topic Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode) in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 08:04:10 GMT

Hi,

I have an issue with my 5D mark IV when shooting in manual mode. When I bracket shots in manual mode, the camera brackets by changing aperture rather than exposure time, which is extremely odd. The camera brackets normally (by adjusting exposure time) when in aperture priority mode. It's a problem since I shoot manual most of the time. I've tried resetting the camera (as best you can), but to no avail.

It's had this problem since new. I'd put off dealing with it as I was hoping a firmware update might rectify it, but having upgraded to v1.0.4 recently, I was sorely disappointed.

Having Googled the problem, I know of at least one other person who is experiencing the same (as yet unresolved) problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be the problem?

PS. My nearest service centre is 800 miles away, so popping by there isn't so convenient.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

csteele — Thu, 18 May 2017 23:08:27 GMT

I have the same problem with my 5D Mark IV

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

Waddizzle — Thu, 18 May 2017 23:35:59 GMT

That doesn't sound right. Are you using ISO AUTO?

You might check your "safety" setting, or whatever it's called. That's the setting that automatically overrides your exposure settings, so that you shouldn't ever get a severely under/over exposed shots. It has different modes, and disabling it in Manual mode is one of them.

Otherwise, you may try contacting Canon Support.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

csteele — Thu, 18 May 2017 23:39:11 GMT

No, I am not using auto ISO

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Fri, 19 May 2017 00:04:06 GMT

I'm not using auto ISO and I have safety shift set to OFF (completely off, not just in manual).

Canon UK's first response was to say this is the way in which the camera is designed to operate. When I asked them then how am I to bracket shots whilst making a panorama, usiing manual mode to ensure a consistent exposure across each of the panorama 'tiles', they then said oh ... we'll look into it. I'm still waiting.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

Waddizzle — Fri, 19 May 2017 00:33:26 GMT

@tangaroa wrote:
I'm not using auto ISO and I have safety shift set to OFF (completely off, not just in manual).

Canon UK's first response was to say this is the way in which the camera is designed to operate. When I asked them then how am I to bracket shots whilst making a panorama, usiing manual mode to ensure a consistent exposure across each of the panorama 'tiles', they then said oh ... we'll look into it. I'm still waiting.

As a general rule, I use the same exposure settings for all of the "tiles" in a panorama shot sequence. Under most circumstances, I don't change the focus setting, either. I'll switch the lens to MF mode.

[EDIT]. Roll the camera on its' side to portrait mode, and let the shots overlap by 1/3 on each side.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

csteele — Fri, 19 May 2017 00:42:06 GMT

I just got off the phone with support Canon USA - Support started with the same story as yours. I basically had the same response as you, including mentioning a Youtube video of someone with a 5D Mark IV show AEB in manual mode and how shutter changed on thier camera rather than aperture - They said they would get back to me.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Fri, 19 May 2017 01:33:24 GMT

Ditto, except I also bracket my exposures

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Fri, 19 May 2017 08:16:21 GMT

Funnily enough, I just got an email from Canon, which is pretty much a waste of my time.

Thank you for your email. There are different ways of doing this, but if you want to be very precise, then I would simple do manual bracketing and put them together in post. With AEB the camera will always decide on the changing factor by metering the scene so the actual exposures can be different slightly. I wouldn`t recommend AEB when precise high-end result is required.

So my suggestion is to take your first photo on x settings, then drop the shutter speed or ISO for the next shot and up the shutter speed or ISO for the next one. I am afraid this is the only way where you can get entirely constant exposure across all panoramic angles with the same depth of field and exposure. I usually take 3 shots in each angle: normal exposure, 2 stops up, 2 stops down and then I put them together in Photoshop by simple putting them on top of each other and paint the new with layers accordingly to my needs.

I would also use a remote control or connect the camera to your phone so it doesn’t affect your camera angle and avoid any shake. In my honest opinion, sometimes you simply need to refer to the basic ways when you do it at professional level as those methods are faultless.

Canon ... teaching you how to suck eggs since 1937. Really, Canon? Is this the best response you can come up with to a genuine product fault?

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

Waddizzle — Fri, 19 May 2017 10:10:21 GMT

Let's put your AEB issues aside for a moment.

