A ShortCourse Book
Canon EOS 7D Photography

Canon EOS 7D Photography

Canon EOS 7D Photography

This clearly written and easy-to understand short course on your Canon EOS 7D, explains step-by-step how, why and when you use your camera's controls for better pictures and HD movies. This guide is available as a traditional 182 page large-format (8.5 by 11) spiral bound book printed in black and white, and as a full-color, fully searchable PDF eBook you can order on a CD or download instantly.

 

Introducing Animations

The eBook edition of this book has links to 50 animations, movies and other resources that illustrate and explain the core concepts of digital photography. Integrated throughout the eBook, these linked resources help you understand your camera better, and make you a better photographer.

To use the animations you need the eBook version of this book and an Internet connection.

 
Click to see how every camera is just a black box then minimize or close the animation window.
 
 
Click to see how full color images are created from only three colors then minimize or close the animation window.

Introduction

New, a Short Courses digital photography book for people who want to get better pictures with their Canon EOS 7D digital SLR camera. This beautifully written and illustrated guide, pulls together answers to the questions you might have about using the camera, including the following:

Contents

Chapter 1
Camera Controls and Creativity ...7

The 7D Camera ...8
Jump Start—Using Full Auto Mode ...9
Good Things to Know ...10
Using the Viewfinder ...13
  • Diopter Adjustment ...13
  • AF Points ...13
  • Information Display ...13
Anatomy of the Camera ...14
  • Top View ...14
  • Rear View ...15
Changing Settings with Buttons and Dials ...17
  • The Main Dial ...17
  • The Quick Control Dial ...17
Changing Settings on the Quick Control Screen ...18
  • The Quick Control Screen ...18
  • Dual Function Button Screens ...18
Changing Settings with Menus ...19
Playing Back & Managing Your Images ...23
  • Image Review ...23
  • Image Playback ...23
  • INFO Display ...23
  • Jumping in Playback ...24
Using the Playback Menu ...25
Giving Slide Shows ...26
Selecting Image Quality and Size ...27
  • Number of Pixels ...27
  • How An Image is Captured ...29
  • The Exposure ...29
  • It’s All Black and White After All ...29
  • Choosing Image Size and Quality ...30
  • Using the One-Touch RAW+JPEG Button ...33

Chapter 2
Controlling Exposure ...34

Understanding Exposure ...35
The Shutter Controls Light and Motion ...36
The Aperture Controls Light and Depth of Field ...38
Using Shutter Speed and Aperture Together ...40
  • Exposure— Faucets & Buckets Analogy ...41
  • Exposure— Seesaw Analogy ...42
Retaining Highlight and Shadow Details ...43
Choosing Shooting Modes ...44
Using Creative Auto (CA) Mode ...45
Using Program AE (P) & Program Shift ...46
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode ...47
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode ...48
Using Manual (M) Mode ...49
How Your Exposure System Works ...50
  • Meter Averaging and Middle Gray ...50
  • Types of Metering ...52
When Automatic Exposure Works Well ...53
When to Override Automatic Exposure ...54
  • Scenes Lighter than Middle Gray ...54
  • Scenes Darker than Middle Gray ...55
  • Subject Against a Very Light Background ...55
  • Subject Against a Very Dark Background ...56
  • Scenes with High Contrast ...56
How Overriding Autoexposure Works ...58
How to Override Automatic Exposure ...59
  • Autoexposure (AE) Lock ...59
  • Exposure Compensation and Autoexposure Bracketing (AEB) ...60
Adjusting Tones...63
  • Auto Lighting Optimizer ...63
  • Highlight tone priority ...63
Using Histograms ...64
  • Displaying Histograms ...64
  • Evaluating Histograms ...64
  • Clipped Pixels ...66
  • Sample Histograms ...67

