On R5 how to display focal length as you zoom lens?

[usern4cc]

On the R5 camera, how can you display the focal length of the lens, on the EVF or rear screen, as you change it while zooming?

Thank you!

[usern4cc]

The reporting of the zoom focus length may indeed be wrong.  If so, it's a shame that the makers can't use proper QualityControl and allow correction of the reporting so that they get it as accurate as possible.  After all, they go to a lot of trouble to shim their lenses to get proper focusing on the sensor, don't they?  (well, at least Canon does)

But I would still rather have the ability to see whatever number they say so I could use it as a reference to adjust the step size for my panoramas.  If I find it's consistantly wrong in any direction, I could adjust accordingly if I wanted to.

[kvbarkley]

It is not a QA issue. With some designs, the focal length changes as a function of focus distance:

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/technical/focus_breathing_focal_length_changes.html

[usern4cc]

So what?  If the focal length changes as a function of focus distance by a sufficient amount, then a program could take that into account and update the value shown.

Either way, I *repeat* again, it's still better to have something shown for the zoom focal length on the screen instead of having *nothing* shown on the screen.  My Olympus camera did it quite well, and I was happy with it.  Canon doesn't show it and doesn't give you the option to show it if you need it.  But they do show a ton of unrelated junk on the screen that really has no value to me at all and they don't give me a choice to not display that junk on a single item by item basis.

[Hanu1]

I too am frustrated that the focal length is not displayed. I am really taken by surprise with this issue.

[usern4cc]

After more than a year, they have NOT fixed this simple ommision with a firmware update.  Yes, you can take a photo and open it up and toggle to the screen to the version that shows the focal length for the photo taken, but this does NOT tell you the focal length before you take the photo.  I often take panoramas and want to use an exact focal length so I can have them stitch perfectly, and to do this I need to adjust the zoom according to a display focal length to get it correct, and I can NOT do this due to Canon's ommision of this sorely needed displayed information.

[scmikes]

usern4cc,

I hope they reconsider.  I use it all the time in my Olympus OM1.

I often try to match a prime, or do lens tests and like to "bracket" fixed points on the zoom.

I am ok if they just display the value from exif.  It is recorded with image.  Not sure if exif is passed through on focus though.  You would think so since they have to apply lens corrections by focal lenght.

I am guessing that the lens correction is applied while focusing, but I could be wrong.

[wgphoto]

Just adding to this as I recently picked up an R5C. I had been looking for a way to show focal lengths as I zoomed and came across this thread. As with the R5, the R5C can’t do this…in photo mode. But in the Cinema menu/OS, this works by default! So it seems one team within Canon has figured this out. Time for them to share the knowledge especially with a camera like the R5C now out there.

[Waddizzle]

As previously stated the setting of the zoom ring is not always accurate. Many third party lenses suffer from breathing when zooming.

The OP pointed out that knowing the focal length was needed for accurately compositing a panoramic image.

in my experience it is not that crucial for the final result. Things like barrel distortion tend to have greater impact.  What purpose does FL serve when grading video?

Besides, I am not aware of how one would create a pano when shooting video

[scmikes]

I often return to a site and repeat multiple photos from notes in a notebook, some of the notes is different focal lengths from the position,  ex.  the same site, repeat compositions in spring, fall, snow of winter, etc.  There are many other uses, but that is one example

[MNpics]

The R7 has the feature and I like it.  The used R6 I got does not have it.  It would be nice if the R6 had the same display options as the R7.  Glad I did not get an R5 and find it missing...  There are lots of good reasons having the Focal Length in the display can be helpful (even if it is an approximation).