Hot answers tagged camera-controls
22
DoF preview is difficult to use well. The idea is simple, but application much less so. Without DoF preview, what you see through the viewfinder is shown with the lens "wide open" -- at its largest possible aperture. This provides no guidance about how much depth of field your picture will have, because (unless you happen to be shooting at maximum aperture) ...
21
This is normally referred to as something like "dual control dials", and you're right, it's a very desirable feature. Very few entry-level cameras have this, but it's common on mid-tier "prosumer" DSLRs, and universal on higher-end models.
You can find a list of models with this feature on a camera review / database site like Neocamera; try this search:
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17
The top LCD is very useful in the following circumstances:
On a tripod
The camera is often at about waist height. You can make/view changes to settings without having to stoop.
Unobtrusive photography
Lowering the camera from the eye to review settings on the top panel is less obtrusive than holding the camera aways from your body to view the back panel.
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14
AF-S is AF 'single'- your camera will focus on a fixed object when you press the AF button and will remain focused on that point for as long as you hold the button down. This is best for static subjects.
AF-C is AF 'continuous' - the camera will focus on whatever is in the relevant AF points (depending on how you have your AF coverage set up) and will ...
13
Applying manual controls allows one more freedom to enhance, manipulate and master applied photographic applications. By understanding the interaction of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO speed, photography — identified as "drawing with light" — can be utilized to its fullest potential.
Full creativity with the use of manual control can then be used to ...
13
Unless your unit is defective, by default most DSLRs will not release the shutter if:
Focus has not been acquired.
The flash is charging
The buffer is full
1 and 2 can be over-ridden using the custom settings. If you go to MF or AF-C (which defaults to Release-Priority) you should not experience this due to #1. If the flash is down (and no flash is ...
12
I wouldn't own a dslr without one. Not only is it much quicker to check and change camera settings, but when you are shooting at night without one, it really messes with your eyes to have to keep switching from the darkness to the bright LCD.
This seems like a small issue until you are trying to do star trails in pure darkness and the LCD keeps blasting ...
12
I use a program mode the majority of the time that I am not in a studio. An example of that would be aperture priority mode - where I get to set the aperture and ISO that stays consistent, and my camera is allowed to determine the shutter speed to keep the exposure proper.
Full Auto mode, which many entry level DSLR cameras have, is great if you hand your ...
8
It's hard to say really, I find it indispensable, but that's mainly because I'm so used to using it. But it's really the information that I rely on, not the location of the screen.
It's a bit of a hangover to the film days when there wasn't a rear LCD. You could say it's easier to pull back and look at the rear LCD screen than to pull back and rotate the ...
7
Using automatic mode in camera is akin to using a automatic car. It works well if you just have to get to work but not when you are racing or if the track gets interesting :).. Just a few examples when you can't do without manual modes:
Control the depth of field: Your camera can't read your mind and know that you want to blur the background.
Multiple ...
7
Based on experience, I am certain you are confusing exposure and exposure-compensation.
Exposure is a product of 3 parameters: ISO, shutter-speed, aperture. In Manual mode, you control all of these and doing so sets the exposure. @jrista shows very clearly how to control each of them. For how they relate, see What is the exposure triangle?.
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7
I'd suggest avoiding a full-auto most of the time, and instead, choose a mode based on what you're shooting -- for creative shooting, aperture priority modes (labelled as Av on some cameras) is great at controlling the depth of field without worrying about exposure too much. For sport, and other fast action, jump to shutter priority ( labelled as Tv on some ...
7
For changing the shutter speed, put the mode dial on Tv (as in the image below: make sure the white line corresponds to the letters Tv ), and turn the wheel high-lighted in red below (excuse my crappy images, I edited all this as something quick and dirty).
On your LCD screen, you can see the below screen (let me know if you don't know how to get to this ...
6
I'll give you one example of when I've used manual, and see if it makes sense.
A while back I was shooting my step-son's "little league" basketball games, which were held indoors. The gym lighting provided reasonably even (if not very bright) illumination, but things like glare on the floor or dark color uniforms kept fooling the camera's light meter into ...
6
Manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (Av,Tv) let you control the image you get.
You can increase or decrease the depth of field to get clear or blurry background, you can freeze or blur motion (and also control the amount of motion blur), you can decide to use the flash as your primary light source or to just fill in the shadows a bit - and more.
