Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

I just read Gary Truchelut's post about having changed his usual focus mode for a particular shoot, then not changing it back for his next shoot, ruining all of his shots. I've done this with various settings before, too, as I'm sure we all have at some time or other. I will not likely ever do this again, however, as I came up with an easy preventative.

My Sony (and must DSLR-class cameras) has custom memory modes in which I can choose virtually any setting I want to recall. I set aperture priority, AF-A, ISO range 100-400, etc. - probably a couple dozen settings for how I want my camera defaults to be - not how Sony wants them to be, then shoot in that custom mode most of the time. I can change settings as needed for any situation and not worry about remembering to change them back because very time I pick up my camera, I simply rotate the mode dial to any other mode then back to my primary custom mode and voila! My camera is set to my defaults and ready to shoot.

This is also a time-saver. Instead of manually going through changing settings back, I just recall the memory in about two seconds.

MtnMan Loc: ID

The Nikon D8xx, and probably other Nikons at that level but not lower, use what they call "shooting banks". It is the same idea. In effect you create your own "Scene" modes. You can even label them.

Of course I sometimes forget to change the shooting bank so a whole bunch of things aren't where I want them. Plus if you change things while in a shooting bank it remembers those settings instead of where it was before.

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

Make up a photo checklist for your self like a pilot uses before every flight. Mine has about 8 items on it. But it assures me, I am not in a bracketing mode, and my AF is set where I want it. Also that I have extra batteries with me. It only takes a minute to go through.

sirkeys Loc: Hilton Head, SC

:thumbup:

sirkeys Loc: Hilton Head, SC

:thumbup:

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Don't most DSL cameras re-set to default when you turn the camera off? So why not just turn the camera off and then back on before your next shot?

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

They do not reset, but that's kinda beside the point. I don't use the camera defaults, but rather, I set my own. This is just an ingeniously simple way to ensure I haven't forgotten to turn back any setting I've changed. For example, not long ago I grabbed a few quick shots of a fleeting rainbow, not noticing that I had used ISO 3200 the night before and had left the camera with that setting (yes, I should have noticed the very high shutter and wondered why, but I was rushing.)

I believe all cameras will one day include a primary user-defined default settings mode.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Yup, that's how most folks do it!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

The problem (if that is the right word) with modern DSLR cameras is that the permutations possible are virtually inlimited, Therefore the mistakes are unlimited. Lord knows in 50 years of shooting I have made many of them. It's not so much the number of mistakes but what we learn from them and to try not to repeat them. and when they do occur hope that the damage is not to severe. After all we all have those OH $H!T moents

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Oh $hit! The older I get the more that seems to be a major part of my vocabulary anymore.

:oops: :cry:

ducwic Loc: Milwaukee, Wi.

Try this;.
Just before you shut down, dial to GREEN AUTO.
Then the next time you're out and about you can change to whatever scheme you desire,
But you're camera is ready for that once in a lifetime shot that pops out of nowhere. Just remember to turn it on.
It's happened to all of us.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I haven't a clue where to find GREEN AUTO on my Nikon.

ducwic Loc: Milwaukee, Wi.

Green auto refers to auto everything, except focusing. It's usually on a dial that has M, S, A. What kind of Nikon???