Camera practice: getting to know you camera like the back of your hand

I'm just curious how people on here "practice" to get to know their camera settings/buttons/etc. For example, take a basketball player. They are likely going to practice certain moves and shots (like free throws) so that it becomes second nature and they can react instantly, without even thinking.

I hate missing shots because of something I could have done better and faster (I don't mind as much if I just didn't have the knowledge or experience since I'm constantly learning more and more about photography), so I will actually practice switching camera settings as fast as possible without looking away from the viewfinder. I will sometimes even just keep my eyes closed. I aim to be able to move from say iso 800, f2.8, 1/250 to iso 400, f4, 1/100 as close to instantly as possible…knowing exactly how many clicks or rotations of the wheel can get me there, and how that feels and sounds. I know it may sound a little excessive, but it can make the difference between getting and missing the shot.

Anyone else do this type of "practice?"

kuma1212 wrote in post #16634633
I'm just curious how people on here "practice" to get to know their camera settings/buttons/etc. For example, take a basketball player. They are likely going to practice certain moves and shots (like free throws) so that it becomes second nature and they can react instantly, without even thinking.

I hate missing shots because of something I could have done better and faster (I don't mind as much if I just didn't have the knowledge or experience since I'm constantly learning more and more about photography), so I will actually practice switching camera settings as fast as possible without looking away from the viewfinder. I will sometimes even just keep my eyes closed. I aim to be able to move from say iso 800, f2.8, 1/250 to iso 400, f4, 1/100 as close to instantly as possible…knowing exactly how many clicks or rotations of the wheel can get me there, and how that feels and sounds. I know it may sound a little excessive, but it can make the difference between getting and missing the shot.

Anyone else do this type of "practice?"

The best practice is to use the camera to take actual pictures. As often as possible and at real events.

Also, there may be other issues at hand if you need to constantly change camera settings. You might be better off using an autoexposure mode such as Program AE or autobracketing or even Auto ISO so you can concentrate on framing and subject.

The only circumstances that typically would require constant and rapid camera setting changes would be extremely variable lighting of the type that you'd get outdoors with high broken clouds. For other situations, such as variable concert lighting, only an exposure master could compensate for every slight change. Chasing the needle can only go so far.

kuma1212 wrote in post #16634633
I'm just curious how people on here "practice" to get to know their camera settings/buttons/etc. For example, take a basketball player. They are likely going to practice certain moves and shots (like free throws) so that it becomes second nature and they can react instantly, without even thinking.

I hate missing shots because of something I could have done better and faster (I don't mind as much if I just didn't have the knowledge or experience since I'm constantly learning more and more about photography), so I will actually practice switching camera settings as fast as possible without looking away from the viewfinder. I will sometimes even just keep my eyes closed. I aim to be able to move from say iso 800, f2.8, 1/250 to iso 400, f4, 1/100 as close to instantly as possible…knowing exactly how many clicks or rotations of the wheel can get me there, and how that feels and sounds. I know it may sound a little excessive, but it can make the difference between getting and missing the shot.

Anyone else do this type of "practice?"

What type of shooting do you aim to do? Things differ according to what you are shooting, and also according to the conditions you are shooting in!

I agree that nothing is better than taking actual pictures, but it helps to know the camera inside and out and be able to switch settings as fast as possible prior to the actual event.
I'm not saying I find I need to constantly change camera settings unless the lighting dictates that I do.
I'm just saying that I'm much faster with changing, ANY camera setting (focus, iso, ss, aperture, custom function, etc) after practicing-with the goal of being able to manipulate my camera so that it's second nature, as close to instant as possible.

Take photos, you'll get used to it

I think to accomplish what your trying do, theres another thing to add to the "take pictures" advice.

Take pictures in different lighting conditions, inside, outside, flourescent lights, moonlight, backlight, harsh light, soft light, no light etc etc

The "take pictures" advice is very good, as its proven that only by doing can you become proficient. But if you just take pictures of your cat in the back yard every morning at 10 o'clock you won't be experiencing the vast number of conditions and settings you will out in the real world.

i think the only way to learn all the setting on your camera is to shoot in different places at all times in the day, practice until it becomes routine although its always going to be somewhat of a work in progress,when in doubt take a picture as said above.

