G5 & Tv, Av, & Manual Settings ???

[Ted Barto]

Help! After years with a number of quality SLR film cameras utilizing variations of either mechanical/electronic quick "match needle" functions to arrive at compatible aperature and shutter settings I am stumped by the G5. Am I correct to assume that:

1. I must use the LCD?

2. That this is much trial and error of trying different combinations until I do not get a "red" indicator in the LCD?

If correct, this seems like a horribly complicated and inexact process for an otherwise terrific camera. I want to be competent with these functions as I prefer them to many of the presets but I can't believe that there isn't a quicker and more straighforward method.

Truthfully? I'm embarrassed to submit this because I think I can read the manual fairly well and I've had many years of experience with good cameras but this has got me frustrated. What have I misssed? Where am I screwing this up? Any assistance would be much appreciated. :cry:

Thanks, Ted

[sdommin]

Am I correct to assume that:

1. I must use the LCD?

No, you do not have to use the LCD, but you're putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don't. The "live" LCD is one of the best reasons to use a compact digicam like the G5.



2. That this is much trial and error of trying different combinations until I do not get a "red" indicator in the LCD?

Truthfully? I'm embarrassed to submit this because I think I can read the manual fairly well and I've had many years of experience with good cameras but this has got me frustrated. What have I misssed? Where am I screwing this up? Any assistance would be much appreciated. :cry:

Sounds like you're (1) still trying to use your digital camera like a film camera, and (2) you're trying too hard. There shouldn't be any trial and error with the TV and AV modes, as long as you don't ask the camera to do something you wouldn't do if it was loaded with film. Pick a reasonable shutter speed or aperture, and fire away. If the camera doesn't like what you chose, you'll know. With manual, there will be some trial and error, but at least you'll know within seconds how to adjust for your next shot.

[PeterS45]

Help! After years with a number of quality SLR film cameras utilizing variations of either mechanical/electronic quick "match needle" functions to arrive at compatible aperature and shutter settings I am stumped by the G5.

I think you're used to having a wider range of apertures on your SLR's like from 2.8 or maybe even 1.8 to 22 or smaller, and that's something you're missing in the G5. It starts of with 2.0 in wide-angle or 3.0 in tele and stops at 8 as smallest aperture, so when you're used to take pictures in bright daylight using the Tv setting choosing 1/60 or 1/125 than it's impossible for the camera to choose an aperture value of 11 or 16 because it's not available.

That's the adaption I myself also had to make, just forgetting the exposure values I always used in certain circumstances.

Good Luck with your great camera :)

[Ballen Photo]

I've just been putting it in either AV or TV after choosing ISO and "LET ER RIP" with good results. I do tend to like keeping my shutter speeds a bit on the high side too.
.......Bruce

[Riccardo]

Remember the difference with film: in analogic you expose for darkness and develop for lights, in digital you must expose for lights, the latitude is less, and your istogram must be on the right.

[kreego]

Remember the difference with film: in analogic you expose for darkness and develop for lights, in digital you must expose for lights

Riccardo is absolutely right - its really easy to wash out the highlights, but at the same time you can bring out all kinds of details in the shadows with photo editing software.

FWIW - I'm a foreground/background fiend, always obsessing about depth of field. http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp?cat=&photoID=341013 I always used aperature priority on my Canon A1s, and naturally adopted the Av setting on the G5 I had my company buy for work. What's indeed disconcerting is that the range of F-stops is much more limited, but I would recommend accepting the new range (F2/3 <> F8 ) and using these to their advantage. For short depth of field, what works well for me is full optical zoom, plus F3. I can get exactly the same results as my 50 mm FD 1.8 lens, out to about 4-5 meters, which is generally adequate for detailed people shots. For technical reasons that I'm aware of but don't understand enough to explain, (circle of confusion) the small sensors on this type of camera keep one from obtaining shallow depth of field further out. It will be interesting to see if the Canon focal multiplier will help...

Sorry for the long post!

K

[Ted Barto]

Scott, Peter, Bruce, Cia and Kreego - many thanks for your advice and suggestions. I need to "cool my jets" a bit and begin to better understand the parameters of digital vs. film.

This is such a great forum for getting sound assistance - its wonderful. Have a great summer. - Ted