Through the Lense Metering: I am trying to learn to use a dslr. I have been putting the camera in M Pointing at the light source in the room. Adjusting aperature and shutter speed...

twirlgirl

I am trying to learn to use a dslr. I have been putting the camera in M Pointing at the light source in the room. Adjusting aperature and shutter speed until everything lines up to zero and consistently get over or under exposed pictures. What am I doing wrong.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

if youre pointing at light you probly will have to adjust exposer minus till you get the shot. what is youre camera

twirlgirl

nikon d5100,

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

twirlgirl wrote:

nikon d5100,

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nikon+d5100+tutorials&oq=nikon+d5100+tutorials&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=6056l6056l0l8663l1l1l0l0l0l0l114l114l0.1l1l0

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

twirlgirl wrote:

I am trying to learn to use a dslr. I have been putting the camera in M Pointing at the light source in the room. Adjusting aperature and shutter speed until everything lines up to zero and consistently get over or under exposed pictures. What am I doing wrong.

You do not point at the light source- you measure the subject.
There are meters that do measure the source(incident meters) but those are not in our cameras. The camera measures reflected light.

twirlgirl

how do you measure the subject. Do you fill the frame up with it?

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Just compose the photo, adjust your controls to align the meter in the middle and you should be ready to go.

Otherwise we recommend you set the ISO at about 400 and the other control to P and shoot away. This will get you good photos 99% of the time.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

If you are really new to photography, I would set it to auto for a bit and take a few shots and look at what the camera set. This will help you see the settings to use when you get use to the camera. Keep trying you will be full manual before you know it.
Erv

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Try it in "A" and see what shutter speed the meter selects. Then try it in "S" and see what aperture the meter selects. This can help you understand the relationship between the two. Then try changing your ISO and see what differences that will make.

ephraim Imperio

MT Shooter wrote:

Try it in "A" and see what shutter speed the meter selects. Then try it in "S" and see what aperture the meter selects. This can help you understand the relationship between the two. Then try changing your ISO and see what differences that will make.

MT is correct. This is the best way to start! This is the way i started many moons ago. I mostly shoot manual now a days.

effrant Loc: New Hampshire

Here is a good read......
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

If you could post a picture and the settings used to create it that would help us help you.

Also, it's unclear what you are saying that you are doing...are you just pointing your camera at a lamp and adjusting it for a proper exposure and taking a picture of that lamp? Or are you pointing your camera at the lamp, then turning the camera away and taking a picture of something else?

Gidgette Loc: Boerne,Texas

dirtpusher wrote:

twirlgirl wrote:

nikon d5100,

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nikon+d5100+tutorials&oq=nikon+d5100+tutorials&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=6056l6056l0l8663l1l1l0l0l0l0l114l114l0.1l1l0

Went to web and changed to D90. Great tutorials. Thanks, have already learned couple of things. Will go in later to check out more methods. Thanks.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

twirlgirl wrote:

I am trying to learn to use a dslr. I have been putting the camera in M Pointing at the light source in the room. Adjusting aperature and shutter speed until everything lines up to zero and consistently get over or under exposed pictures. What am I doing wrong.

You point at the center of your subject, not the light. Pointing at the light isn't going to expose anything correctly in the room except the light itself.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Practice what MT is posting. Go from there.