Av settings

[asylum24]

Ok i just figured out how to change the settings but to get the star looking stuff off of lights I was told I need to get my Av down to like 2, but the lowest I can get is 3.5... how can I lower it more??

also tell me if im wrong cuz I may be... i dont really know phototerms....

[PacAce]

Ok i just figured out how to change the settings but to get the star looking stuff off of lights I was told I need to get my Av down to like 2, but the lowest I can get is 3.5... how can I lower it more??

Hmmm, I thought it was the other way around, that you wanted the aperture to really be small. But then, it's been a while so I may be really off base on this one.

Oh, BTW, if your lens only goes to 3.5, then it only goes to 3.5. Nothing you can do about that to make it wider (lower number).

[asylum24]

i dont know really what im talkin about.... i changed hte little numbers next to the shutter speed numbers that is also next to the number of pictures left and above the +/- stuff.... i changed it to 3.5 and it wouldnt go any lower... i really have no idea on what im doing lol

[G3]

That "star looking stuff" is created by the light coming through the lens reflecting off the blades of the aperture. How many points your star has depends on how many blades your aperture has. You need to be stopped way down and have a fairly small (in relation to the total image)concentrated light source to get that effect. DO NOT POINT YOUR CAMERA DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!!!!! If your lens is set wide open, say f2.8, or whatever your max aperture is, it won't work. You need a small aperture, f8 or smaller. A lot of contrast helps, too...for instance, twilight or night shots with something like a bright streetlight in the scene.

I occasionally use a 6-point star-effect filter to get that effect on things like Rings Shots, or for the wine glasses in the Toast Shots in a Wedding job, or sometimes in a product shoot if it calls for a star effect. It's the easy way to get that effect...you don't have to worry about aperture, etc. All you need is something that will reflect a small point of light.

[asylum24]

ok so when a person says f2.8 what exactly does that mean? is it different than Av?

[Volatile]

In Av mode, when you spin the dial, you adjust the size of your aperture. Just like your eye, when your pupils are dilated (large), more light comes in, enabling you to see better in the dark. But, when you go into the bathroom in the middle of the night, and flip on the light, your eyes hurt from too much light.

Same thing in your camera. Aperture is measured in f-numbers, a smaller number means a larger aperture. I'm going to guess you have the 18-55 kit lens with a 300d, and yes, f3.5 is the lowest it will go.

I recommend you read this faq: http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/

It is a great place to start, I have read it about 5 times now and still learn something new each time.

[asylum24]

Alright will do. your analogy helped, thanks. Like I said, I dont know terms, I just know what the blinking numbers do ;) and thats only half the time :)

and yes I have the lense that came with the kit and also a Kodak 80-210, and canon 28-80 lenses.