EOS Rebel T3 Extending viewfinder exposure metering/AF bottom line timeout

[BlueChirper]

I have an EOS Rebel T3 w/EFS 18-55mm Zoom. The viewfinder exposure metering/AF bottom line timeout is barely 4-seconds long. I hope there is some way of extending this, because that's the way I want to use the camera, like I used to use the old SLMR 35mm Pentax I used to have - where you look thru lens, set shutter and f-stop using center-weighted spot-meter, compensate in your mind, and then shoot - bracketing exposure if necessary. The VF exposure meter is so short there's no time to think/plan your shot.

Thanks

[deebatman316]

It looks like its set to 16 seconds. Refer to page 127 of the manual EOS Rebel T3 Manual.

[BlueChirper]

Yes. I found that menu and increased it to 30-secs, then 1-minute, and even to 30-minutes. But no matter where I set it, the meter in the viewfinder turns off after about 4.5 seconds. I *think* that setting may solely be for the LCD screen on the back of the camera exposure metering (in the 'M' Manual mode)? But not for the meter in the viewfinder?

[stevet1]

BlueChirper,

The default setting on your camera is to half-press your shutter button to focus, and if you press the little button that looks like an asterisk (*), it locks your exposure.

As Demetrius said, that should lock your exposure for 16 seconds.

I believe, although I can't swear to it,  that if you continue to hold down that * button and don't let go, you can hold that lock for longer than the 16 seconds.

Steve Thomas

[BlueChirper]

It stays on longer if you keep actively adjusting the shutter & F-stop. But if you don't touch anything (like your thinking/calculating - it goes dark in 4.5 secs no matter what you do). So? Fiddle-while-U-think is the answer. Am getting the hang of it. Thanks for your help.