6D tips and tricks...

[sarah_fox]

<blockquote>

<p>I was looking for lessons learned.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>The thing is that not everyone likes to do the same sorts of things. For instance when I get a new camera, I program the "set" button to play back an image and program the focus to one of the back buttons so I can do a one-shot focus with my thumb. I find these ergonomic modifications essential -- especially the focus. However, many people would not. Then I turn off in-camera sharpening and minimize contrast, so that my histograms show as much shadow information as possible. Most people would hate these settings, because their out-of-the-camera pics would look dull and soft.</p>

<p>I do like the spot metering button idea. I don't think either of my cameras will do it, but perhaps that's in my future. I'm considering a 6D as my next upgrade.</p>

 

[peter_j2]

<blockquote>

<p>I'm considering a 6D as my next upgrade. [sarah Fox]</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Just to go off topic, Sarah, the 6D with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Mark I with a Canon Lens Hood ES-65III and a B+W 52 010M MRC UV-HAZE filter is one of my favourite lightweight and compact setups for street photography. I normally will have the GPS activated for automatic uploads onto the Flickr map and to map my route on Canon's Map Utility for that day.</p>

[zack_zoll]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=3945206">Peter J</a> <a href="/member-status-icons"><img title="Frequent poster" src="/v3graphics/member-status-icons/2rolls.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jan 24, 2013; 11:20 p.m.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I'm considering a 6D as my next upgrade. [sarah Fox]<br>

Just to go off topic, Sarah, the 6D with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Mark I with a Canon Lens Hood ES-65III and a B+W 52 010M MRC UV-HAZE filter is one of my favourite lightweight and compact setups for street photography. I normally will have the GPS activated for automatic uploads onto the Flickr map and to map my route on Canon's Map Utility for that day.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That means if you want a 6D, you know exactly where Peter is going to be ;)</p>

 

[peter_j2]

<blockquote>

<p>That means if you want a 6D, you know exactly where Peter is going to be ;) [Zack Zoll]</p>

</blockquote>

<p>On Photo.net.</p>

[sarah_fox]

<p>LOL! Now that's a 6D trick/tip I can really use, Zack, even before ever getting the camera!</p>

<p>On a related note, Peter, have you considered using a 17mm T/S lens for street photography? Or maybe the 100-400 IS? Or some other lens I don't have? :-)</p>

[peter_j2]

<blockquote>

<p>Peter, have you considered using a 17mm T/S lens for street photography? Or maybe the 100-400 IS? Or some other lens I don't have? :-) [sarah Fox]</p>

</blockquote>

<p>My other lens constantly on the 6D is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. It's a bugger to balance a front heavy lens on such a tiny DSLR, but fastening a Hejnar Photo H-106 Arca Swiss Style Lens Plate helps. </p>

<p>http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_39&products_id=99</p>

<p>I really don't want to buy a Canon BG-E13 to make the assembly any larger. My other lenses not mentioned are used on the Canon EOS 5D Mark III with a Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip and KIRK Enterprises BL-5DIIIG L-Bracket. The assembly (would you believe) is a backup to the 6D. I just love how light and inconspicuous the DSLR is for walking about. </p>

[sarah_fox]

<p>Er... Well, I was joking... i.e. some lens I would like to steal from you at some soon-to-be-mapped location. I don't need the 50/1.8. ;-> </p>

<p>Light and small would be wonderful. I have a few small reservations about the 6D (e.g. lack of WB button, no joy stick), but it otherwise looks like my kind of camera.</p>

<p> </p>

[peter_j2]

<blockquote>

<p>Well, I was joking...i.e. some lens I would like to steal from you at some soon-to-be-mapped location. I don't need the 50/1.8. ;-> [sarah Fox]</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

Your website lists quite a number of lenses in your arsenal. I don't think you would be needing any of my paltry collection of Canon glass anytime soon. BTW, I too "was once a starving neurobiologist." Just joking. <em><strong>`L~</strong></em><br /></p>

[mbkissel]

