Newbie Question regarding 10D

Ooops, see below........:o

First, on the 10D only set it to Adobe RGB if you intend to shoot raw files and then manipulate them on your computer. Set it to standard and if the pictures were a little dull I would set all the settings EXCEPT color to 1+. That should bring a little life to the pictures. Most would recommend shooting in RAW and set to Adobe RGB but this is a learned skill as you definitely have to manipulate the pictures on your computer.

Secondly, many people run into the problem of the monitor not being calibrated to what you see is what you get. There are programs out there for calibrating your monitor.

Okay, I've messed this thread (my first BTW) up. I sort of answered my own question and requested that this be deleted about the same time as you replied. Okay, so I'm not the sharpest tack in the box!:o

To summarize, I had questioned how you can set up your PC to more closely match watch the picture will actually process like and if it is common to have to use one of the three sets of customizable (if that's a word? ) parameters in order to get vivid pics.

I "sort of" answered my own question as I was shooting in full-auto and sports modes which, if I'm not mistaken, are not linked to the parameter settings that are set in the "creative modes" via that menu.

I will definitely try the program mode so that I can use the +1 settings that you mention and thank you VERY much for your response!

If you want to, set your camera to one of the basic modes and half-press the shutter button. You should be able to see what kind of automatic settings it would suggest. Then switch your camera mode over to P and start with those same settings. Vary one or the other a bit and see where that leads.

I shoot in P mode much more than 95% of the time.

Unless you "nail" every JPEG exposure perfectly in the camera, you will get better results by shooting RAW and then processing and tweaking them a bit.

---Bob Gross---

After "playing" with the camera a bunch today, and reading more of the manual, I can definitely see that I too will be using the P mode most of the time.

I went ahead and set up the parameters on Set 1 to +1 on everything but color and Set 2 to +2 likewise. I then set up C.Fn 01/2 so that I can use the Set button and the main dial (actually you can use the front dial too) to change between Standard, Sets 1-3 or Adobe RGB.

I then took some practice pics on Standard, +1 and +2. +1 looks great processed while +2 looks the best on my computer screen. The grass on +2 looks a bit "fake" when processed.

Now all I have to do is go through the 150 or so pics I took during my vacation to NewYork and decide if I'm going to tweak them or, since I'm new to digital SLR photography and the 10D, just leave them alone this time.

Regardless, thank you both VERY much for your input. It's been a great help to me!

PS: If I can do this correctly, below is an example of one of the photos taken in full-auto mode or possibly landscape mode. To my eye and especially on my PC, it doesn't appear very vivid. The clearity may not appear very good but, actually, it's fine. It just looks dull colorwise to me.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

HrcRacing, welcome to the world of the P mode. I do play around with AV and TV but I seem to have best results in P. I also put different settings in the 3 set buttons in parameter and change as needed. I agree with Robert in using RAW, it will mean that you need a decent processing program and the "knowledge". I good calibrated monitor helps also. If you are lacking any of the three, shoot in P mode and then shoot RAW occassionlly to learn it. You will find that just about any picture you take, can stand a little "tweaking". The thing about tweaking is that we all have different tastes and our eyesight actually sees things a little different from the next gal/guy. What I do sometimes is walk around with a 3x5 card in my pocket and make note of the different settings and conditoning as I take pictures. I will shoot the same scene with three or more different settings and note which works best under different lightning and scenes. I am in Iraq, so most of my pictures are shot in very bright light unless I just happen to be inside one of the few buildings here. That bright light in itself can give you fits sometimes.

I see what you mean about the pics as they do look a little flat.