Considering a DSLR Camera

[61_OTU]

I just spotted a bit of a contradiction in my previous post.

I get tongue tied when talking about shutter speed. Below I say 'bump up the shutter speed' to describe the longer exposure of 1/60th sec. I also say 'drag the shutter speed right down' to describe a much shorter exposure of 1/2000th sec.

You want silky flowing water, close the aperture to bump up the shutter speed. You want to freeze action, open the aperture wide to f2.8 or the lowest f-stop you have to drag the shutter speed right down.

Elsewhere in my post I described them the opposite way around

[Hagar]

I just spotted a bit of a contradiction in my previous post.

I was wondering about that myself but thought you must know what you're talking about.

It's fine knowing all these technical aspects but the proof of the pudding is being able to apply them to get what you want. In all hobbies some people seem to enjoy talking about things rather than going out & doing. My advice is to get out there & have a go. If this involves a bit of experimentation it makes it all the more interesting & you learn from your own experience. This way you will eventually achieve your own style by taking the sort of photos you want & not trying to please the so-called "experts". I don't see the point of taking the same sort of photos as everyone else. I might as well look at theirs & save myself the bother.

It all depends on the subject & the type of photography you're interested in. It's fine if you have time to set up the shot. One of my interests is in what I call "snapshots in time" where you capture a particular moment for posterity. By the time I've set up the camera to my liking there's every chance the opportunity will be gone for ever. This is where the auto settings come in. I'd rather have a shot that is not technically perfect than none at all.*

OK, I know I'll never be a proper photographer but I enjoy what I do & I'm learning all the time.

*One example is the shot in my avatar which is probably the best photo I shall ever take. It was taken on full Auto with a 2MP Fuji I carry in my shirt pocket.

[61_OTU]

What's frustrating is that I was correct in what I said each time, I just reversed the terms of reference to talk about the duration (1/60th sec being a greater duration than 1/2000th sec) rather than the value (160 being *less* than 2000 numerically), with obviously great potential to confuse. I even read it through 3 times to check I hadn't done exactly that, as it's something I have done before, but still managed to do it anyway!

You're right about getting out and trying it, these concepts will only start to stick once you have had an opportunity to try it, failed, looked again at why it went wrong, then tried again. With my old camera I was frustrated at not being able to get longer exposures until I finally bit the bullet and got a tripod, then it became obvious why it wasn't working.

Sorry for suggesting anyone using Auto is a wimp  :-[

My advice to use Av is really only one step away from that, as I base my general photography on 3 choices, shallow, medium and large depth of field. Normally I leave the camera on f2.8 or equivalent to make the most of the available light, if I am concerned that the area of focus provided by this is too small then I move it up to f8. If I want a full landscape then I stick it on a tripod and wind it up to f32.

These are effectively the same choices that are made when macro, portrait and landscape picture modes are selected on most cameras.

I'm reading a book on composition at the moment as I think, despite my fleeting understanding of the technical side coming a close second, it is the weakest element in my photography  :-/

[Hagar]

What's frustrating is that I was correct in what I said each time, I just reversed the terms of reference to talk about the duration (1/60th sec being a greater duration than 1/2000th sec) rather than the value (160 being *less* than 2000 numerically), with obviously great potential to confuse. I even read it through 3 times to check I hadn't done exactly that, as it's something I have done before, but still managed to do it anyway!

Now I'm even more confused. LOL

I think the most important thing is to be familiar with your equipment & be aware of its capabilities. It's all very well knowing the basic principles of photography but this will be no use at all if you forget how to set it up when you need it. Some of the settings on my camera are not exactly logical unless you practice changing them on a regular basis. It should eventually become instinctive until you use a different camera. Some basic settings on my 350D are different from those on the 400D & 450D (& Andrew's 40D)

My advice to use Av is really only one step away from that, as I base my general photography on 3 choices, shallow, medium and large depth of field. Normally I leave the camera on f2.8 or equivalent to make the most of the available light, if I am concerned that the area of focus provided by this is too small then I move it up to f8. If I want a full landscape then I stick it on a tripod and wind it up to f32.

This again will depend on the subject. I take a lot of photos of light aircraft & warbirds where a blurred prop disc is important. I prefer aerial shots over static ones on the ground. Some people like a blurred background giving the impression of speed which involves even slower shutter speeds. (This does not apply when the background is the sky.) I generally use the Tv setting where I can quickly adjust the shutter speed to suit. I let the camera look after the aperture as there generally isn't time to do it manually. I still make a lot of annoying mistakes by forgetting to change the settings to suit the conditions, especially when I haven't done it for a while. A couple of weeks ago I took a lot of photos on the wrong ISO setting before realising it. This spoiled most of my photos for the day but hopefully it's another lesson learned.

I'm reading a book on composition at the moment as I think, despite my fleeting understanding of the technical side coming a close second, it is the weakest element in my photography

Composition is as important as anything else but a lot will depend on experience & practice. I get a lot of useful tips on the subject from an artist friend as the basic principles apply. I would repeat, don't be afraid to experiment. If it looks right it usually is right.

[61_OTU]

I take a lot of photos of light aircraft & warbirds where a blurred prop disc is important. I prefer aerial shots over static ones on the ground. Some people like a blurred background giving the impression of speed which involves even slower shutter speeds. (This does not apply when the background is the sky.) I generally use the Tv setting where I can quickly adjust the shutter speed to suit.

Agree 100% there Doug, for props or rotors there really is no other way to do it than to fix a slower shutter speed on the Tv dial. You may feel that you make lots of mistakes, but your light aircraft shots show that you get it right plenty often enough  ;)

[Omag 2.0]

When spotting I usually go for the Tv-setting and play with the ISO if needed.

Only when things get really though, I switch to manual, during concerts for instance. It all boils down to what you like in the end.

Auto is perfect for snapshots in plenty of light, but if conditions get worse, I need more control to get the results I want.

But, as Hagar stated... getting out and shooting is far more important then poundering about what settings you need when. That can only give you a base to start from, you still need to adjust the settings as required by the moment. And that's a thing you only learn by doing and making mistakes...  ;)

[BFMF]

Well, I finally got the camera today, and took a 100 or so photos messing around with the settings.

I'll post a few photos in a new thread