"The fact is that relatively few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them and go on an endless squirrel cage chase from new lens to new paper to new developer to new gadget, never staying with one piece of equipment long enough to learn its full capacities, becoming lost in a maze of technical information that is of little or no use since they don't know what to do with it." - Edward Weston

One way is to not change equipment every time something that is so called better comes out. As Weston was saying stay with something until you master it. Bought my Canon F-1s in the late 70s and early 80s. Still have them. No need to upgrade.

Had my Hasselblads for decades. There was no need to upgrade.

Most of the cameras being made today are fully capable of capturing your vision. The secret is you have to be able to see.

"We have become so accustomed to see [the galloping horse] in art that it imperceptibly dominated our understanding, and we think the representation to be unimpeachable, until we throw off all our preconceived impressions on one side, and seek the truth by independent observation from Nature herself."

Eadweard Muybridge

WaltA wrote in post #16636183
I think to accomplish what your trying do, theres another thing to add to the "take pictures" advice.

Take pictures in different lighting conditions, inside, outside, flourescent lights, moonlight, backlight, harsh light, soft light, no light etc etc

The "take pictures" advice is very good, as its proven that only by doing can you become proficient. But if you just take pictures of your cat in the back yard every morning at 10 o'clock you won't be experiencing the vast number of conditions and settings you will out in the real world.

Totally agree.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #16636328
"The fact is that relatively few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them and go on an endless squirrel cage chase from new lens to new paper to new developer to new gadget, never staying with one piece of equipment long enough to learn its full capacities, becoming lost in a maze of technical information that is of little or no use since they don't know what to do with it." - Edward Weston

One way is to not change equipment every time something that is so called better comes out. As Weston was saying stay with something until you master it. Bought my Canon F-1s in the late 70s and early 80s. Still have them. No need to upgrade.

Had my Hasselblads for decades. There was no need to upgrade.

Most of the cameras being made today are fully capable of capturing your vision. The secret is you have to be able to see.

I agree with this as well. I'm actually in the process of decreasing my gear.
Being able to see the light is something I've realized is way more important than any camera or lens I might own. I just want to be so technically proficient with the camera that I don't miss an opportunity due to being too slow with the controls. To me this is an avoidable mistake.

These quotes from the "greats" are nice and all, but lose something in our newer technology. They didn't have umpteen buttons and menus to dive through, and most of these guys weren't shooting sports, BIF, or other fast-thinking stuff either.

Disagree with all the "take actual pictures" advise. There are different elements of photography that need to be mastered. Control of your camera (turning the dials) is one, judging exposure is another, composition another and creative use of shutter speed and aperture another. - For a newbie trying to take proper pictures means paying attention to all of those at one time, which can be overwhelming. I know it was for me. For many people it is easier to take bite sized chunks and focus on learning those. Walk around shooting pointless pictures without too much concern for issues such as framing or composition and instead focus on the camera controls. Then move on to the next chunk and work on that.

1Tanker wrote in post #16637224
These quotes from the "greats" are nice and all, but lose something in our newer technology. They didn't have umpteen buttons and menus to dive through, and most of these guys weren't shooting sports, BIF, or other fast-thinking stuff either.

THats what is amazing is they don't loose anything at all. It still takes a long time for any camera to become second nature to you and if you keep changing cameras then those cameras that camera becoming second nature becomes less and less likely. Fast thinking? I rarely see any work that is as fast or as complex visually as Bresson's work.

1Tanker wrote in post #16637224
These quotes from the "greats" are nice and all, but lose something in our newer technology. They didn't have umpteen buttons and menus to dive through, and most of these guys weren't shooting sports, BIF, or other fast-thinking stuff either.

Muybridge shot running horses.

Of course he used 24 cameras with a thread controlling 24 wooden shutters.