My first concern is that there still is no manual. There are options I would like to able to look up a manual to get guidance on. For example, I don't know how to bring up the full-screen level tool without going to image view, selecting an image and double-tapping the mini level to bring up the full screen level tool. There must be a direct way to do this. Otherwise, the inability to go directly to the level tool is another concern of mine!
You can not jump directly to the level. I'd love to see this implemented as a push-and-hold. E.g. push and hold the bottom right button and up pops the level.
That said the level can be set to both graphical (sexy in the marketing sense) and "values" which provide a very useful numerical readout. Best level I've seen, especially when combined with the Arca Swiss cube or other geared head it makes it wicked easy to get to 0.0 tilt and 0.0 rotation (same as in IQ).
After that, there is the on/off-button. I think it is too easily turned on (the slightest touch is enough) and I often find the battery flat when I get to use the back because it has turned itself on in my pack.
For better or worse I generally I recommend ejecting the battery for transport.
Next, I refer to the lack of a rear screen cover and a case to transport the back in.
Screenpatronus.com for good touchscreen covers.
The Credo and IQ have been out for a while now and I don't have any customers who have made a significant scratch in their glass. So I'm guessing yours is just on the shipping-protection-plastic. Still, an optional cover that fits over the entire back could be nice for backpacking or the like. For all of our rentals we simply use a lens wrap and haven't had any scratches throughout hundreds of rentals, nor have any of the rental houses (that are our customers) sent any in for scratch repairs. I'm not saying it's impossible; I'm sure it's possible with a hard enough pressure and a sharp enough edge, but, like the Gorilla Glass on the iPhone it's
much tougher than you'd think.
Including a bag or case to me is a mixed bag (pun intended).
On one hand "this costs a lot of money why don't they throgh in a case." On the other hand nothing is free so including anything means raising the cost of good which means increasing the retail price or sacrificing elsewhere. Given that 99% of photographers looking at a digital back already have a case/bag (or a dozen) I think it's a bit presumptuous for a manufacturer to say "this is the style of bag/case that we think will be best for all users" when in fact some users will want a small backpack, others a shipping hard case, and still others a satchel or other kind of bag.
On the other hand I like the rolling airline case provided by Phase with the IQ. You can buy those from any phase dealer (or any other good bag/case). It makes for a nice presentation and makes you feel good just having spent a lot on a camera system.
As a point of comparison Arca Swiss used to only sell their Cube head (nearly $2k) in a leather pouch. They figured that someone spending far more than $1k on a tripod head would want a nice presentation. Turns out that most people didn't use it, wanted to select their own wrap/bag/case/manner-of-transport. So they took it out and lowered the price a few hundred at the same time and I've never seen someone complain they didn't get the leather pouch.
One of the reasons that the Credo is lower priced than the cousin IQ series are reasons like this. So bare that in mind when you praise that you're glad to have a series available which has a lower list price than the IQ.
Next, is the inability to set owner details and copyright info on the back itself, as there is with the Aptus backs. This means that, if anyone "picks up" your back, you cannot prove that it is yours. I know the info on the Aptus backs can be deleted or replaced but it takes time and knowledge to do so. With the Credo, once the CF card is removed the back is indistinguishable from any other and retains no details of the owner.
You can add a custom splash screen with your name/info or use any of the many great gear tags out there to label yours.
Adding metadata in back would be nice, especially for tech camera users. I know many users have requested this and they understand it would be useful, so maybe it will be added at some point via firmware.
Next is the lack of file name customisation and the way the shots are numbered when using the back to review them. There are no options, as there are with the Aptus backs, to set a base file name to reference the job in some way, such as, "Bob & Muriel's wedding 2012".
Agreed. That would be a nice feature.
But, when you look at files on the back to review them, they are shown as "X/Y with X being the shot's rank by time in the shots on the card at the time and Y is the number of shots on the card at the time. As you delete shots from the card, both numbers can change. So, if you like a particular shot, you don't know which one it is because "4/54" does not tell you the file name of the shot, only that it is the fourth oldest shot on the card at the time. If you delete, say the first shot, what was 4/54 will become 3/53. There is no useful way to review shots by their own file number. There is an option to show the shots with their own file number but using that option obscures the shot with a large panel in the centre of the image which also shows other file info. You cannot swap easily from the review view showing X/Y to the view showing the real file number.
You can however rate the image 1-5 stars and assign a color tag which is a MUCH better way IMO to edit in the back. These tags/stars show up in Capture One without having to keep track of file names in the field.
Lastly, I am struggling to feel comfortable with the computer software supplied, Capture One 6. I am confused by all the options regarding input and output folders when all I want to do is have a look at my files. I understand Capture One has the ability to easily make adjustments to selected areas of an image but I am not sure if you can go back and refine the area initially selected for adjustment, as you can, using masks in Photoshop.
Yep, you can go back and make adjustments to the local mask. I suggest the online videos (free), user manual (free), user to user forum (free), a post here (free), or
capture one classes like our webinars and
full-day in person courses ($). Like any new piece of software in your arsenal you're going to find it confusing at first, but with time and/or training you'll figure it out. It's really great software.
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Most of these questions/concerns are things that most buyers would review with their dealer. Some of them are valid criticism / useful suggestions for changes to the UI. Some of them are just misunderstandings, and the software is entirely about education (on your own, or through classes).
I hope that with some more usage you'll find, like I do, that comparing the workflow-speed/quality of the interface of the Credo, despite missing some small but useful features from the Aptus II, is lightyears ahead of previous leaf backs.
It's hard to tell from the written world. Do I sense some resentment/anger? Did you buy from somewhere where you were able to use the back extensively before purchasing it? Did you buy from somewhere where all of your questions can be answered immediately and completely?