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mutinyphoto
Administrator
Posts: 926
Registered: Apr 2007 |
 Posted August 21st, 2007 23:52 IP   
Neal
I have a canon 400d, when i try manual mode, i get my aperture to what i want and shutter speed.
However the exposure meters way over to the left all the time i think 2 stops, help!!!! what am i doing wrong?
tom
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thesnapper
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Posts: 5209
Registered: Apr 2007 |
Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:01 IP
Tom, you have to set you shutter speed and Aperture to match the lighting, you cant simply just pick two settings. I mostly meter of the ground in manual mode. If you are going for depth of field select a closed aperture like F11 0r F16 and then adjust your shutter speed so the metering in the camera is centered ond not to left or right. Remember you dont want anything lower than 1/30th sec or you risk camera shake and a blurred pic.
Opposite applies if going for a shallow depth of field...select 2.4/f4 and then meter and adjust your shutter speed so the needle is again centered. You will most likely have a fast shutter speed this way which can also be using for freezing action etc.
Also make sure you are not confussing the exposure compensation arrows with the main exposure indicator.
Anyone else care to chip in here !!!!!!!!!!
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mutinyphoto
Administrator
Posts: 926
Registered: Apr 2007 |
Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:22 IP
Neal
So i half hold the shutter via the ground and it should give me a reading, right? or do i do something else?
tom
p.s. i read on someones signature once only pros shoot jpeg, i think i will stick with Raw!
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thesnapper
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Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:33 IP
Stick with Raw 100% if you have the time, i just shoot jpeg for speed in dev times
Yes half hold the shutter button and move either the aperture or shutter speed so needle is centered. There are times when you would not meter of the ground.......ie you have a lot of sky in the pic. Green grass and grey concrete are good surfaces to take your meter readings from.
For weddings if i am shooting in manual i use a lightmeter with a cone and always take incident readings (light falling on subject) by holding meter at subject and pointing towards camera. The other type is reflective reading were you measure the light being reflected by the subject by pointing the meter at the subject away from the camera. This is less accurate and can be fooled by large areas of white or dark tones........ie a brides dress
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mutinyphoto
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Posts: 926
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Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:35 IP
aaaaahhhh i will try and post the results!
tom
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thesnapper
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Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:42 IP
your camera will have different metering options like spot metering, average, centre weighted etc, I always tend to use centre weighted and spot. Spot is good for portraits taking a reading from say the skin, while i use centre weighted for landscapes etc.
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mutinyphoto
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Posts: 926
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Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:50 IP
Ok will try -
Thanks photo guru!
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Ronnie
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Posts: 1483
Registered: Jul 2007 |
Posted August 22nd, 2007 00:52 IP
Tom i have been having a good look at this camera over the past few weeks.. so would be great to see some pictures from it...
Cheers Ronnie
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Andrew
Administrator
Posts: 903
Registered: Apr 2007 |
Posted August 22nd, 2007 05:15 IP
Ronnie great entry level DSLR, I have the Canon 350D the 400's predecessor and is a great camera for the price!!
Andrew
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them............
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PDEEE
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Posted August 24th, 2007 12:49 IP
Like Andrew I have a 350D, my only fault with it is it is a little too small, a battery pack would help here. Tom once you understand what Neal has so ably explained to you on the aperture – shutter speed settings, it will become second nature for you to choose between aperture and shutter speed priority modes... I use aperture priority for most of my shots and find I have little to alter on the exposure side for most of my pics in Ps. With the 350 and 400D it is easy to take readings from the shadow part of a scene, as well as a general exposure.
You may also want to look at the white balance settings in the menu, there are seven or eight different displays, Auto, Daylight, Shade, etc etc.
The area I find most difficult to get correct is the sky, but have started to use a Cokin ND graduated filter which is helping.
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thesnapper
Administrator
Posts: 5209
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Posted August 25th, 2007 00:01 IP
Pat........would you believe me if i said for most of my press work i use program mode..... ...ok i do keep an eye on the SP and Ap but i figure these companies spend millions on development and research and 99/100 i get the desired result. I use TTL flash with a Metz 76 and its just a case of hitting the +/_ to get my desired fill
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PDEEE
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Posted August 26th, 2007 10:32 IP
Neal I think a lot depends on the situation that you find yourself in, the camera is usually in a program mode while walking about, ready for a "grab" shot, when I have time to take the picture I then I go for AP or SP. I have three flash units, all rather old from my B&W and transparency days, i only use the built in flash on the Canon these days.... the price of modern flash stops me from buying.....
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mutinyphoto
Administrator
Posts: 926
Registered: Apr 2007 |
Posted October 5th, 2007 09:13 IP
Neal
I tried in manual mode, but could not get the needle even near the centre, so what i had to do is put it in p mode then go back to manual with those settings.
what am i doing wrong?
tom
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thesnapper
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:11 IP
Ok say for example the program reading gave you 250th sec at F8, when you go to manual mode with these settings and you start to move the aperture up and down does the needle move then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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mutinyphoto
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:22 IP
So if i want a larger aperture do i change the shutter speed to match!
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thesnapper
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:29 IP
Yes you first choose your aperture and then move the shutter speed so the needle lines up in the centre. If the needle does not make the centre then your aperture is too closed and you need to open it up. Try it one stop at a time until you are able to get the needle in the centre.
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mutinyphoto
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:31 IP
ok will give another bash, thanks photo guru!
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thesnapper
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:32 IP
say f8 at 250 sec gave correct exposure !!!!! so also would
F5.6 at 500sec, F4 at 1000th sec, f11 at 125th sec and f16 at 60 sec
Can you spot the relationship !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as one goes up by a stop the other goes down by a stop but all the readings you see with be correctly exposed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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mutinyphoto
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:40 IP
ok i will try!
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Andrew
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Posted October 5th, 2007 12:42 IP
Have you double checked your figures Neal........rofl
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them............
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thesnapper
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Posted October 5th, 2007 15:32 IP
no comment, talking about figures how many points are England going to beat the Aussies by tonight in the Rugby World Cup !!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you subtract the points Aus get from the points England get that should be the answer but i dont think my maths is up to that !!!!!!!!!!!
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Splitting Pixels :: Photography :: Photography Advice :: Manual Mode |
