Help setting up aperture and shutterspeed, new.

12/08/2006 06:52:36 PM · #1

k well i just got a CF card for my new 350, and im not really great with manual yet, so for average outdoor use what should i set my shutterspeed and aperture to? I dont know the right balance of Aperture to shutterspeed, every shot i take in manual comes out pitch black and i dont know what i need to adjust.

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/08/2006 07:08:12 PM · #2

If you have absolutely no idea what you're doing, I would recommend that you try using either the Av or Tv modes to see what happens when you change a specific setting and how it effects the image. Once you know these things, then move onto manual. By the way, if your images are coming out pitch black, you either need to open your aperature up more (smaller number) and/or increase your shutter speed. The camera also has a built in light meter, it's right below the frames remaining box on the upper LCD screen, try and make it balance out in the middle. If none of that works, try taking off the lens cap, haha.

DelRioPhoto

Nikon D700

12/08/2006 07:09:04 PM · #3

Take a look in the view finder and you'll see a little meter in there that shows the exposure. If it is way to the left, you'll notice that your pictures are underexposed (too dark) and if it is way to the right, everything would be over exposed (too light). Zero out that little meter by adjusting the shutter speed and aperture and you're photos will be about right. You can then tweak it a little to give the photo the look you want. Sometimes you want it darker or lighter.

You can switch the dial from Manual to "A" or Aperture Priority and it will automatically change the shutter speed to make the photo properly exposed based on the cameras sensors. Take a look at what shutter speed and aperture it chooses and then switch to manual and change your settings to match that. Then you can tweak it from there. As you move the F/stop number higher, you will need to move the shutter speed number lower to maintain the exposure.

That should get you started. Practice and see how creative you can get with adjusting each.

Cheers,
Jeremy

DelRioPhoto

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/08/2006 07:10:15 PM · #4

Originally posted by SamDoe1:

...By the way, if your images are coming out pitch black, you either need to open your aperature up more (smaller number) and/or increase your shutter speed....

Or take the lens cap off. :-O

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/08/2006 07:12:14 PM · #5

Originally posted by jahoward:

Originally posted by SamDoe1:
...By the way, if your images are coming out pitch black, you either need to open your aperature up more (smaller number) and/or increase your shutter speed....

Or take the lens cap off. :-O

Yup, that suggestion was at the end of the post, haha.

DelRioPhoto

Nikon D700

12/08/2006 07:13:29 PM · #6

Oops, missed that. haha. As usual, a day late and dollar short. :)

12/08/2006 07:17:57 PM · #7

my aperature is staying at 5.6 nomatter what i do, i went into TV and switched the shutterspeed but no matter what the SS was the aperture stayed at 5.6, same if i went into A-DEP mode, it didn't change

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

12/08/2006 07:20:32 PM · #8

Originally posted by kawana:

I'm guessing you're using the kit lens at full zoom. If you zoom out to 18mm, it should go down to 3.5. If at full zoom, it won't get any smaller than 5.6, that's a physical property of the lens. Regardless of what the aperature is, you should be able to crank the shutter speed up high enough to not get a black frame. A-DEP is automatic depth of field, don't worry about that mode just yet.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

12/08/2006 07:21:09 PM · #9

Originally posted by kawana:

f/5.6 is probably as large as it can go. That's telling you there is too little light for the suttter speed selected. Reduce the shutter speed (longer open time) and watch the aperture. Also look at the meter in the viewfinder. When it can findd an aperture/shutter speed combination that will expose properly, the meter will be centered.

12/08/2006 07:22:08 PM · #10

er nvm, i fixed it, had to do with my flash being down lol, but in TV mode, when i change the shutterspeed isn't it supposed to change the aperture to match? cuz its not, its staying at 3.5 even at 1/2000

edit: it was also the lens, i was zoomed out, so i just pulled it back and could go down to 3.5 :P

Message edited by author 2006-12-08 19:23:46.

12/08/2006 07:23:33 PM · #11

Originally posted by kawana:

Umm...1/2000 is pretty fast... You'd need a LOT of light to shoot that fast or a high ISO. Try going down to 1/100 or 1/200.

Edit to add: Try going to something like 5 (5") seconds, that should make the aperature value change, but you aren't going to want to take a picture at that speed without a tripod.

Message edited by author 2006-12-08 19:25:40.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

12/08/2006 07:26:05 PM · #12

lol i know its fast, im just saying that isn't it supposed to compensate the aperture to the shutterspeed, like it shouldn't be giving me the same reading for 1/100 ss and 1/2000ss

jdannels

Nikon D300s

12/08/2006 07:26:31 PM · #13

That is as fast and wide open as your lens can go. I haven't used my canon film rebel in awhile, but I imagine as your moving that shutterspeed faster and faster, the exposure is getting more and more under exposed and there is some sort of display in your viewer to show you this.

12/08/2006 07:27:00 PM · #14

what kind of shutterspeed would be good for catching water moving mid drip type thing? like 200 or more?