If a lens is at its optimum halfway thru its aperture range, why does automation always default to the smallest aperture available? (Page 3): Ken ... now you've proved yourself stupid...

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

ken_stern wrote:

I also can't find a "SP" setting on ANY of my recent and or ancient Canon Cameras -- Which even includes after I dug-out my circa 1968/69 Canon FT QL & found NO MENTION of the mysterious "SP" setting

Ken ... now you've proved yourself stupid ... three times ... congratulations!!!

You know - it would pay you to read the whole thread, if you're going to participate at all ...

Because, if you don't ... you just wind up sinking further and further into the mire ....

Still ... I'm sure you could grab a stick, or something ... to help haul you out ....

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

JPL wrote:

Seems like a Canon problem? I have never seen this happen on my cameras.

First, it's not a Canon problem, Canon cameras don't do that. Second, Chris owns at least one and I think perhaps two Nikon's, So based on the kinds of assumptions you're making maybe it's a Nikon problem.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

SP stands for Shutter Priority Semi-Automation, Mark ... a term which Canon has been using since the days of the AE-1 !!!!!

And, I've told you before, I don't USE FULL AUTO on any of my dig cams, because it always resorts to popping up the flash ....

I've also specified elsewhere in this thread, it doesn't apply to my Canons ... only to a couple of Nikons, and my Pentax K-50 ....

On all Canon DSLRs for many many years shutter priority is indicated as Tv not SP. And I responded to your first post. If you neglected to include camera specific information in it that you added in a later post that's not my problem.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

First, it's not a Canon problem, Canon cameras don't do that. Second, Chris owns at least one and I think perhaps two Nikon's, So based on the kinds of assumptions you're making maybe it's a Nikon problem.

Mark ... don't tell me you've never read my Signature, in all the exchanges we've had ... look ... count for yourself ....

The problem I've described - exists with BOTH my Pentax K-50 AND two of my Nikons (of the five) ... which both use 3rd party lenses (as does the K-50!)

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

On all Canon DSLRs for many many years shutter priority is indicated as Tv not SP. And I responded to your first post. If you neglected to include camera specific information in it that you added in a later post that's not my problem.

Mark ... you're being redundant ....

If you choose to add to this thread ... please read it all ... otherwise, your comments don't make ANY sense ... okay?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Chris T wrote:

You know how it goes ... you switch to SP ... and then let the camera go at it, and it immediately jumps to f29, or thereabouts ... why does it do that?

I don't know how it goes, none of my cameras have done that.

"Problem solving hat on"

What are the other exposure variables when hhis happens?
Shutter speed?
ISO?
Lighting conditions?
Is the lens cap off?

Have you tried "resetting" the cameras to the default values?

"Problem solving hat off"

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

RichardTaylor wrote:

I don't know how it goes, none of my cameras have done that.

"Problem solving hat on"

What are the other exposure variables when hhis happens?
Shutter speed?
ISO?
Lighting conditions?
Is the lens cap off?

Have you tried "resetting" the cameras to the default values?

Not sure I know what "resetting the cameras to the default values" means, Richard ...

Now, then - to continue from the bottom up ...

Is the lens cap off? ... are YOU serious? ... we're talking DSLRs here .... NOT RFs ....

Lighting conditions ... bright day ... the brightest ....

ISO ... AUTO ISO on the K-50 ... half max on both the Nikons ....

Shutter Speed? ... I set my shutter speed at the slowest possible, when using Shutter Priority mode, given the max. focal length of lens in use ...

No other exposure variables ... other than what the camera dictates, according to the mode used ... in this case - SP ....

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

"resetting the cameras to the default values" will negate any menu changes you have made to your camera and return them to what came from the factory. (except possibly the date/time)
Check the camera manual to see how to do this.

"ISO ... AUTO ISO on the K-50" - take control. If you are shooting on the brightest of days set it to a low value (like a 100?)

"half max on both the Nikons ...." - I believe that they top out at ~ ISO 25000 , so that means you are shooting at ISO ~ 12000 at relatively low shutter speeds??