Chapter 3
Controlling Sharpness ...68

Getting Sharper Pictures ...69
  • Supporting the Camera ...69
  • Using the Self-timer/Remote Switch ...69
  • Adjusting the ISO ...70
Sharpness Isn’t Everything ...72
How to Photograph Motion Sharply ...73
  • Speed of Subject ...73
  • Direction of Movement ...73
  • Distance to Subject and Focal Length of Lens ...74
Focus and Depth of Field ...75
  • Focus ...75
  • Depth of Field ...75
  • Checking Depth of Field ...76
Focusing Techniques ...77
  • AF-Assist Beam ...77
  • Autofocus Modes ...77
  • Using Focus Lock ...78
  • Manual Focus ...79
Selecting the AF Area Mode and AF Point ...80
  • AF Area Selection Modes ...80
  • Displaying AF Points in Playback ...81
  • Tips on AF Points ...81
Controlling Depth of Field ...82
Using Deep Depth of Field ...83
Using Shallow Depth of Field ...84
Conveying the Feeling of Motion ...85

Chapter 4
Capturing Light & Color ...86

Where Does Color Come From? ...87
White Balance and Color ...88
  • Using Preset White Balance Settings ...88
  • Creating and Using a Custom White Balance Setting ...89
  • Using a Specific Color Temperature ...90
  • Selecting a Color Space ...90
Using White Balance Correction & Bracketing ...91
Color and Time of Day ...92
Sunsets and Sunrises ...93
Weather ...95
Photographing at Night ...97
The Direction of Light ...99
The Quality of Light ...101

Chapter 5
Understanding Lenses ...102

Canon Lenses ...103
  • Electronic Lens Mount ...103
  • Focusing Technology ...103
  • Ultrasonic Motors ...104
  • Image Stabilization ...104
  • Information on a Canon Lens ...105
Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction ...106
Focal Length ...107
Zoom Lenses ...108
Normal Lenses ...109
Wide-Angle Lenses ...110
Telephoto Lenses ...112
Macro Lenses and Accessories ...114
Tilt-Shift Lenses ...116
Lens Accessories ...117
Perspective in a Photograph ...118

Chapter 6
Using Flash and Studio Lighting ...119

How Flash Works ...120
Using Autoflash ...121
  • Flash Coverage and Range ...121
  • Flash and Shutter Speeds ...121
  • Flash in P, Av, Tv, M and B Modes ...121
Portraits with Flash ...123
  • Positioning the Flash and Subjects ...123
  • Red-eye ...124
Using Fill Flash ...125
Using Slow Sync Flash ...126
Using Available Light ...128
Using a Canon Speedlite ...129
The Flash Control Menu ...130
Controlling Flash Exposures ...131
  • Flash Modes ...131
  • Flash Exposure Compensation ...131
  • Flash Exposure Bracketing (FEB) ...132
  • Flash Exposure (FE) Lock ...132
  • Adjusting Flash Output Manually ...133
Other Flash Features ...134
  • High-speed Flash ...134
  • Wireless Remote Flash ...134
  • MULTI Flash ...134
  • External flash C.Fn setting ...135
  • Zoom ...135
Using Flash in Close-ups ...132
Studio Lighting ...137
  • Candidates for Studio Lighting ...137
  • Lighting ...137
  • Backgrounds ...139
  • Risers ...139
  • Special Bulbs ...139
Portrait and Product Photography—Introduction ...140
The Main Light ...141
The Fill Light ...142
The Background Light ...143
The Rim Light ...144

