As if it has a mind of its own, my Canon R5 has a nasty habit of randomly changing some of the settings I’ve chosen. For example, I’ll be shooting away at aperture f/5.6 and all of a sudden I’m shooting at f/7.1, with no input from me. Since I shoot in aperture priority, that should never happen. It doesn’t happen often but even one time is far too often and in the last few months it’s happened about a dozen times.
Then three days ago, while I was photographing Northern Harriers hunting near water, my R5 learned a new dirty trick. I always have my white balance set at “auto white balance” but while I was photographing the harriers it had mindlessly switched over to “tungsten”. I should have noticed it, but I didn’t – not in the field, or before I posted three of those harrier photos to my blog.
The results were atrocious. And mortifying, because I didn’t notice it before posting (until friend Steve Creek brought it to my attention). So today, I fess up.
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Readers will recognize this photo that I posted two days ago. I just assumed that the massive color shift was due to natural conditions, when in reality it happened because my white balance was set to “tungsten”.
Thankfully, Photoshop allows me to correct the color balance during processing. This is at least close to how the photo should have appeared. I like it much, much better, for reasons that should be painfully obvious.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s another harrier photo I took that morning, as it came out of the camera because of the tungsten white balance setting.
This is much closer to what it should have looked like. There’s still a blue cast to the wing but I suppose that could be partially due to reflection from the water below. I doubt it though, because the whites on the flank of the bird lack that blue cast.
1/6400, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
A third and last example. I rarely catch a harrier with its body turned 90° in flight like this, so I’m delighted that I could…
correct the colors in Photoshop. This may not be exactly what the photo would have looked like if I’d had my camera set on auto white balance, but it’s much closer than the original abomination.
I can see what my color balance is set at in my viewfinder while I’m shooting. I just have to pay attention to it. And learn to recognize obvious color shifts in my photos. My only excuse, a poor one, is that it’s never happened before so apparently something inside me assumed it never would.
Lesson learned.
Ron
On an unrelated note: It snowed last night and this time it stuck. Just now (8:17 AM) the city plowed my street for the very first time this winter, at least that I’m aware of. It’s a start…
Sorry for your frustrations around this Ron. On the other hand, it got us several beautiful harrier photos in today’s post, so I can’t be too unhappy. Thanks for posting all the detail around this issue.
These photos of Northern Harriers are breathtaking. I am so thankful that you were able to correct the color balance with Photoshop. Every time you post photos of Northern Harriers I flash back to the one NH I rehabilitated in the 80s. She stole my heart.
ITSLIKE YOU CAME UPON A NEW SPECIES. BUT LOVE THE CORRECTED ONES. MY CAMERA LIKE TO DO TRICKS LIKE YOURS. I’M SURE IT NOT OPERATOR ERROR.
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who often doesn’t look at all of the settings shown on the viewfinder while trying to frame a subject. I thought that the prior Northern Harrier postings seemed unusually blue….but nature creates some unusual color settings at times. Thanks for the clarification. I always enjoy your photos and your commentary!
Thanks very much, Steve. I’ve (tardily) made a New Year’s Resolution to look at those settings in my viewfinder far more often. Hope I don’t forget until the next time it happens, and it will.
I don’t understand the technical aspects here (except to know the frustration of the “artificial stupidity” – why is the cursor suddenly 3 lines above where I was just typing???) but it is so interesting to see the “before” and “after” photos. Thanks for including both versions!
Each has its +++!
Glad you enjoyed seeing the comparisons, Carolyn. Thanks.
I can just imagine your frustration. And suspect that you turned the air around you blue when you discovered the reason.
Hiss and spit. And a big hooray for being able to (mostly) correct the issue.
It was hugely frustrating, EC. It had been years since I’d had that much fun with that many different harriers so it really hurt to have ALL of those photos at least partly ruined by the whims of the photography gods.
Hadn’t seen your response when I typed in my quip about blue language. As always, proud to be on the same wavelength as you, EC.
Looks like Ol’ Murph is channeling your R5’s inner Picasso and going for its Blue Period. Colors aside, those are some handsome Harriers! That last shot is really something!
Glad the plows are out and you’re not having to navigate snowy streets.
Marty, it’s my blue period all right, but mostly because of the blue mood my quirky R5 put me in.
I figured the “blue” might refer to your language when you noticed the R5 acting on its own volition.
That too. They weren’t mutually exclusive.
Technology can be rewarding, but at the same time challenging. Good thing you have the tools to make these corrections, Much better than the blue on blue.
” Much better than the blue on blue.”
I agree. Thanks, Everett.
Ahhhh!
Yup.
Yes, an improvement.
Can only imagine your frustration with the ghost changes in settings.
Michael, “frustration” is an understatement.
I really don’t understand how the equipment can “choose” to override your original settings– I’m glad you have the means to correct the
results, visually. Will you have to deal with this problem yourself
from now on, or is there a mechanical correction possible from the
manufacturer ?
Kris, I don’t understand it either but I’m not the only one it happens to.
And I’ll fess up to something else. I’ve put off installing the latest firmware update for the R5 when I probably shouldn’t have. I intend to update before I go shooting again. It’s possible that updating might fix it.
“Always something” !
So many things to keep track of and sucks having to watch out for things you shouldn’t have to mess with! This makes a HUGE difference – glad the computer let you correct it.
Current winter storm skirting us – a real mess in other areas from the sounds of it!
Judy, my good friend Jim DeWitt shoots with an R5 too. This is how he puts it – “Sometimes the artificial intelligence in the Canon R5 indulges in amazing instances of artificial stupidity.” But we both agree that overall, the R5 is a very good camera.
And then there’s ISO. I still remember my horror during early days with the camera; I assumed it was broken, because there was nothing but a blank white screen when I previewed the images. It’s amazing what an ISO of 6400 will do.
This was a great reminder to check settings — and another reminder that I really ought to begin learning to shoot in raw.
Shoreacres, I switched over to RAW about 15 years ago, a few months after beginning to photograph birds seriously. I absolutely hate processing those very early photos taken as jpegs.
One of the good things about shooting in raw format is the ability to easily color correct. The shots look great!
You’re absolutely right, Brett. One of the MANY good things.