My Canon R3 Settings for Concert and Sports Photography | Ask David Bergman

Today's question from Al D. is, "What are your favorite settings on the Canon EOS R3 camera?"
Go to www.AskDavidBergman.com to submit your own photo question, see David's gear list, and view the episode archive.
00:00 Intro
02:14 Red Menu - Canon R3 Shooting
12:39 Pink Menu - Canon R3 Autofocus
22:21 Blue Menu - Canon R3 Playback
24:10 Yallow Menu - Canon R3 Setup
28:40 Orange Menu - Canon R3 Custom Functions
46:59 Green Menu - Canon R3 Menu Settings
48:10 Outro
As Luke Combs' tour photographer since 2019, David Bergman has documented the historic rise of the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year both on stage and off. But that's only the latest in Bergman's own storied 30+ year career. He spent nearly a decade traveling the world with Bon Jovi and has toured with other artists including Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, and Gloria Estefan. As a sports photographer, he covered numerous Olympics, Super Bowls, and World Series games, and has 13 Sports Illustrated covers to his credit. He's also photographed eight US Presidents, the Queen of England, and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. However, his proudest accomplishment is his work as a photo educator, where he has given back to the industry that has treated him so kindly. Through his unique "Shoot From the Pit" live concert workshops, Bergman has taught hundreds of aspiring music photographers in a real-world setting. His work as a Canon Explorer of Light, Adorama KZbin host, and public speaker has also helped photographers around the world advance their photography skills.
SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:
➥ / adoramatv
__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama!
www.adorama.com/MyAccount/Login
__________________________________
✘ PRODUCTS USED:
Canon R3 Mirrorless Camera Body
www.adorama.com/car3.html?kbi...
Atomos Ninja V 5" Touchscreen Recording Monitor
www.adorama.com/atomnjav01.ht...
✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:
Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame Digital Camera Body
www.adorama.com/car.html?kbid...
Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens
www.adorama.com/car2418.html?...
Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Black Aluminum Tripod with MVH502AH Pro Video Head
www.adorama.com/bg055xprob52....
CLAR Illumi Max 500 High Power 5600K LED Light
www.adorama.com/clilmax500sl....
Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XL Softbox With Bowens Mount (48")
www.adorama.com/glsbez48octa....
Prograde Digital 512GB SDXC UHS-II V90 Memory Card
www.adorama.com/pgrsd512gbck....
All Prograde cards and readers
adorama.rfvk.net/15bjkDw
#canonr3 #sportsphotography #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ TikTok / adoramanyc
➥ Facebook / adorama
➥ Instagram / adorama
➥ Twitter / adorama
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop www.adorama.com/
➥ Blog www.adorama.com/alc/
➥ Live Events www.adorama.com/g/42-live
__________________________________
Get more information about David's #shootfromthepit live concert photography workshops at
www.ShootFromThePit.com
One-on-one consultations with David:
www.askdavidbergman.com/1on1/
Follow David on Instagram:
/ davidbergman
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@Augnos]

This was awesome! I’m not a back-button focus shooter, but having an option to use back button focus to focus on a “non-people” subject is huge for me! Also the same exposure for new aperture is amazing! I’ve wanted a setting like this for years, and didn’t even know it was in my camera!

[@mrseafrog]

You covered almost all of my questions and answered some questions that I didn't even know to ask. Favorite new feature to basically automate the ISO to aperture so I don't have to keep adjusting for the exposure!! GREAT Setup Tutorial!!!

[@brendaorlowski7666]

Thank You for this video. I absolutely love my R3 and it’s great features. Your recommendations always make everything so much easier to navigate and understand. Thanks again! 😁

[@chatgen6149]

Informative as always, thank you!

[@richardwintle1020]

Lots to learn here. Thanks, David. Still shooting Nikon DSLRs but there are still some helpful ideas and lessons to be learned.

[@DocC-bq5rx]

Thank you for the great review. I just received a R6 Mark ii as a gift to upgrade my old 20D. What a quantum leap in technology for me. This video really helped me filling in all the concepts that I was not entirely putting together reading the Canon manual and Busch's book on the EOS R6 II. This was much appreciated.

[@CDeeez94]

Thanks for this. These types of videos really come in handy.

[@jeffk3556]

Thank you!!! Just bought my second R3 and figured I'd watch a video about it instead of doing off my own....definitely helped!!

[@HenriqueBasilioo]

Real question why having 2 r3?? I love mine too but not buying the second Ahahahaha

[@lplazaj]

I use the orange menu option "same expo for new aperture-->ISO speed" for my 200-400mm extender 1.4x lens, this keeps my exposure constant, as you explained. Great feature!

[@BrianKilgoreCanada]

I bought an R8 a couple of weeks ago. After watching your show, I'm glad I don't have the complications of the R3. Thanks for the show. --BAK--

[@bertnase9933]

Forgot: I use the Movie shooting Button for playback button in stills mode. You have to move the lever to use it as movie shooting button. I like it as the button is right (i.e. left ;-) by my thumb.

[@pauldouglas4971]

Really useful video thank you David. Purchased the R3 six weeks ago, bit overwhelming especially with all of the customisation and autofocus options. Be good if you could do a specific video on the R3 autofocus options, showing all of the options whether set in the menu or on custom buttons.

[@glennalexon1530]

Great; thanks for sharing your expertise. I have my DOF button set to "play image", so I can check the image quickly in the EVF without moving my hand or face.