<p>Hi Steve,<br /> I asked my wife if she had a good tip for using her 6D. She immediately said to download the EOS Remote app so you can control the camera with your phone. She said she finds it extremely useful for placing her camera in places where she can't look through the viewfinder or see the liveview screen.</p>

<p>There, a good tip and it didn't cost one red cent!</p>

<p>Enjoy that new 6D!</p>

[steve_r.2]

<p>Thanks Mark. I haven't tried that yet, but I will.</p>

[alan_bessler1]

<p>Dear Mr Reeder, I have read some of your comments and posts over time and you sir are no great of sunshine at times either.</p>

[peter_j2]

<p>Alan, Thanks for reading Reeder the same way I have been seeing him over time on the forum.</p>

[peter_galvin]

<p>Hey folks, picked up a 6D as an "upgrade" from my 5D Mark II, then found this forum, new here...<br>

I put "upgrade" in quotes because of the lively debate about which camera is better, etc. I'm an enthusiast who has occasionally done informal wedding shoots, that kind of thing. Mostly vacation photos, nature, etc. After 1 day of use I'm very happy with the 6D and it seems to fit my needs very well. Finding it a big improvement over the 5DMII for my use cases. Heading to Costa Rica in 3 weeks so figured now was a good time to upgrade.<br>

In terms of tips, I'm hoping for advice on what to put on the C1 and C2 modes. For the 5DMII I had one C mode set up for exposure bracketing (for input into an HDR app), and one set for Macro photos (mirror lock up at least, I've forgotten the rest). Any thoughts on good uses for C1 and C2?!<br>

Thanks.<br>

--Peter</p>

[steve_julien]

<p>Loving my new 6d, wanted to contribute some tips besides telling people to read a manual (which is a good tip but lets get beyond the standard lit).<br>

I would like to contribute my experience of trying street photography for the first time. I am a little shy and never tried street photography before, but with the wifi and my cell phone it was alot of fun. Here was my setup<br>

I had my 6D camera on my side hanging off my rapid strap upside down. I set up the wifi connection to my iphone.<br>

pro tip #1 On the 6d I setup my wifi connection manually to have no password way less problematic <br>

I locked the app and turned my phone upside down thus giving me a proper view from my upside down camera. I used manual focus on my 40mm pancake and double tapped the screen of the remote camera app on my phone to get a magnified view of subject i turned the focus ring and confirmed focus and fired the trigger from my phone no one the wiser and instant firing. Super fun I started to get pretty good at it. I would love to try more of it in the future. Hope some of these tips helped.<br>

I am hoping someone can contribute a way or tip to auto back up the Canon 6d through wifi like samsungs auto share feature to laptop or tablet.<br>

Help :) <br>

Thanks</p>

[daryl_sawatzky]

<p>I found this thread, ironically, by Googling "6D Tips and Tricks". I think the OP's open ended question is in a shorthand that we all understand: "What can I do with the 6D that can't be done with previous cameras?", or "What setting changes have you made to the 6D to make it function better?".<br>

From those who avoided condescending 'RTFM' answers, I've already gleaned a few great ideas that I would try:</p>

<ul>

<li>Like assigning C1 and C2 to HDR bracketing and macro shooting, reassigning the focus button to something other than the shutter (I would never have thought of that, coming from an XTi),</li>

<li>using that stupid '*' button for something other than it's default. I NEVER used that button on the XTi, but I couldn't reassign it either.</li>

<li>I'm not sure about the lowering contrast and sharpening on jpg previews for RAW shooting, but the idea is interesting. I use the jpg previews to give me an idea of how the camera would have created its JPG, and I use the preview to help me process the RAW file in Lightroom. I don't really care how un-contrasty or soft the RAW file is.</li>

<li>I've also heard that you can assign the DOF preview button under the lens. The last time I saw a DOF button actually work was on my old T90. Oh wait, it works on this 6D, never mind. I'd still reassign it to something more useful. Maybe to use all the focus points instead of the center one I use 99% of the time.</li>