Canon's response echoes my own. You want to use the same exposure settings for all of your "tiles" in a panorama shot sequence. If you want the final image to look like one cohesive shot, then you don't want slices of it having different exposures, most especially if you have any significant amounts of sky in the frame.

As to your AEB issues, I am mystified by your observations. The shutter speed should be the exposure setting that is adjusted, by default. I've heard of people asking for ISO bracketing before, but never using aperture to bracket shots.

I don't have a 5D, but the camera sounds like it is either confused by some combination of settings, or in desperate need of a firmware update.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Fri, 19 May 2017 12:22:25 GMT

Many thanks for your responses @Waddizzle ... much appreciated. When shooting in manual mode I use:

Manual focus (I only use TS lenses anyway)
Manual metering (I use an off-camera meter because the in-camera metering is inaccurate when the lens is shifted)
Fixed aperture
Fixed ISO
Fixed WB
Fixed base shutter speed (zero EV)

The only thing I need to be automatic is AEB, and when using AEB, I expect the camera to adjust shutter speed only to achieve (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) EV exposures. My 5D mark III does this nicely, as did all previous generations of 5D and even earlier cameras (D30, D60 etc).

My camera doesn't do that. It automatically changes aperture to bracket exposure, not shutter speed.

I'm at a loss why this seems to be such an issue with my particular 5D mark IV, since most other users report the camera working as it should. I've only found three other people with the same issue as me. There might be very few of us, but it's no less of an issue.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Sat, 20 May 2017 03:16:37 GMT

After many frustrating months, I have to say, in the end, Canon UK have been really quite helpful today.

It seems there are some photographers out there that do want to bracket aperture (as well as shutter speed and/or ISO), though I can't imagine why.

If within Custom Functions, you have configured the 'Main Dial' (highlighted yellow) to control aperture (as I have), then the camera will bracket using aperture. If you leave it at it's default setting controlling shutter speed, it will bracket using shutter speed.

It's very late where I am right now, so I haven't actually got round to testing this, but I am confident this is the solution. I will report back accordingly tomorrow.

Thanks all once again for your assistance.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

csteele — Fri, 19 May 2017 15:08:32 GMT

Thank you! Works like a charm.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Sat, 20 May 2017 03:14:08 GMT

Yup ... that did the trick!

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

JohnMacLean — Mon, 22 May 2017 03:42:46 GMT

Hi Luke,

I've had my CF set to this and it seems to be working now. I thought I recalled it wasn't when you initially contacted me last month. Maybe the firmware update 1.0.4 fixed it?

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

tangaroa — Mon, 22 May 2017 05:37:09 GMT

Hi John,

I can assure you it wasn't the firmware update that 'fixed' it. One of the reasons I persevered for so long, was in the hope that new firmware would fix the issue. But after flashing to v1.0.4, the 'problem' remained.

Sorted now though. Just a pity the user manual doesn't spell out the consequences of swapping over the dials.

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

JohnMacLean — Mon, 22 May 2017 16:09:46 GMT

I still don't know what I did since the problem arose to make it work properly now?

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

Desertrat — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 19:04:32 GMT

I have the same issue. I checked all the settings and they are identical to my can 7D Mark II but the 5D changes the aperture instead of shutter speed when on manual bracketing!

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

Desertrat — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 19:12:22 GMT

Thank you. That fixed the issue!

Re: 5D mark IV - AEB Issue (when in manual mode)

jpbuos — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 23:54:36 GMT

For what it's worth, I shoot weddings, portraits and real estate. I always set my main dial to adjust aperture in M mode because the only 2 ways I shoot is AV and M so the main dial is always the same. I shoot 360 panos for real estate in AEB to avoid blowing out windows. It's a fast workflow and I get great results but it must be in M mode. My 6D works correctly, my 80D but not the 5D mark iv. Why they make us change our main dial setting in M to make this work like all their lower end cameras is beyond me. I know it's a simple fix but I often shoot portraits and real estate in the same day and it just changes the workflow. Hopefully they will have the setting in the AEB menu someday so you can choose it that way. Thank you for the fix.