I have just acquired a G1X and although not particularly suited to use in a studio with strobes, I did hope to have it as a possible back up camera.
However I did a trial yesterday, and once I set the aperture and shutter speed manually according to the flash meter readout (f5.6 with 1/125) the liveView became semi useless…it virtually blacked out. But with this camera, attempting to do a studio shoot using the ‘viewfinder’ would be a total waste of time.
I did discover a workaround…I set the camera flash to fire and LiveView then reactivated and worked well in terms of using the focus points etc. I set the flash to minimum power and it was still enough to fire the studio strobes via the slave triggers and the camera flash had minimal impact on the image…..but a bit of a clumsy technique although might be useful to put a catch light in the model’s eye!).
This made me wonder about LiveView generally…can it be used in low ambient light with manual exposure? Anyone got any suggestions regarding a better approach with the G1X in the studio to overcome this problem?
dhphoto wrote:
I don't have my gear with me, but try putting something in the hotshoe, I think that does it.
Unfortunately not......that was what I did initially (used my radio trigger).
Anything in the hotshoe also deactivates the camera flash system so no joy there...although it wouldn't have made any difference in that with or without the radio trigger working the LiveView only works when the camera flash fires...and this sets off the strobes anyway.
I have written to Canon support on this.....already it seems to me to be a serious problem.....the G1X cannot be used manually in low ambient light....but it is promoted as a camera that is a 'pro' series P&S and particularly suited to low light use!!
I know you can use an ST-E2, so you can use flash with something in the hotshoe, but apparently not ordinary studio flash. Maybe Canon will have a better idea.
At one level this is not a problem.....years ago before radio triggers were common I started using a small on-board flash to trigger studio strobes and the technique works reasonably well.....I just expected better with an expensive 2012 Canon camera!!
However....out and about in the evening I might not want my flash going off anytime I want to use manually set exposures......I don't want to look like a tourist!!
anthonygh wrote:
I have just acquired a G1X and although not particularly suited to use in a studio with strobes, I did hope to have it as a possible back up camera.
However I did a trial yesterday, and once I set the aperture and shutter speed manually according to the flash meter readout (f5.6 with 1/125) the liveView became semi useless…it virtually blacked out. But with this camera, attempting to do a studio shoot using the ‘viewfinder’ would be a total waste of time.
Am not familiar with the camera but try disabling exposure simulation. It might be simulating dark and not aware of the flash. - Just a guess possibility.
Scott Stoness wrote:
Am not familiar with the camera but try disabling exposure simulation. It might be simulating dark and not aware of the flash. - Just a guess possibility.
AFAIK the G1X just doesn't have that ability, it has no custom functions or anything
anthonygh wrote:
At one level this is not a problem.....years ago before radio triggers were common I started using a small on-board flash to trigger studio strobes and the technique works reasonably well.....I just expected better with an expensive 2012 Canon camera!!
However....out and about in the evening I might not want my flash going off anytime I want to use manually set exposures......I don't want to look like a tourist!!
I still use this "old-time" method every time I set up my Norman studio strobes. On-camera flash set to minimum levels triggers the powerpack slave. Much better than the older corded method.
("What is a "powerpack", Grandpa? Is that what Ironman uses?")
Gunzorro wrote:
I still use this "old-time" method every time I set up my Norman studio strobes. On-camera flash set to minimum levels triggers the powerpack slave. Much better than the older corded method.
("What is a "powerpack", Grandpa? Is that what Ironman uses?")
After another practise session with the G1X triggering the strobes I think I am getting good results....probably as good as I would get if using radio triggers and the LiveView was fully enabled. I am impressed by the files to be honest...this is no real substitute for a quality DSLR but if I was unexpectedly stuck with it I am confident I would get some good results...to publication level.
That aside....this is still an expensive camera that Canon promotes as a 'pro' item and Canon also trumpets its low light capabilities.....but it can't function in low light if exposure is set manually...unless the flash is enabled!! Which means this is purely a software issue......another Canon 'software issue?'
Canon support have been back to me...they have passed the issue up to their 'product specialist team'...whatever that means....
I have used the workaround again and it does the job...the camera flash when set on minimum doesn't impact on the final image but does trigger the studio lights...and the images are pretty good. But Canon has promoted this camera as being ideal for low light situations and something pro photographers will use.....and the IQ is excellent...so I await their response with interest.
This won't of course be a camera I want to use in a studio context....but that is besides the point.