Chapter 7
Other Features and Commands ...145

Continuous Photography ...146
Remote Control Photography ...147
Shooting Still Images in Live View ...148
Focusing in Live View ...149
  • Manual Focusing ...149
  • AF Mode ...149
  • Magnified View for Focusing ...150
Live View Shooting Menu 4 Settings for Still Images ...151
  • Live View shoot ....151
  • AF Mode ...151
  • Grid Display ...151
  • Expo. Simulation ...151
  • Silent Shooting ...152
  • Metering Timer ...152
Live View Tips for Stills and Movies ...153
  • General Tips in Live View ...153
  • Live View Focusing Tips ...153
  • Live View Exposure Tips ...154
  • Making Settings ...154
Shooting Movies in Live View ...155
  • Movie Menu settings ...155
  • Movie Recording Size ...155
  • Sound Recording ...156
  • Movie Tips ...156
Playing Movies ...158
Editing Movies ...159
Using Picture Styles ...160
  • Selecting Picture Styles ...160
  • Adjusting Picture Styles ...160
  • Registering a Picture Style ...161
Registering Your Own Settings ...162
Using Custom Functions ...163
  • C.Fn I: Exposure...164
  • C. Fn II: Image...165
  • C.Fn III: Auto focus/Drive...165
  • C.Fn IV: Operation Others...168
Using My Menu ...170
Changing Other Settings ...171
  • Shooting Without a CF Card ...171
  • Setting the Date and Time ...171
  • Changing the Review Time ...171
  • Reset File Numbers ...172
  • Turning the Beep On and Off ...172
  • Adjusting Monitor Brightness ...173
  • Traveling Options—Language and Video Settings ...173
  • Setting the Auto Power Off Time ...173
  • Formatting CF Cards ...173
  • Turning Auto Rotate On and Off ...174
  • Creating and Selecting Folders ...174
  • Firmware Version ...175
  • Battery Info ...175
  • Entering Copyright Information ...175
Resetting Camera Settings ...176
Caring for Your Camera ...178
  • Cleaning the Image Sensor ...178
  • Cleaning the Camera and Lens ...180
  • Protecting your Camera from the Elements ...180
  • Protecting when Traveling ...181
  • Storing a Camera ...181
  • Caring for Yourself ...181


Preface

A great photograph begins when you recognize a great scene or subject. But recognizing a great opportunity isn’t enough to capture it; you also have to be prepared. A large part of being prepared involves understanding your camera well enough to capture what you see. Getting you prepared to see and capture great photographs is what this book is all about. It doesn’t matter if you are taking pictures for business or pleasure, there’s a lot here to help you get better results and more satisfaction from your photography.

To get better, and possibly even great photographs, you need to understand both concepts and procedures; the “whys” and “hows” of photography.

  • Concepts of photography are the underlying principles that apply regardless of the camera you are using. They include such things as how sharpness and exposure affect your images and the way they are perceived by viewers. Understanding concepts answers the “why” kinds of questions you might have about photography.
  • Procedures are those things specific to one kind of camera, and explain step-by-step how you set your camera’s controls to capture an image just the way you want to. Understanding procedures gives you the answers to the “how” kinds of questions you might have.
This book is organized around the concepts of digital photography because that’s how photographers think. You think about scenes and subjects, highlights and shadows, softness and sharpness, color and tone. The procedures you use with the Canon EOS 7D are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach lets you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the 7D in all kinds of photographic situations.

To get more effective, interesting, and creative photographs, you only need to understand how and when to use a few simple features on your camera such as focus, exposure controls, and flash. If you’ve previously avoided understanding these features and the profound impact they can have on your images, you’ll be pleased to know that you can learn them on a weekend. You can then spend the rest of your life marveling at how the infinite variety of combinations make it possible to convey your own personal view of the world. You’ll be ready to keep everything in a scene sharp for maximum detail or to blur it all for an impressionistic portrayal. You’ll be able to get dramatic close-ups, freeze fast action, create wonderful panoramas, and capture the beauty and wonder of rainbows, sunsets, fireworks, and nighttime scenes.

As you explore your camera, be sure to have fun. There are no “rules” or “best” way to make a picture. Great photographs come from using what you know to experiment and try new approaches. Digital cameras make this especially easy because there are no film costs or delays. Every experiment is free and you see the results immediately so you can learn step by step.

This book assumes you’ve mastered the mechanics of your camera. It’s about getting great pictures, not about connecting your camera to computers and using your software. That information is well presented in the user guide that came with your camera. Be sure to visit our Web site at www.shortcourses.com for even more digital photography information.

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