Calling Canon Sx20 Users( Say WHAAAAAT)?

[owataqt]

Hi everyone, new here and just purchased my first LOL real camera. Trust me if it means I set the apperture, Iso, and Shutter Speed. Its a real camera.. or heck what do I know. I just didnt buy it cause I thought it was cute or pink.. wink wink.. thats how I use to purchase a camera. I really want to learn how to take better photos.. Trust me.. most people have kept me from a camera because I take such bad photos.. but I am going to learn all I can I show em STRAIGHT!!!! they can eat their words!!! wink wink

Need someone to tell me though... or fix my problem. I have had it for a week now. Playing and learning and loving it. I was under the assumption setting manual meant I could have full control of the triangle... It doesnt let me. It blocks certain apperture settings.. or even certain shutter speeds?? I want full control. I want 1/60 and F 2.8.. but it wont allow me to do this at times. Also noticed when I set the features.. it switches them on me. Am I not programming this camera correctly its so saaaaaaad.. thinking maybe I should have really gone Dslr?? boohoo..

help me please if you can!!!!Show me what I am doing wrong.. I dont know where to turn too.. I am the only person around who has a Canon sx20 so others dont know if the camera just works this way.. or is their issues

when you go to manual.. and you set your apperture/iso/shutterspeed.. Will it also block you out of certain Apperture/or shutter speed?/ I do know my camera only goes F 2.8-8 but.. I want to control where it goes.. which App.. but it doesnt let me do this..What am I doing wrong?or it lets me go to that.. and then gives me a closed window frame for use of Shutterspeed.. and vice/versa..

HELP>> HELP.. I love my camera.. but need to know if this is a malfunction?? or apart of the camera?? and how to override it!! LOL if possible

[Jon]

Your camera only goes to f/2.8 at its widest zoom; it's an f/2.8-5.7 which means that at 5 mm, its maximum aperture is f/2.8 but at 100 mm, it's only an f/5.7; the camera doesn't have f/2.8 available once you zoom past 12-15 mm.

If you go to use flash, there's a "sync speed" (somewhere around 1/200 sec IIRC) - the camera won't let you use a faster shutter speed with flash because the flash has to fire when the shutter's all the way open; at faster shutter speeds that never happens.

There are other interactions like those you may run into; there are also features like "Safety Shift" designed to keep you from getting out of the usable exposure range. And only if the Mode Dial is in M wil you be able to set both shutter and aperture; If you can set aperture, but not shutter speed, it sounds like you're in Av mode; similarly if you can set shutter but not aperture, you're in Tv.

[owataqt]

Originally Posted by Jon

Your camera only goes to f/2.8 at its widest zoom; it's an f/2.8-5.7 which means that at 5 mm, its maximum aperture is f/2.8 but at 100 mm, it's only an f/5.7; the camera doesn't have f/2.8 available once you zoom past 12-15 mm.

If you go to use flash, there's a "sync speed" (somewhere around 1/200 sec IIRC) - the camera won't let you use a faster shutter speed with flash because the flash has to fire when the shutter's all the way open; at faster shutter speeds that never happens.

There are other interactions like those you may run into; there are also features like "Safety Shift" designed to keep you from getting out of the usable exposure range. And only if the Mode Dial is in M wil you be able to set both shutter and aperture; If you can set aperture, but not shutter speed, it sounds like you're in Av mode; similarly if you can set shutter but not aperture, you're in Tv.

thanks Jon.. No I understand the difference between.. tv setting and av mode.. got that.. just wasnt sure what was going on with the manual mode!! soooooo your saying.. just for me to clarify.. My CAMERA ISN'T BROKEN?? this happens..so it only lets you do so much anyways.. ?? Wiping forhead whoooheeey my camera is just fine!!!? What a releif..

now Jon, question for you.. is that how it is with Dslr's?? the camera blocks you from going out of exposure in a sense?? or with a Dslr?? you can in manual mode.. do exactly as you wish?? just curious

[duckduckdog]

I originally purchased a DSLR (Canon XS) but actually ended up returning it for the SX20IS - I don't remember exactly, but I BELIEVE that it was the same on the XS as my XS20. Again, I don't have the XS anymore, so I can't be 100% sure, but that is what I remember. Hope this is correct and hope it helps.

[childsuccess]

I just got my XS20 and appreciate some of the info here. Thanks
Larry

[Jon]

If you set pure manual in a DSLR (or in an SX20), you can set any aperture or shutter speed that's available to you, even if that will mean you're going to get a serious overexposure or underexposure. But it'll only let you set an available speed. With a DSLR, I can't set f/1.4 with my 24-70 f/2.8 lens, even though the camera supports f/1.4 with a 50 f/1.4 lens. Similarly, using my 100-4000 f/4.5-5.6 it won't let me shoot at f/4.5 and 400 mm.

[NOsquid]

Originally Posted by owataqt

now Jon, question for you.. is that how it is with Dslr's?? the camera blocks you from going out of exposure in a sense?? or with a Dslr?? you can in manual mode.. do exactly as you wish?? just curious

It depends on the lens. Cheaper zoom lenses commonly have an aperture that closes down as you zoom in, just like your camera. Bigger/constant aperture = $$

You'd be spending a lot more on a DSLR and a nice lens and no amount of money will buy you the zoom range of your SX20 in a single lens. Right now I suspect there is plenty you can work on with your current camera. Also, aperture control is not as important on a compact camera - you won't notice a big difference in the depth of field wide open versus closed down.

[FxFocus]

Just to say that if you are new to serious photography and SX20 is your first camera with comprehensive manual controls then you may benefit from reading this book which is available as an eBook or ring bound printed PDF document... (note PDF version black and white)

http://www.shortcourses.com/store/canon-sx20is.html

I have no interest in promoting this book other than having found it helpful myself. I would not recommend it to anyone that does not consider themselves a novice photographer.

Please also bear in mind that I am a novice myself so cannot testify as to the technical accuracy of the book.

[faizanrashid]

FxFocus, like you, I'm pretty much a novice and I've come across this book before but have never had the urge to pick it up. Is it better (i.e. more useful in a practical sense) than the manual that comes with the camera?

[FxFocus]

Originally Posted by faizanrashid

FxFocus, like you, I'm pretty much a novice and I've come across this book before but have never had the urge to pick it up. Is it better (i.e. more useful in a practical sense) than the manual that comes with the camera?

What I found useful was the way it teaches you the basics of photography within the context of the SX20. Also it fills the gap left by the absence of a printed manual.

Downside of the printed version, it's very expensive when you add in cost of overseas postage. May be cheaper to buy the digital version and print it out yourself.

By the way, the printed version comes spiral bound not ring bound as I mistakenly wrote earlier.

[faizanrashid]

Ok FX, thanks - might just get the digital/online version of it then.