5 Camera Setting Mistakes New Photographers Make: An article in "Picture Correct", the Author: Marianne Stenger, echoes my thoughts about this topic that I have noticed. Newbies seem...

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

An article in "Picture Correct", the Author: Marianne Stenger, echoes my thoughts about this topic that I have noticed. Newbies seem to be using thinking from film days and are not up on new camera technology. I don't know where they're getting their information but it's usually outdated.

The mistakes are:
1. USING A SHUTTER SPEED THAT’S TOO SLOW
2. CHOOSING THE WRONG FOCUS POINT
3. NOT SHOOTING IN HIGH ISO
4. ALWAYS SHOOTING AT WIDE APERTURES
5. USING IMAGE STABILIZATION WHILE USING A TRIPOD

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Fotoartist wrote:

An article in "Picture Correct", the Aut... (show quote)

More or less concur except "3. NOT SHOOTING IN HIGH ISO". That is the opposite of what I would tell a newbe. I believe you should start with the lowest ISO you can use and only raise it as needed.

bgrn Loc: Pleasant Grove UT

Fotoartist wrote:

An article in "Picture Correct", the Aut... (show quote)

Hey....I resemble this remark 😀 (but I am working hard to correct them)

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

In principle what you say is true but having a low ISO is a much more insignificant thing today than in the past. Digital sensors thrive on handling the light you give it to work with and mine (Nikon D4s) actually improves in image quality at ISO 400 as opposed to 100.

Rich1939 wrote:

More or less concur except "3. NOT SHOOTING IN HIGH ISO". That is the opposite of what I would tell a newbe. I believe you should start with the lowest ISO you can use and only raise it as needed.

azi Loc: Columbia, Marylamd

Fotoartist wrote:

In principle what you say is true but having a low ISO is a much more insignificant thing today than in the past. Digital sensors thrive on handling the light you give it to work with and mine (Nikon D4s) actually improves in image quality at ISO 400 as opposed to 100.

thanks for the tip. was told in my film days that low was the way to go and never questioned it. Will try this out on my D500

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Fotoartist wrote:

In principle what you say is true but having a low ISO is a much more insignificant thing today than in the past. Digital sensors thrive on handling the light you give it to work with and mine (Nikon D4s) actually improves in image quality at ISO 400 as opposed to 100.

I find this very interesting as I am an old film guy. Worth taking digital shots of the same subject at different ISO settings and comparing more closely. I have done that but never really analyzed the ISO setting, just the quality (focus and grain) of the photos. Thanks for the hints.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Rich1939 wrote:

More or less concur except "3. NOT SHOOTING IN HIGH ISO". That is the opposite of what I would tell a newbe. I believe you should start with the lowest ISO you can use and only raise it as needed.

Very true. "Why do my pictures always come out so grainy?" is what one often hears from beginners. In most cases the answer is, the image was recorded at an unnecessarily high ISO value. Especially when the image was captured using a consumer level camera.

Railfan_Bill Loc: "Lost Wages", Nevada

Hey photogs, Using high ISO is almost mandatory when shooting low light conditions. I shoot astrophotography and that requires a high ISO. Some of my shots are as high as ISO 12800! It does have noise, but I got the subject and it's not too objectionable.
RFB

srt101fan

azi wrote:

thanks for the tip. was told in my film days that low was the way to go and never questioned it. Will try this out on my D500

Try Manual (Nikon "M" setting) with Auto ISO.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Railfan_Bill wrote:

Hey photogs, Using high ISO is almost mandatory when shooting low light conditions. I shoot astrophotography and that requires a high ISO. Some of my shots are as high as ISO 12800! It does have noise, but I got the subject and it's not too objectionable.
RFB

That's very true for low light situations but (there is always a but) the first things most beginners photograph is family and pets, things they are familiar with. Usually during good day light hours.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

I think the point is high ISOs won't improve image quality but they won't hurt it as much as in film days. What they will do is allow you to shoot at faster shutter speeds and increased depth of field (see #1 and #4 above) if you choose to making your overall shot better. As far as noise, De-noise programs are just amazing today. Try Nik Dfine 2. It's free.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Fotoartist wrote:

An article in "Picture Correct", the Aut... (show quote)

Not exactly settings related, but poor choices beginners tend to make that nonetheless adversely affect their photography

#6. Using an ultra-wide lens to "get it all in"
#7. Using on camera flash
#8. Using on camera flash with a tiny bounce card/flash diffuser/softbox/etc
#9. Using a Gary Fong outdoors or in a large room
#10. Trying to attach a teleconverter to a consumer grade telephoto zoom
#11. Not learning to shoot raw from the outset because they believed the bad advice they heard
#12. Spending $100s or $1000s on camera gear and trying to find the best tripod under $150 to put it on.
#13. Not taking the time to scrutinize their own work, and discover hidden potential in their images, settling for what comes out of the camera.

#14. Not believing in themselves.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Rich1939 wrote:

More or less concur except "3. NOT SHOOTING IN HIGH ISO". That is the opposite of what I would tell a newbe. I believe you should start with the lowest ISO you can use and only raise it as needed.

They're probably thinking of those people who post here saying they are trying to shoot their child's basketball game or dance recital and want to know why the photos are all blurry.

illininitt

Just put it auto and forget about it. Why do think soooooooooooooo many people but auto over manual? It's easier...and much less stressful. And yet....it's get the same results. Put it in auto and move on. Life is too short for manual....ask 93% of the car drivers in the US.

illininitt

Just put it auto and forget about it. Why do think soooooooooooooo many people but auto over manual? It's easier...and much less stressful. And yet....it's get the same results. Put it in auto and move on. Life is too short for manual....ask 93% of the car drivers in the US.