Shooting manual on Nikon d5200: Shooting a stage production last night on manual mode. ISO set at 800 (no flash allowed), 24-70 lens at f3.5, ss at 100/sec. I noticed my ss fluctuating...

twindad Loc: SW Michigan, frolicking in the snow.

Shooting a stage production last night on manual mode.
ISO set at 800 (no flash allowed), 24-70 lens at f3.5, ss at 100/sec.
I noticed my ss fluctuating between 1/100sec, 1/160sec, and 1/60 sec. So, two out of three pics were garbage.
I ended up going with shutter mode and that stabilized it. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Nightsky Loc: Augusta, GA USA

The only way a camera shutter speed should change on a manual setting is if you change it or you have bracketing turned on?

bjprovo Loc: Northeast CT

If you do this often you may want to consider a 50mm 1.8 lens. I use this lens when shooting indoor sports and high school plays and ceremonies. With adjusted white balance it does a very good job.

twindad wrote:

Shooting a stage production last night on manual mode.
ISO set at 800 (no flash allowed), 24-70 lens at f3.5, ss at 100/sec.
I noticed my ss fluctuating between 1/100sec, 1/160sec, and 1/60 sec. So, two out of three pics were garbage.
I ended up going with shutter mode and that stabilized it. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

twindad wrote:

Shooting a stage production last night on manual mode.
ISO set at 800 (no flash allowed), 24-70 lens at f3.5, ss at 100/sec.
I noticed my ss fluctuating between 1/100sec, 1/160sec, and 1/60 sec. So, two out of three pics were garbage.
I ended up going with shutter mode and that stabilized it. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Look at the EXIF, the solution is there.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Bingo !!... I suspect either they were not really in manual mode as it is impossible for the SS to change if they were, or as you said, they have bracketing set. Reverting to Shutter priority is OK, but if the meter reads too much dark tones, it won't release the shutter if the scene exceeds the range of the aperture (unless they have the shutter release button programed to take the image anyway)...

Nightsky wrote:

The only way a camera shutter speed should change on a manual setting is if you change it or you have bracketing turned on?

twindad Loc: SW Michigan, frolicking in the snow.

Hey, thanks to all who responded! Sometimes the simplest answer is the one - I checked and found it was in bracket mode. My brain locked up last night and I just did what I had to do to get the rest of the shots.
Many thanks to all.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Don't feel bad. We all have those moments...No matter how long we have been doing this.

twindad wrote:

Hey, thanks to all who responded! Sometimes the simplest answer is the one - I checked and found it was in bracket mode. My brain locked up last night and I just did what I had to do to get the rest of the shots.
Many thanks to all.

Nightsky Loc: Augusta, GA USA

Screamin Scott wrote:

Don't feel bad. We all have those moments...No matter how long we have been doing this.

That's certainly true. :roll:

Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA

twindad wrote:

Hey, thanks to all who responded! Sometimes the simplest answer is the one - I checked and found it was in bracket mode. My brain locked up last night and I just did what I had to do to get the rest of the shots.
Many thanks to all.

Actually....you didn't have "brain lockup". You were smart enough to go to "Plan B"! (SS) No matter how experienced you are or not, you should always have a plan "B" when you are shooting such events. You did a good job..!!

You didn't panic....you corrected the problem....analyzed / researched the problem....solved it later. This is what tells me you are thinking!!

At the event, your thoughts "should be" on your composition (after setting the camera up) and only need to "reference your settings as needs".

I sometimes use: AP / Wide open/ ISO: Auto 1600 in that situation. (No flash allowed)

Good Job IMO!! :thumbup: Thanks, Boone.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Screamin Scott wrote:

Bingo !!... I suspect either they were not really in manual mode as it is impossible for the SS to change if they were, or as you said, they have bracketing set. Reverting to Shutter priority is OK, but if the meter reads too much dark tones, it won't release the shutter if the scene exceeds the range of the aperture (unless they have the shutter release button programed to take the image anyway)...

I had a fellow here tell me just the other day that on manual his Nikon will shoot in Auto ISO.
I told him my Canon, on manual is ALL manual.
He said he felt sorry for Canon shooters that they couldnt do that on manual!
I just figured on a Nikon, manual was not full manual?
SS

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Yeah, Auto ISO is available on manual, but I never use Auto ISO.... While I have a model that handles high ISO's well, I prefer base ISO shooting.... Many of my lenses are fast aperture & I use a mini ring/point light for my macro so I rarely change the ISO. When I do , it's always set to one value, not Auto...Old fashioned I guess...

SharpShooter wrote:

I had a fellow here tell me just the other day that on manual his Nikon will shoot in Auto ISO.
I told him my Canon, on manual is ALL manual.
He said he felt sorry for Canon shooters that they couldnt do that on manual!
I just figured on a Nikon, manual was not full manual?
SS

Wakko12 Loc: New Hampshire

SharpShooter wrote:

I had a fellow here tell me just the other day that on manual his Nikon will shoot in Auto ISO.
I told him my Canon, on manual is ALL manual.
He said he felt sorry for Canon shooters that they couldnt do that on manual!
I just figured on a Nikon, manual was not full manual?
SS

I have the D5200, and it will shoot auto ISO on manual, but I don't use that. I set a function button to change ISO and I have ss, aperture, and ISO settings easily changed while looking through the view finder.

twindad Loc: SW Michigan, frolicking in the snow.

Boone wrote:

Actually....you didn't have "brain lockup&quo... (show quote)

Boone,
You have my permanent ok to comment on any of my posts! You sure my mom didn't put you up to this? ;-)

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

twindad wrote:

Shooting a stage production last night on manual mode.
ISO set at 800 (no flash allowed), 24-70 lens at f3.5, ss at 100/sec.
I noticed my ss fluctuating between 1/100sec, 1/160sec, and 1/60 sec. So, two out of three pics were garbage.
I ended up going with shutter mode and that stabilized it. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

if you set SS at 1/100 and it's jumping to 1/60 it means that's the speed your camera would pick but when you take the shot it should be 1/100 what you set and it will be under exposed when your camera jumps to show 1/60 . it's just telling you what you should be using 1/60 instead of 1/100 . better to pick a f stop and let camera choose SS

Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA

twindad wrote:

Boone,
You have my permanent ok to comment on any of my posts! You sure my mom didn't put you up to this? ;-)

Your mother said she would send me a real "Michigan Apple Pie!! LOL, Thanks, Boone. :thumbup: