C.Fn-06 Exposure level increments

[martcol]

C.Fn-06 Exposure level increments

Do You Use

I/2 Stop
1/3 Stop

Can you explain why?

Martin

[Olegis]

I use 1/3 stops increments as they give me the ability to fine tune the exposure better than 1/2 ones.

[Scottes]

Same exact answer as Olegis.

Also, I had finally memorized all the 1/2-stop apertures and needed a new challenge. :)

[scottbergerphoto]

1/3

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Ditto the previous replies - except the one about memorising the stops. I had to build a web page (http://www.rogercavanagh.com/helpinfo/40_tvav.htm) to help me.

:)

Regards,

[scottbergerphoto]

Same exact answer as Olegis.

Also, I had finally memorized all the 1/2-stop apertures and needed a new challenge. :)
Maybe you should get out more :shock:

[Tapeman]

It is the default setting on my camera.

[justme_dc]

because in this case the math works like this: 1/3 > 1/2

Three choices as opposed to two seems like a no brainer to me. Why would you want to limit yourself?

[hmhm]

I use 1/2 stops because I've finally cured myself of the delusion that the added "precision" of 1/3 stops has any useful purpose in the real world (or, at least, in _my_ world), and 1/3 stops just means more dialing.
-harry

[martcol]

Maybe a cylcling analogy? The difference between 18 & 21 gears - who cares, hills still hurt. 8)

Martin

[Scottes]

Same exact answer as Olegis.

Also, I had finally memorized all the 1/2-stop apertures and needed a new challenge. :)
Maybe you should get out more :shock:

I have a thing with numbers. In high school I used to practice by multiplying 4- and 5-digit numbers and doing square roots in my head - I could generally get it down to a 5- or 6-digit mantissa before I had to stop. If I dial a telephone number I'll remember it for a couple weeks.

It scares my wife.

[Scottes]

I use 1/2 stops because I've finally cured myself of the delusion that the added "precision" of 1/3 stops has any useful purpose in the real world (or, at least, in _my_ world), and 1/3 stops just means more dialing.

That's really a good point, especially if you use RAW. So you'll be off by 1/6th of a stop. Who'll notice?

[maderito]

I switched from 1/2 to 1/3 increments after some early experience with shooting indoor sports action using the 10D. I thought I could better maximize shutter speed within the constraints of chosen aperture and ISO. I doubt there's a noticeable difference in the resulting images, but I felt more in control, especially given the limited dynamic range of the 10D sensor.

From the 10D manual, here are the one-half and one-third shutter speed increments, which still feel odd to me:


Shutter Speed Increments
By 1/2: 10 15 20 30 45 60 90 125 180 250 350 500 750 1000
By 1/3: 10 13 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 80 100 125 160 200 250 320 400 500 640 800 1000

[CyberDyneSystems]

Sometimes that 6th of a stop will get you a slightly faster shutter spoeed in low light...

1/3 all the way

[Belmondo]

Can I change my answer?

Actually, I use 1/2 because the numbers are easier to remember, and trying to remember the unfamiliar numbers of 1/3 f/stop slows me down because I have to stop and think about it. Admittedly, this will be less of a problem as time goes by, but for now, I'm looking for fewer things to learn....not more.

[Ballen Photo]

1/3 for the same reasons above.
.......Bruce

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

1/3 because I'm a control freak I guess.
And I love the idea of making small adjustments, it has saved me a few times in bad situations.

Greetings,
Frank

[martcol]

It scares my wife.

Man, you're scarin' me too!

How about with bracketing, does it make a difference there?

Martin

[Belmondo]

I have a thing with numbers. In high school I used to practice by multiplying 4- and 5-digit numbers and doing square roots in my head - I could generally get it down to a 5- or 6-digit mantissa before I had to stop. If I dial a telephone number I'll remember it for a couple weeks.

It scares my wife.

That's quite an accomplishment.

I was once in intensive care in the hospital for several days. Because of the nature of my problem, they wouldn't sedate me, and there was no TV or radio allowed in IR. The boredom was crushing after a day or two, so I started memorizing the progression of numbers beginning with 1, then doubled, and doubled again, and so forth. I finally got up to 4294967296 before they put me in a regular room with a television. With a little reflection, I can still recite that whole series of numbers in both directions.

I agree with the United Negro College Fund.....a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[robogobo]

It scares my wife.

Man, you're scarin' me too!

How about with bracketing, does it make a difference there?

Martin

Well, I think Bracketing is the only place that it matters... especially when shooting RAW. That lattitude of RAW files will most accurately overlap at about 2/3 stop. So I set my increments at 1/3, and bracket 2/3 over, 0, 2/3 under, OR if the difference between a handheld incident meter and the Camera meter are greater (higher contrast light), I'll bracket six or nine shots at 1/3 increments to cover my bases in post-production (layering in PS). The latter may be overkill, and may actually be a better place for 1/2 stop increments, but I 'd rather not go into the CFn menu more often than necesary, so I leave it at 1/3.

If you're not bracketing, then the theory of the 1/6 stop off in either direction holds true, and 1/2 stop means less dialing. Who really memorizes the numbers anyway? Just count clicks. Know your full stops, and you'll be in good shape (especially if you're a camera salesman; I had a calumet guy argue that 2.0-2.8 was a third stop, and I politely had him look it up for himself...ugh)

Rob

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