunction with and in addition to the camera’s manual, not to completely replace it, so every bit of information in the Canon EOS 7D Instruction Manual will not be repeated here. Among the official manual’s often brief descriptions and sometimes frustratingly incomplete explanations, there is some very valuable information, as well as the basics for buttons, controls, and how to change all the settings. Note that the 7D manual can also be obtained as a PDF file from the Canon website here, under Guides and Manuals:
http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_7d#BrochuresAndManuals
As you can see, there is a lot to make sense of regarding terminology and controls, so I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the controls and displays of the camera body, as shown on pages 16-20 of the Canon EOS 7D Instruction Manual, as well as read through the manual and attempt to understand as much as possible. Yes, some of it may be complicated and confusing at first, but this guide will explain and clarify the numerous essential buttons, controls, menus, and settings and explain when and why you will want to use them in your photography. Various settings of the 7D can be controlled in multiple ways: using the buttons and dials on the camera body and reading the settings on the top LCD Panel or in the