Using Manuel Settings: I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot mostly on auto focus, however, I am experimenting with my Manual settings. I was at the beach with both cameras...

MaryAnn Loc: Florida/Massachusetts

I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot mostly on auto focus, however, I am experimenting with my Manual settings.

I was at the beach with both cameras on a sunny day and was trying to get a picture of the waves using a slow shutter speed. I used a shutter speed of 10, mounted on a tripod, ISO of 100 and several different F stops....the camera sounded like it was taking a picture but there were no pictures. This happened with both cameras. I had it set to cloudy. My T3i said there were no photos and my SX 50 came out all white.

What am I doing wrong?

Help.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

MaryAnn wrote:

I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot mostly on auto focus, however, I am experimenting with my Manual settings.....I was at the beach with both cameras on a sunny day and was trying to get a picture of the waves using a slow shutter speed. I used a shutter speed of 10, mounted on a tripod, ISO of 100 and several different F stops....t.... My T3i said there were no photos and my SX 50 came out all white.......

why did you set it on 10?

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

MaryAnn wrote:

I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot ... (show quote)

I think your shot was probably COMPLETLY blown out.
It's called "paper white"! :lol:
Next time shoot a shot on auto and use those settings on manual, or use a light meter. Good luck
SS

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Check these out for manual shooting...

All Manual Mode Shooting
Manual Mode Cheat Sheet
Basics of manual settings

Everyone should have this committed to memory Sunny 16 rule

Have fun ;)

MaryAnn Loc: Florida/Massachusetts

Thank you sharpshooter and shellback

MaryAnn Loc: Florida/Massachusetts

oldtigger wrote:

why did you set it on 10?

I thought 10 seconds would be how long to do it....but I am now thinking after watching a couple of things on you tube that maybe 2 seconds would give me the look I wanted.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

MaryAnn wrote:

I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot ... (show quote)

Where to start. Were you totally manual meaning you need to also the Aperture? If so what was that set on? 10 is very slow and in daylight without any filters you got solid white.

if you set the shutter to 10 in shutter priority mode, I'm sure if you looked through the viewfinder at the meter it was blinking.

Bryan Peterson's "understanding exposure" is the book to read. You need to understand the magic triangle of ISO, shutter and Aperture. if you can't get to the book store, there are zillions of videos to tutor you. Try watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlSuInza16E for a start and then any of the other videos Wallace points you to.

Congrats on trying to get off auto but yo need a smidgen more knowledge first.

MW

MaryAnn wrote:

I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot ... (show quote)

Sometimes I start with An auto setting (aperture priority usuall) to get a starting point then switch to manual to fine tune

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

You need to study exposure. Using the "sunny Sixteen" rule (look it up) with ISO 100 and at f/16 your shutter speed would be 1/100 sec. Then it would be a stop overexposed because it was on the beach. Any slower speed would blow out your image. If you want slow shutter speeds and can not lower your f stop or ISO any more you will want to get neutral density filters that stop some of the light from coming in. Most of us use the exposure triangle - ISO -aperture - shutter speed. You can pick any two and then you have to figure out what the 3rd on needs to be to get proper exposure. Depending on the light you may not get a combination that will work as happened to you at the beach. Of course you could have used faster shutter speeds but then you would not have got the effect that you wanted. - Dave

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

MaryAnn the first thing you need to buy is a Neutral Density (ND) filter to cut out/down the light. I would suggest a 10 stop ND filter.

Have a look here http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/09/28/10-tips-for-using-your-10-stop-nd-filter/ then do a search on YouTube.

If you need somemore info by all means ask away.

Baz

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Haveago wrote:

MaryAnn the first thing you need to buy is a Neutral Density (ND) filter to cut out/down the light. I would suggest a 10 stop ND filter.

Have a look here http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/09/28/10-tips-for-using-your-10-stop-nd-filter/ then do a search on YouTube.

If you need somemore info by all means ask away.

Baz

Sure a ND will do it or maybe even a polarizer or other tricks of the trade. I sill think she needs to understand the basics so she understands the why. The next day she might want to shoot a flower stamen or stop a train that passes by her house. Once you understand the triangle, manual or any of the bias settings are a cake walk.

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

pithydoug wrote:

Sure a ND will do it or maybe even a polarizer or other tricks of the trade. I sill think she needs to understand the basics so she understands the why. The next day she might want to shoot a flower stamen or stop a train that passes by her house. Once you understand the triangle, manual or any of the bias settings are a cake walk.

I totally agree with you I only mentioned about the ND for somewhere for Mary to start.
If Mary can use the link & then go onto YouTube & learn the use of the filter there.
Failing that as I put before Mary can always ask for more guidance on her post.

Baz

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Mary, I have the same two cameras you do! You may wish to try one of the priority modes instead of full manual for now. I mostly use aperture priority with the T3i. That is where you set the f/stop to control your depth of field, set the ISO based on lighting conditions, and then the camera sets the shutter speed.

With the SX50, things are a bit different, because with bridge cameras the depth of field is much harder to control - meaning pretty much everything is in focus unless you use the long zoooooom :) Learn exposure with the T3i; it'll provide a much better foundation.

JPL

MaryAnn wrote:

I thought 10 seconds would be how long to do it....but I am now thinking after watching a couple of things on you tube that maybe 2 seconds would give me the look I wanted.

I can only guess what look you are after. But on a sunny day on the beach I think you should try to set your camera like this, 1/5th shutter speed, ISO 100 or lower if possible, F22 or higher number if possible. Try this and go from there. You should at least get some kind of picture with those settings.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

MaryAnn wrote:

I have a Canon T3i and a Canon SX 50 HS. I shoot ... (show quote)

If you want to learn to shoot in manual mode you have to learn what makes an exposure.

I'd suggest you buy "Understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson as a start.

Also, learning the "sunny 16" rule is another handy thing to know.

If you were at the beach and it was a sunny day, then your settings would be something like:

f/16 for aperture

Shutter speed would be the reciprocal of the ISO. If your ISO was 100 then your shutter speed would be 1/125 or so.

If you tried to use "1/10" of a second then you were waaaaaaayyyyyy too over exposed.

If you change your shutter speed to smear the waves, then something else must compensate to make a proper exposure...the aperture must get smaller to let less light in or the ISO must get lower. You can't change one without the others changing also.

Here is a good article about it.

http://everydayaperture.com/sunny-16-and-beyond/