Come back with nothing

[TheMethod2]

I went out today to try out my 500d for the first time using manual settings,i went down to the beach in Shaldon, Devon UK, Also went onto Dartmoor yesterday.
I used to have it on auto until i found this forum and wanted to get a bit more serious. I have been reading all the advice on here and a few books so i went out to try and get some nice shots using manual settings.
I must of taken around 200 pics which looked half decent on the camera screen. But when i got home and put them onto the laptop i ended up with no good pics at all.
I am hoping everyone will tell me this is normal when your first starting out because i was gutted when i got home :confused:

[Tracon]

This is normal. With Manual you need only adjust Aperture, Shutter, and ISO. Any combination thereof is dependent upon your subject and whether you wish to stop the motion or blur it. Others can elaborate on the specific techniques, but it is normal to shoot 200 pictures only to return and find no keepers. Your keep rate will go up dramatically with practice and as you become more comfortable shooting manual.

[tracknut]

It's a learning experience, for sure. Don't get depressed about it, but make sure you figure out what you did wrong:

- Were you looking at histograms while you shot?
- 200 shots is quite a few, maybe 50 shots with more attention to details would have been better?
- Do you know what you did wrong, or did you just throw out the pics?
- Do you have a plan for what you'd do differently next time?
- Was the issue really one of manual exposure, or was it that you were so focused on dealing with exposure that you ignored subject matter or composition?
- Did you get exposure right, but make poor decisions on shutter speed, ISO or aperture?

Those are just some questions you might ask yourself, I'm not asking you to answer them for us.

Dave

[Tee Why]

What was wrong with the images? Post samples with exif so we can see if there is something wrong with the settings and such.

[WaltA]

Please - post some shots. When moving to manual I found the usual cause of failure was camera shake.

[Olly_K1]

Been there, still doing it. Took some over the weekend which, like you say, looked awesome on the LCD. Really couldn't wait to get home and process them and when I did I threw them all in the bin.

I know what mistakes I made, so when I go next time, I'll try and improve. It's just a learning curve. For me anyway.

[RobKirkwood]

If they looked OK on the screen but not on laptop, I'm guessing it's a focus problem - which as has already been said is probably down to camera shake (too slow a shutter speed).

If you fancy trip across to Otterton/Budleigh Salterton in East Devon at a mutually convenient time I'd be happy to walk you through some basics, give you some pointers. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Rob

[WaltA]

One of the first challenges I had was determining the slowest shutter speed I could handhold a camera at.

The next was taking a long deep breath, slowing down and using the tripod (or monopod) every time I could.

[TheMethod2]

It's a learning experience, for sure. Don't get depressed about it, but make sure you figure out what you did wrong:

- Do you know what you did wrong, or did you just throw out the pics?
- Do you have a plan for what you'd do differently next time?
- Was the issue really one of manual exposure, or was it that you were so focused on dealing with exposure that you ignored subject matter or composition?


I just deleted all of the pics after looking at them, most were OOF due to camera shake, im guessing i should always use a tripod. Didnt look OOF on the LCD screen though. I did kind of forget what i was taking a shot of also, its a lot of stuff to try and remember.

What was wrong with the images? Post samples with exif so we can see if there is something wrong with the settings and such.

I deleted them all :(

If they looked OK on the screen but not on laptop, I'm guessing it's a focus problem - which as has already been said is probably down to camera shake (too slow a shutter speed).

If you fancy trip across to Otterton/Budleigh Salterton in East Devon at a mutually convenient time I'd be happy to walk you through some basics, give you some pointers. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Rob

That sounds good, thank you. Will PM

[nicksan]

Compare the good shots taken in auto with those you've taken in M and understand what happened.

Sounds to me like your shutter speeds were too slow to either to prevent blur from handshake, subject motion, or both.

[KCMO Al]

Simple rule: shutter speed should be equal to or higher than the focal length of the lens; 28mm = 1/30th; 50 = 1/60th; 100 = 1/125th, etc.
Biggest problem people seem to have is with exposure. You have to learn what to meter or exactly how your meter works if you are using evaluative. When I shoot in M, which is most of the time, I switch to spot or the smallest meter area available. Admittedly, I've been shooting this way for decades, but I'm usually able to get the proper exposure first time.
All I can say is practice, practice, practice and then analyze, analyze, analyze. You have to tools to do this on each file.

[blackhawk]

Shoot RAWs as this will give you more options if WB and exposure aren't right.

You need to learn to "see' like the camera does, as well as learn the basics. It really not as hard as it first seems, but getting it perfected is!

[400dabuser]

I deleted them all :(





You can get recovery software

[PhotosGuy]

What was wrong with the images? Post samples with exif so we can see if there is something wrong with the settings and such. This is ALWAYS a good place to start, because "i ended up with no good pics at all." doesn't even tell us what you think is the problem, & what you think it is may not be the problem?

Meanwhile, look at this Virtual Camera (http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/) & notice the background changes when you use his "Shutter and Aperture" settings!

And this is what happens when you use any "Auto" settings, including Tv & Av:
Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)
Click the "post #47" at the top-right of that post if you'd like more info on the subject.

[Sorarse]

I still find it a bit strange that people feel the need to go fully manual to get the best out of their camera. Yes, I know htat full manual gives you complete control of your images, but if they all end up in the bin, what have you accomplished?

If I know that I want to shoot at a shutter speed of 1/250s, for arguments sake, what's wrong with using Tv mode? Similarly if I want to shoot at a specific aperture, use Av mode. Surely the trick is to recognise when the camera meter is likely to be fooled in to giving the wrong exposure using these semi-auto modes, and then switch to manual to make the necessary corrections.

[Veemac]

...If I know that I want to shoot at a shutter speed of 1/250s, for arguments sake, what's wrong with using Tv mode? Similarly if I want to shoot at a specific aperture, use Av mode. Surely the trick is to recognise when the camera meter is likely to be fooled in to giving the wrong exposure using these semi-auto modes, and then switch to manual to make the necessary corrections.
Or use Exposure Compensation (in Tv or Av mode) to make the corrections.

I think it's more about knowing/understanding the principles of exposure than what particular mode one shoots in. Shooting in any mode can yield very poor results if the shooter doesn't know how/what to meter, what shutter speed is needed to avoid camera shake, what aperture is going to get the desired depth of field, what ISO is needed for existing light conditions, etc. Conversely, somebody with the proper fundamentals can turn out good, properly exposed images in any shooting mode. Shooting in Manual isn't some mystical thing that will magically transform every image into a fine art masterpiece...the same settings in Av or Tv mode (or even green box mode, for that matter) would (generally) yield the exact same results. Certainly there are times when Manual is the best choice - but for other situations, Av or Tv would do just as well.

In the vast majority of threads (I'll estimate over 90 percent) where users are complaining about their images, the error doesn't lie with the gear - it lies with a lack of fundamental understanding of exposure principles. That's why people ask for sample images with EXIF included. Hey, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a pro (far from it, as a matter of fact) - but even a nimrod like me can figure out what the problem is when somebody complains about the sharpness of their images, then posts a sample taken handheld in dim room light, shot at ISO 1600, f/32 and 1/3 second!