New to manual photography

[Pat H]

Hello, I found this forum a few days ago and have found it extremely helpful so far. A really great resource! Anyway, I was using a $250 digital point and shoot up until a few weeks ago when i finally decided to get a DSLR and ditch automatic photography. After debating between the Nikon D70 and the Rebel XT, I went with the XT. But as much as I love the camera and using an SLR, I'm getting frustrated with manual photography. My problem lies in the fact that I have no idea how to go about determining shutter speed and aperture values to meet a particular situation. Do i need to get a light meter, or can the camera give me a good idea of what to select? I know this is a broad and pretty basic topic (forgive me, I'm a newb ;) ), but any help is appreciated.

[Jaymz]

Welcome to the boards. :)

I can't offer really any help on the settings issue, I myself am still learning. I do know that on my 20D it has, as I understand it, an exposure meter in the view finder that I follow. Not sure about the XT though.

[tim]

The best way to learn what settings to use is to use one of the auto modes on the camera until you get a feel for it. I use Av 90% of the time, but you can use P and the dial by the shutter button to shift the program. Don't forget you can set your ISO with the push of a button.

Lax - the XT is almost exactly the same as the 20D, there aren't many differences really.

[Moppie]

Learn how to use the exposer meter.

I have no idea how the one in the XT works, but the one in my A80 shows how far out it thinks you are in 1/3s of a stop untill you reach a full stop, then up to 3 full stops either side. Buy using it as a guide I learned over a few thousand shots how to set my own exposure and check it with the camera meter, using it as a guide, but still be free to over or under expose as needed, or I see fit for effect.

But, as Tim suggested, start by useing one of the semi-auto modes like TV or AV, or useing P or Auto and watching what settings the camera uses.
Then when you do go full manual stick to using only one apature setting, say F8, and adjust only the shutter speed to suit.
You will soon get an eye for what shutter speeds works best with what light, and you can then move onto adjusting both the apature and shutter speed, and learn how altering each effects your photos.
For example you might find that 1/500ths of a second at F8 will give you the right exposure, but you want to use a differnt shutter speed to stop action, so you choose a shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second and with practice will learn what to adjust your apature to so you still get correct exposure.

[Radtech1]

Rather than trying to set the Aperture AND the Shutter Speed, set one and let the camera set the other. The Av setting will lock the Aperture Value at the setting of your choice, and then the camera will select an appropriate Shutter Speed. The Tv setting will lock the Time Value (read: Shutter Speed) at the setting of your choice, and then the camera will select an appropriate Aperture.

That leave the question, "HOW do you know which one to choose?"

If you have a fast moving subject (sports, etc), then lock your shutter using the Tv setting. You would want it at 1/250 or shorter. REALLY fast movers require speeds of 1/1000 or shorter. (Please see my reply in this post http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45746 for a bit on subject motion)

If you have the luxury of saying, "OK, now, hollllllllld still." then you should select as wide open aperture (Small f number). This results in a blurry background. Smaller apertures (Large f numbers) tend to leave the background sharp(er).


Welcome and good luck

Rad

[Pat H]

Thanks a lot guys, great advice. I guess I'll just have to experiment :)

[PhotosGuy]

Read the "Sticky"s & start experimenting here:
Virtual CameraVirtual Camera (http://www.camerasinteractive.com/index.php#)

[EddieA]

You have 'three' metering modes on the 350D - the evaluative mode is excellent for most subjects.
In M = manual mode the camera will tell you in the viewfinder if you are over or under-exposing.
Av and Tv modes (as above reply) mean you don't have to set everything.
You can also bracket shots and (except in manual mode) dial in exposure compensation.
Take a pic, check it on LCD and histogram - take another - they're free!
Use your image playback and histogram. (and Exif on the computer) to review your pics and learn about exposure.
Everything you need is in the camera or on this forum - Good Luck!

[chtgrubbs]

If getting the right exposure is your biggest priority you need to learn how to read the histogram and adjust your exposure accordingly. Manual control of aperture helps control depth of field and manual control of shutter speed controls motion stopping and image blur due to camera movement. Choosing the optimal combination for the situation is based on judgement.

In Program Mode the camera sets both aperture and shutter speed and you can use exposure compensation to modify expsure and program shift to select the aperture-shutterspeed combination which gives you the optimum trade off in terms of depth of field and motion stopping.

Aperture Priority allows you to set the f/stop for your desired amount of depth of field and the cameras sets the necessary shutter speed. Shutter priority allow you to set the shutter speed necessary to stop motion and the camera selects the f/stop.

[Hellashot]

Welcome to the boards. :)

I can't offer really any help on the settings issue, I myself am still learning. I do know that on my 20D it has, as I understand it, an exposure meter in the view finder that I follow. Not sure about the XT though.

The XT has the identical information in the viewfinder as your 20D, same as my Drebel.

[ScottE]

For most lenses, the optimum aperture for sharpest photos is a stop or two down from maximum aperture. There is an old newspaper photographers motto of, "f/8 and be there" meaning they set their camera aperture at f/8 and tried to be at the scene of the action.

This is still a good axiom for photographers. Many lenses offer their best performance at about f/8 and that aperture generally gives good depth of field. On your camera, set in in Av mode and set the aperture at f/8 by turning the dial by the shutter. Now watch the shutter speed in the view finder when you press the shutter part way down. If it is less than the focal length of your lens, either increase the ISO setting to increase the shutter speed or use a tripod or other device to steady the camera.

After you have mastered that, start experimenting with aperture setting. Using a larger aperture, such as f/4 will give you less depth of field so you can keep your subject in focus, but throw the background more out of focus. Using a smaller aperture such as f/16 will give more depth of field so you can get the background in better focus. You can see this by either using the depth of field preview button (the view finder will get very dark at small apertures) or by taking a series of comparative shots and examining them on your computer.

Have fun. Its a fun thing to learn.

Scott