On a bright sunny day reduce the ISO to 100 and shoot at around 1/200 and you should be shooting around f11 (Sunny 16 "guideline")
Keep in mind if you are using in-camera metering the subject may influence the exposure setting when using the camera in "auto" modes.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

RichardTaylor wrote:

"resetting the cameras to the default values&... (show quote)

Thanks for the tips, Richard ...

First, however - I don't WISH to change any of my cameras to their default values, as this will upset all the parameters I've now spent YEARS adjusting ...

Secondly, the Pentax K-50 is a very strange breed, and I've already set up an entire Topic Post dedicated to its use of AUTO ISO .... if interested, see -

Getting a grip on high ISOs ... how high is TOO high, for you?

Thirdly ... the two Nikons of concern to me, are the D5300 (which tops out at 12,800 - so 6,400 is fine for that one) and the D5500 (25,600 - so, 12,800)

Relatively slow shutter speeds, Richard? ... only indoors ... outside I shoot at the fastest shutter speed I can, relative to the length of the lens in use ...

On a lens with an 18-250 range (when used at max. extension) that would be 1/250th ... for the 18-200 at max. extension ... that'd be 1/200th ....

If I am not sure what would be the perfect aperture to use, in a given situation, I switch to SP ... and that's when those three lenses jump to f29 ....

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Chris T wrote:

Mark ... you're being redundant ....

If you choose to add to this thread ... please read it all ... otherwise, your comments don't make ANY sense ... okay?

Chris, as I've indicated before, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

Chris, as I've indicated before, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills.

Mark ... there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with my "reading comprehension skills" ... as you put it ...

And, I would suggest, that, in future, BEFORE commenting on one of MY Topic Posts ... you would read the entire thread ahead of where you came in ....

Wait, now ... isn't THAT neglect on your part ... tantamount to dereliction of duty, in that very same regard?

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Chris T wrote:

Thanks for the tips, Richard ... br br First, how... (show quote)

Two situations as far as ISO goes.
#1 outdoors at reasonable light levels (ie you can read a book)
An ISO as low as possible that will give me have no unwanted subject or camera motion and that will give me the aperture I want. Normally ISO 100-400
Never (i think) ever high ISO values (1600+)
Example #1

#2 Outdoors or indoors at very low light levels
will take what ever I can get when shooting hand held even if it means shooting up to 12800 (rarely), usually 6400 (lens dependant) will be ok.
Example #2 and Example #3 (new body)
If I have a tripod with me that may give me a lot more choices.

More to come re aperture selction

#1 1/320 @ f8 ISO 400 - Pouring rain

(Download)

#2 Hand held 1/25 @ f2 and ISO 3200 (maximum for that body)

(Download)

#3 Hand held 1/25 @ f2.8 and ISO 6400

(Download)

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

mwsilvers wrote:

On all Canon DSLRs for many many years shutter priority is indicated as Tv not SP. And I responded to your first post. If you neglected to include camera specific information in it that you added in a later post that's not my problem.

It IS your problem!!!

Don't you see that, Mark?

If you're going to participate in an active discussion ... you MUST read and COMPREHEND every part of that discussion ...

If you don't want to do that - then, that's fine! ... But please don't participate if you are not willing to do it ...

It's totally irresponsible!!!

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Quote
"Relatively slow shutter speeds, Richard? ... only indoors ... outside I shoot at the fastest shutter speed I can, relative to the length of the lens in use ...

On a lens with an 18-250 range (when used at max. extension) that would be 1/250th ... for the 18-200 at max. extension ... that'd be 1/200th ...."
End quote.

If you do not want to show subject, or camara motion why limit the maximum shutter speed (light and aperture dependant).
Example #4 and #5

#4 1/1000 @ f2 ISO 100 and F=135mm

(Download)

#5 1/1250 @ f6.3 ISO 400 and F=400mm on a 1.6 crop body.

(Download)

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Quote
"If I am not sure what would be the perfect aperture to use, in a given situation, I switch to SP ... and that's when those three lenses jump to f29 ...."
End quote

Chris - what's your thoughts on the perfect apreture to use?