John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

Two things that continually amaze me when teaching photography is how badly clients have their cameras set up. So I am wondering how many here are taking advantage of some simple camera settings to help them shoot photos. First, I have no idea why this is so, but it seems all the cameras I look at require the user to active the cameras highlight alert to show blinkies in an image that is shot during playback. Why would you not want to have the highlight alert active? It seems to me the factory default should have the highlight alert on, and not have to be turned on by the user. I have been using the highlight alert exclusively for about four years now - more than a million shots - and I don't have any exposure problems. It is quick and easy and I can actually see the "blinkies" a lot easier than a little bit of rightmost data on the histogram. Second, for some reason cameras are set up to require the user to turn the shutter or aperture dial to the left (if using the top of the dial) to add light and move the histogram data to the right. It doesn't seem logical to have to turn dials left to move histogram data right. A client physicist pointed out this to me about 15 years ago and then I knew why I would use one of the custom settings on my cameras called "Reverse dial direction TV/AV." But it also works on manual. On all of my cameras, turning the exposure dials to the right adds light and moves the histogram data more right too. It is so logical to do it that way. I do have clients who insist they have learned to turn their dials left, to add light and move the histogram data right. But, when I observe them, I notice they are just as likely to turn the dial the wrong way as the right way, so I would point out that perhaps they should switch because it is not as intuitive as they assume it is for them.

I justed manually slowed the shutter until the first blinkies appeared in the snow, and did that by turning my shutter dial right to move the histogram data over to the right wall of the histogram. It only took a couple of seconds, but a bit longer

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BebuLamar

I don't need the blinkies! I never use it.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Very nice capture!

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Blinkies can be very distracting when I am trying to analyze composition or study detail within the image. I keep the highlight alert feature turned off until I actually need it.
I suppose it makes sense for new photographers to keep it on in order to remind them about checking on the highlights. But there comes a point when one no longer needs a constant reminder.

Rob909 Loc: Orland, Ca.

I feel as you do and have my cameras set the same way. I also love the C1 & C2 modes, to quickly switch to a specific setup.

Very nice photo.

Largobob

Love your rant....but you are describing malpractice among users. Anyone who knows the rudiments of photography, would know this.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I don't have blinkies and I only have these controls; a shutter button, a film winder, a film advance lever, an f/top ring, and a shutter speed dial.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Some can recognize <potential> problems with highlights.

(He might barf when he sees my setup(s). )

User ID

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Turning dials left to lower numbers makes sense.
All number lines are set up with zero or minus at
the left. Most users will never visualize that their
finger motion is pushing the histogram back and
forth. If they do see it that way then they should
just custom reverse the dial motions. No big deal.

You teach photography ? You ought to be grateful
that the gear isn't easy or logical. It's job security
for a job that otherwise wouldn't exist !

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User ID

Much the pity .....

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rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Lol..on the contrary! It's freedom!

No LCD....no menus....just shooting images.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar

Why pity? He could afford the camera that don't have all those things.
http://us.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Leica-M10-D

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Actually better than that...an Olympus Trip 35.

I sold my Leica M6 and kept the OLY.

John Gerlach Loc: Island Park, Idaho

Actually, I wish this exposure stuff would be more logical so I can get on to more interesting parts of teaching photography - like focus stacking, using flash in the landscape, HDR, wildlife photography, advanced focus methods such as setting AF parameters, AF microadjusting, and combinations of all these. I have to spend too much time on the basics and that takes time away from far more creative stuff.