Customizing the Live View display
By default, the Live View display offers the data shown on the left in Figure 1-19 when you’re taking photographs in an advanced exposure mode (P, Tv, Av, M, B, C1, or C2); in Movie mode, the default display appears as shown on the right. Black bars appear at the top and bottom of the movie display to indicate the boundaries of the 16:9 movie frame. As is the case with other information displays, the type and amount of data that appears depends on your exposure mode and whether the camera is set to take still photos or shoot movies.
FIGURE 1-19: Here’s a look at the default Live View display for photography (left) and movie recording (right).
You also can vary the amount of data that appears in either display by pressing the Info button. Figure 1-20 shows the four alternative displays available for photography. In Movie mode, the Histogram display isn’t available.
FIGURE 1-20: Press the Info button to change the type of data that appears during Live View shooting.
Additionally, you can add one of three grids to your screen, which can be helpful when checking alignment of objects in the frame. To enable or hide the grid, turn on Live View or enter Movie mode and then navigate to Setup Menu 4. Select the Shooting Info Display option and press Set or the center Joystick button to show the Grid Display option, featured on the left in Figure 1-21.
FIGURE 1-21: Through this option, you can add one of three alignment grids to the screen.
Although the various symbols and numbers on the displays won’t make much sense until you explore the rest of the book, here are a few details that may give you a basic understanding of some of the common symbols:
The white box or corner markings represent the autofocusing frame. The appearance of the frame depends on the AF Method, which Chapter 5 explains.
Check the areas labeled in Figure 1-19 to view the battery status. The symbol shown in the figure represents a full battery.
The number of shots remaining or the available movie recording time appears next to the battery symbol. Again, Figure 1-19 shows you where to look.
You can’t display the Electronic Level when the camera is set to the default AF Method setting (Face + Tracking). To display the level, you must switch to Spot AF, 1-Point AF, or Zone AF. (You can do so via the Quick Control screen, as outlined a little later in this chapter.)
The chart that appears in the histogram display (bottom-right screen in Figure 1-20) is a tool you can use to gauge exposure. See the discussion on interpreting a Brightness histogram in Chapter 9 to find out how to make sense of what you see. But note that when you use flash, the histogram is dimmed. The histogram can’t display accurate information because the final exposure will include light from the flash and not just the ambient lighting. In addition, the histogram dims when you use B (Bulb) exposure mode, which keeps the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter button. The camera can’t predict how long you’re going to hold that button down, so it can’t create a histogram that will reflect your final exposure.
Also note the Exposure Simulation symbol that appears in the bottom two screens shown in Figure 1-20. (Look in the lower-right corner of the frame next to the magnifying glass.) This symbol indicates whether the monitor is simulating the actual exposure that you’ll record. If the symbol blinks or is dimmed, the camera can’t provide an accurate exposure preview, which can occur if the ambient light is either very bright or very dim. Exposure Simulation is also disabled when you use flash.
Staying safe with Live View
Take the following precautions when you use Live View and Movie modes:
Cover the viewfinder to prevent light from seeping into the camera and affecting exposure. The camera ships with a cover designed just for this purpose. In fact, it’s conveniently attached to the camera strap. To install it, first remove the rubber eyecup that surrounds the viewfinder by sliding it up and out of the groove that holds it in place. Then slide the cover down into the groove and over the viewfinder (Orient the cover so that the Canon label faces the viewfinder).
Using Live View or Movie mode for an extended period can harm your pictures and the camera. Using the monitor full-time causes the camera’s innards to heat up more than usual, and that extra heat can create the right conditions for noise, a defect that looks like speckles of sand. More critically, the increased temperatures can damage the camera.
A thermometer symbol appears on the monitor to warn you when the camera is getting too hot. Initially, the symbol is white. If you continue shooting and the temperature continues to increase, the symbol turns red and blinks, alerting you that the camera soon will shut off automatically.
Aiming the lens at the sun or other bright lights also can damage the camera. Of course, you can cause problems doing this even during normal shooting, but the possibilities increase when you use Live View and Movie modes.
Live View and Movie modes put additional strain on the camera battery. The extra juice is needed to power the monitor for extended periods of time. If you do a lot of Live View or movie shooting, you may want to invest in a second battery so that you have a spare on hand when the first one runs out of gas.
Using Quick Control Mode
Earlier in this chapter, the section “Viewing Shooting Settings” introduces the Quick Control screen, which displays current picture settings when you use the viewfinder to compose pictures. Because digital photography isn’t confusing enough, the 90D also offers Quick Control mode, which enables you to change certain settings without using the function buttons (the ISO button, Drive button, and so on) or menus.
1 Display