[@Roy_Venema]

I use the quick control dial 1 for exposure compensation

[@louisepaige9461]

Thankyou

[@jeffhoskins3511]

Thank you! Best setup video I’ve seen. I just need an R3 😂 (but still extremely helpful for R6 mk ii)

[@rishirajsharma7654]

Hi David, On the subject tracking with eye autofocus, isn't double back button focus method better. That is where you assign one of thr back button for focusing and other for eye tracking. Just my opinion.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

That's what I do. One is subject tracking AF and the other is the traditional, expanded AF point.

[@johnheggie8020]

Another great video! I am unable to find the 'Copy Settings' function on the Canon R6 menu. What menu is this function under? Thank you.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

Unfortunately, I don't think the R6 has that function. :(

[@johnheggie8020]

Bummer 🙁

[@bertnase9933]

Just found this. "Don't correct me!" I love it. I use pretty much the same with small deviations in button programming. I have network enabled, it's easy and you have the GPS data in your metadata. That's nice to have sometimes. The "Same expo. for new aperture" is indeed available with Nikon Z9 and is called "Keep exp. when f/ changes"! I also save the settings to my computer and 2nd R3 but as I have different filenames to know which camera the images come from and to prevent having the same filenames from each camera I need to change that carefully when importing the settings to 2nd R3. And btw. I find the filenaming in R3 maximal intransparent. It drives my crazy ;-)

[@keithw8646]

I think they give you the option to shoot without a card so that if the camera is a display camera at a camera store customers can play with it without a card. It is impressive to hear that shutter flipping at high speed.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

True, but I would think it should be off by default. Most people wouldn't need that.

[@franberth]

I shoot with the R6 MKII. Lot of the setting similar, that's help thank. I think they give you the option to shoot without a card so that if you theter you can only save the files on the pc.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

Cool to have the option, but I think the default should be "off." :)

[@RedFiveTX]

Nice video. Can I ask why you want to shoot in mechanical versus electronic shutter. Why wear the shutter down if electronic shutter gives you the same quality shot?

[@craigc7708]

I use most of these settings - even for sports. However, while I shoot Manual, I use Auto ISO. The camera is smart enough to figure it out so that I don't have to think about it.

[@macwestcanon]

Dave is there a way to customize a button for exposure simulation on or off ? I cant find it thanks in advance. Mac

[@lambertpix]

Question - I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on an R3, but one of the Canon features I've become addicted to over the years is the ability to register custom settings and access them from the mode dial. I typically set up one of these for an action setting (based on Av), and one is set up for a panning setup (slower shutter based on Tv). I've seen that it's still possible to register custom functions in the R3, but I can't see where they're used anymore. Are these assignable to a button or dial?

[@jeffkernen1554]

Thank you for the video. I have a question. I'm coming from Nikon and have switched to the Canon R3. On Nikon, we had something called Dynamic Area AF where you had a single point AF that you put over your subject and if the subject left that AF point as you were tracking it, it would use the AF points around it to keep the subject tracked. You could use either 9, 21, or all 51 AF points to track the subject. Is there a similar setting that I'm missing on the R3 or is the Expand AF area the only solution? Note, I am not referring to eye tracking, just using a single point to track the subject on something like a soccer player's jersey. I often have to use single point as eye detect tracking will often select the wrong player's eye.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

Just turn subject tracking on. Then you can put the focus point on your subject and, as long as you half-button or back-button press and use servo to continuously focus, it should stay focused on your subject.

[@jeffkernen1554]

@@DavidBergmanPhoto Thanks. I'll try that again. I thought that option defaulted to eye autofocus. Which a lot of times, goes to the wrong person's eye.

[@jeffkernen1554]

Tried it tonight shooting soccer. Turned the tracking ON and turned subject to be tracked to OFF. Worked perfectly. I was still able to use eye autofocus using the AF-On button. Thanks again for the tip.

[@Snapit551]

Great video 👏🏻 is this r3 the best for low light high iso work camera?

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

R3 and R6 are both amazing at high ISOs.

[@_SYDNA_]

​​​@@DavidBergmanPhoto Thanks. That's been my question as well. I'm coming off a 5D-mkIV, shooting sports at 3200 to 4000, and needing a little more. I've been trying to figure out if I'd be able to take the ISO a little higher and by how much if I'm trying to at least preserve the quality found in a 5D4 at 3200. Sounds like R3, maybe R6, do make a meaningful improvement in high ISO clarity.

[@sijilo]

😊

[@angelogarciajr5356]

I have an R6 and R7. I use them for sports. The R6 for under the lights. What makes the R3 a reason to upgrade from the R6 for Friday Night Lights. Thx

[@LukeChristopherPhoto]

Dave, so not using the R5 anymore? 24mp is not an issue? I'm an R5 and R62 shooter, but looking sell one of them and get the R3. I borrowed one from CPS and when I had my R5 and the R3 strapped on me, I always went for the R3. It feels amazing in the hand and the files look to have more DR and are more natural looking.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

I use the R5 for portraiture and as my on-stage remote. 45 MP for those uses is awesome. But the R3, as you say, is my favorite "action" camera.

[@LukeChristopherPhoto]

@@DavidBergmanPhoto I have the R3 now, and use my R5 sparingly. I just love the image, regardless of the MP. It's just cleaner than the R5, the stacked sensor must help.

[@heqaib]

I always worry that an upgrade of firmware might change the menu settings. I use an R5. Is this a menu issue? TIA.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

Not sure what you’re asking. New firmware sometimes adds new menu items. But that’s because it sometimes gives us cool, new features.

[@heqaib]

Yes, you understood. What bugs me is that people do not always specify to which firmware they are explaining. I wonder if there is an easy source to know about the new features.@@DavidBergmanPhoto