<li>I set auto ISO to NOT use anything above 12,800, but to let me manually select everything up to the extended 102,400</li>

</ul>

<p>One thing I would like to see is how you deal with the micro focus adjustments. I never had this option before and I'm wonder how common it is to have to adjust focus on a new canon lens... and is a back or front focusing problem the lenses fault or the cameras fault?<br>

I'm excited about the possibilities with the 6D. This camera has twice the pixel count as the XTi, but on a sensor almost double the size and with 3 or 4 or 5 <em>stops</em> (?) less noise. That means I can crop down a full size shot <em>considerably</em> and maintain a picture size of 10 MP. That will be useful for closer, sharper and less-noisy sports pictures. Instead of buying the kit lens I bought a 135mm f2 to maintain what I was used to with the 85mm f1.8 on a crop sensor. I also have my old 24-70L f2.8, which was just slow enough to push my XTi to the limit in dark gym lighting. With usable ISO's up to 12,800 I expect to never have to deal with detail-blurring noise correction again.</p>

[Brad_]

>>> From those who avoided condescending 'RTFM' answers, I've already gleaned a few great ideas that I would try

 

Here's one more...

 

Depending on what I'm shooting on the street, for AF point selection I always use either the center point, or all-points

(automatic) modes. A quick way to toggle between the two modes, without having to traverse between the other AF

points using the wheel, first press the AF button as you normally would, and then press the SET button (inside the back wheel).

 

If you were initially in center point AF mode, pressing SET will switch to all-points. If you were initially in all-points AF

mode, pressing SET will switch to center point mode.

[riley_man]

<p>Steve - I just upgraded from a 50D to the 6D. I never read the manual of the 50D but have been glimpsing at the 6D manual. I found these two very helpful and informative, maybe you will too! Happy shooting.<br>

<a href="http://photoextremist.com/">http://photoextremist.com/</a> - I downloaded his Trick Photography and Special Effects book and videos and learned a ton for that...also helpful with Photoshop.<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Canon-Experience-Photography-Operation-ebook/dp/B00B13B6GC">http://www.amazon.ca/Canon-Experience-Photography-Operation-ebook/dp/B00B13B6GC</a> - This one I just bought and have not yet got into but looks like it may help understanding some of the features written in a more noob friendly format.<br>

R</p>

[aranya]

<p>Well I have read through the entire manual - several times - but it does not tell me WHY I cannot set the image quality to RAW. The usual main dial does not shift into RAW.<br />This is disturbing, as is the fact that, once I figure out how to set to RAW, LR 4 does not load RAW files for the 6D. Any help would be appreciated.</p>

[aranya]

<p>I am answering my own question above. Cannot set RAW when HDR is enabled. So no RAW files for HDR shooting. What a pity.</p>

 

[Brad_]

>>> Well I have read through the entire manual - several times - but it does not tell me WHY I cannot set

the image quality to RAW. The usual main dial does not shift into RAW.

 

It is because the main dial on the back is not used to select RAW when in the Image Recording Quality

menu tab. The smaller wheel on top of the camera is used for that. See Page 102.

 

>>> This is disturbing, as is the fact that, once I figure out how to set to RAW, LR 4 does not load RAW

files for the 6D. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Are you using the later versions of LR 4, ie LR 4.3 or LR4.4?

[phule]

<p>[[but it does not tell me WHY I cannot set the image quality to RAW. The usual main dial does not shift into RAW.]]</p>

<p>Are you using HDR Backlight Control or Hand-held Night modes? RAW is not available in those two. This is shown in the basic guide on page 74. If not those modes, then choose page 84 for your image quality options.<br>

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/3/0300009243/01/eos6d-bim-en.pdf</p>

<p>The pocket guide has this detailed as well:<br>

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300009258/01/eos6d-pg-en.pdf</p>

<p> </p>

[dcstep]

<p>You can still shoot bracketed Raw shots and combine them into an HDR image in your PP software, just like in the "old days". If you want it in-camera, then you're stuck with JPEG.</p>