General Settings (Page 3): "f/16" I don't go out when it is cloudy. ;-)...

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

mr spock wrote:

I'm sure this has been asked before but what are the recommended "standard" settings for your camera when leaving the house with no specific photographic purpose in mind.
Aperture or Shutter priority? Or simply set the camera on Auto?
Aperture setting/Shutter speed?
ISO setting?
Focusing mode?

Any info will be appreciated
Mr Spock

"f/16"
I don't go out when it is cloudy. ;-)

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

leftj wrote:

I like your answer Bob. I may try it. Any particular reason on AV why you wouldn't use AUTO IOS? John

I'm a believer in "f8 and be there" I do change but it's my starting point, ISO 800 because I'm sure I get a relatively non grainy (low-noise) photo, I started out using 32ASA and 125ASA, 800 is plenty fast, I suppose it's a control issue, but it works for me,

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I set about 400ISO and on (P). This way I found I can just grab my camera and get a decent shot if I see something and can grab the camera out of the bag and shoot. Normal use I use Aperture setting or C1,2 or 3 (presets)

bigwolf40 Loc: Effort, Pa.

mr spock wrote:

I'm sure this has been asked before but what are the recommended "standard" settings for your camera when leaving the house with no specific photographic purpose in mind.
Aperture or Shutter priority? Or simply set the camera on Auto?
Aperture setting/Shutter speed?
ISO setting?
Focusing mode?

Any info will be appreciated
Mr Spock

As Linda from Maine said,( quote=The only reason to pre-set is if you think you might encounter a fleeting moment "grab" shot where you'll only have one shot. As this is likely to be something moving, and because you won't have any idea of the lighting conditions, try: shutter speed 1/400 or 1/500, f/8, ISO on auto). I do this all the time since you never know what you will come across. You can always change this as you need to according to what you will be taking a photo of....Rich

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

mr spock wrote:

I'm sure this has been asked before but what are the recommended "standard" settings for your camera when leaving the house with no specific photographic purpose in mind.
Aperture or Shutter priority? Or simply set the camera on Auto?
Aperture setting/Shutter speed?
ISO setting?
Focusing mode?

Any info will be appreciated
Mr Spock

I think a better question to ask is not what settings when the camera sits on the shelf but what settings you plan to use before you go out the door for a shoot. There is one that bites me in the posterior from time time. I often do long shutters at night and often have go to manual focus. At times I forget to set it back to AF and get bit.

garyl Loc: Montana

Aperture priority for some depth of field with iso400. Ready for anything and can change if i have time.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

mr spock wrote:

Thank you.
In reality I guess there is no one correct answer to my question. I realize there every shot is unique but thought there were
settings for that might cover most situations if I were simply walking down the street and didn't have time (or knowledge) to specially set the camera.
As for shooting RAW I just got a camera with that capability so its a bit new to me. Have been using a NIKON Coolpix point and shoot up to now.

Sounds like you're talking about snapshots. For this, I use Program mode. It works for me. Shooting in RAW requires that you learn post processing on the computer. It's like the first step in developing a photo from film. The computer is your dark lab.

DanCulleton

There is no standard setting, but for me and my style of shooting, shutter priority with auto-ISO is a good starting point.
Maybe my hands are old and unsteady but I like a faster shutter speed these days.
But, hey, it's easy enough to change settings on the fly.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

mr spock wrote:

I'm sure this has been asked before but what are the recommended "standard" settings for your camera when leaving the house with no specific photographic purpose in mind.
Aperture or Shutter priority? Or simply set the camera on Auto?
Aperture setting/Shutter speed?
ISO setting?
Focusing mode?

Any info will be appreciated
Mr Spock

If your lens is between 24-200mm, then I'd set it for Aperture priority, ISO 400, F/8, raw, Landscape style, auto w/b, full charge battery, and formatted card(s).

Of course, that doesn't mean that I won't change my settings on the fly as needed. If it's really gloomy out, I might up the ISO to 640 or 1250.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

I think it is a good question. And if you don't heed it be prepared to miss that rare shot that you never see again for the whole day when you first get there because your camera wasn't set right in the bag.

Happened to me many times.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

mr spock wrote:

I'm sure this has been asked before but what are the recommended "standard" settings for your camera when leaving the house with no specific photographic purpose in mind.
Aperture or Shutter priority? Or simply set the camera on Auto?
Aperture setting/Shutter speed?
ISO setting?
Focusing mode?

Any info will be appreciated
Mr Spock

I don't set anything when leaving the house. I change settings when they are appropriate to the subject, the lighting, the distance, and what I'm trying to achieve at the at moment. I can't imagine doing any of it ahead of time.

leftj Loc: Texas

mwsilvers wrote:

I don't set anything when leaving the house. I change settings when they are appropriate to the subject, the lighting, the distance, and what I'm trying to achieve at the at moment. I can't imagine doing any of it ahead of time.

What if that fleeting shot opportunity is gone before you can fiddle with your settings?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

jeep_daddy wrote:

If your lens is between 24-200mm, then I'd set it for Aperture priority, ISO 400, F/8, raw, Landscape style, auto w/b, full charge battery, and formatted card(s).

Of course, that doesn't mean that I won't change my settings on the fly as needed. If it's really gloomy out, I might up the ISO to 640 or 1250.

But why set any of it ahead of time?

leftj Loc: Texas

mwsilvers wrote:

But why set any of it ahead of time?

because you may have settings from your last exposure that is totally and completely wrong for the short lived opportunity you may encounter.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

mwsilvers wrote:

But why set any of it ahead of time?

Because if the last time you used your camera and had it set to bulb, and you want to snap a shot of something that requires a quick decision, you might have a chance instead of a total blur of a shot if set to bulb.

Example, I was leaving a wildlife sanctuary and it was getting dark. I put my camera away in the trunk (boot) and then no more than 20 feet away was a Barn Owl just sitting on a post. Since I had put my camera away I couldn't get the shot. Basicly the same idea, if you aren't ready, then you might miss something good.