W/ Eos 630, all it takes is to press the partial metering button behind the LCD panel. W/ EOS 5, I have to press the focus select button on the back panel then turn the main control dial to select spot metering -- without an illuminated LCD panel. Is there any easier way to spot meter in the dark w/ EOS 5, without having chewing the handle of a mini flashlight at the same time :D ? Thanks in advance for any tip... lucian,

-- Lucian (LLoh688@aol.com), September 17, 2000

Answers

Yup, hate that 'feature.' All of those damn back buttons get cursed on a regular basis. I have no way around it, except to knwo that I am better than the camera.

-- Chris Gillis (chris@photogenica.net), September 17, 2000.

Sorry to disappoint, but one of the reasons that I upgraded from EOS 5 to EOS 3 was because the EOS 3 has a LCD light. Using the light of the EOS 3 is a lot easier than holding a mini MagLight in one's teeth.

-- Julian Radowsky (julianr@iafrica.com), September 17, 2000.

Why not use a Clamp Lite.

It attaches to your accessory shoe. It has a flexible shaft and uses a red LED to illuminate.

They are under $20. Try www.porters.com. Look under accessories.

-- Marc Bergman (mbergma2@ix.netcom.com), September 18, 2000.

I do a lot of night photography. I carry a Maglite, wearing it on my belt via the holster that's attached with a Velro-secured strap. I made a simple addition to it for exactly the type of purpose you mention.

Maglite's have a hole for a strap. I bought a short piece of waxed cord from a street jeweller (the kind of thin black cord used for necklaces etc.) and simply hang the Maglite, switched on, around my neck. If the cord is the right length you can hold your camera beneath the flashlight and see what you're doing. No need to turn it off; the lamp is too weak to affect your exposures. The Maglite I use takes two AA 1.5 batteries. There's an even smaller one for a keychain.

It's also great for "drawing in the air" during long "bulb" exposures!

Roy

-- Roy Kekewich (roykekewich@yahoo.com), September 20, 2000.