The modern ...
6
To change the exposure settings in Manual (M) on any of the Canon Rebel series, you use the main dial. Its near your shutter button, but a little more towards the back of the camera. You can't miss it, its a notched roll-type dial. By default, when in manual mode, rolling that dial will change your shutter speed. Roll one way to increase, roll the other way ...
6
Whilst not a direct USB link, there is a product called an eye-fi which allows your camera to send your photos directly to you computer, when it is within range of specified wireless networks. The 4Gb version retails around the £50 mark on Amazon
6
First, I don't know, which advantages of Av/Tv you don't know about. :-)
For me, these modes are very useful, when I do not have time for full manual setting and I do not want to use full auto mode.
Sometimes for example I need the camera not to choose shutter speed less than 1/250 (when I use my telephoto zoom) but I am sure, the camera will choose ...
6
I haven't used that actual camera but usually the meter readout is shown through the view finder. On cameras I have used its shown as a graduated scale at the bottom of the viewfinder with a pointer showing how far the current exposure is away from where the camera thinks the exposure should be. The scale will be 0 at the centre +1 (overexposed) on the right ...
6
Which of the statements is generally more correct?
I believe the first one is correct which is
Use all available modes the camera has to offer as I learn more about photography.
I'll explain how:
Most entry DSLR cameras have the following modes:
Full Auto Mode: use this mode if you just want to get the shot, perhaps you saw something that will ...
5
Depth of Field preview is supposed to show you exactly that. The depth of field.
The easiest way to check, is to not use Live-View, and look through the view finder. If you stop the lens down to f8 or higher, and hit the DoF Preview button; the view finder will get noticeably darker.
I'm not 100% certain about live view. In the 40D; DOF did not show in ...
5
I don't have a 550D to test this out on, but I know on some Canon models I find it most convenient to just turn the camera off then back on. It loses the AEB setting and keeps the rest of the details I am interested in.
This would be directed more at the question of simply how to abort AEB mode, rather then get you quickly back INTO AEB mode step 1.
5
To me this sounds like the Mirror Lockup custom function setting. When using a tripod this is useful as it first locks up the mirror to avoid the shake from that as the picture is taken, allowing the camera to be as still as physically possible when the second click opens the shutter (assuming you use a cable release).
This can be turned off in the menu ...
5
I hate to say this, but first make sure you're pressing the right button, as I always press the wrong one. There are two similar buttons. One is the function button near the top of the lens, and the DOF preview button is almost under the lens.
If you press the DOF button, even with the aperture wide open, it will make a very clunky sound, like when you ...
4
In manual mode, you can take the camera beyond the default maximum range of exposure compensation, by which I mean if you want to over- or underexpose by more than 2 stops, using manual mode is usually your only option (some cameras may allow 3 stops but even this is not enough in some cases). Additionally, if you are shooting in consistent lighting ...
4
When you say "manual mode", are you referring solely to the M(anual) setting on your camera or are you including the Av and Tv modes as well? Each mode will give you something different. I won't describe what has already been said but try this link for some info on what the different modes are good for.
Most cameras will make using Av or Tv (or P) mode ...
4
four thirds will limit the ability to get the "depth of field eye candy effect"
You don't need a small aperture necessarily but the smaller the sensor the harder this is to achieve, the Sony uses an APS-C sensor which will help somewhat in doing what you want. I don't believe the manual control is up to par with your needs however.
Depth of field can be ...
4
To me the center rectangle represents the white balance itself, and the small triangles are "cursors: (or sliders) that you would move to say: "here is exactly where I want my custom balance to be, in between these 2 values". Cursors similar to what you have in a caliper.
4
The advantage of aperture or shutter priority modes over manual is the same as any automation: when it works right, it takes labor out of our hands and makes life easier, allowing us to concentrate on other things. And on modern cameras, the automatic metering is pretty good — it basically does the right thing most of the time. And, if you get to know your ...
4
Cameras operate in a number of exposure modes:
In all modes except Manual (M) and Bulb (B), the camera meters and sets the exposure based on its metering mode. Because the exposure is set on your behalf there is no reading, although you can apply Exposure-Compensation to makes things brighter or darker.
In Manual mode, you are in control of exposure, so ...
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