walbrookem Loc: Michigan

I am new to this and trying to use manuel. If I want to take a picture at aperture wide open and set the exposure comp at the middle spot on the range finder to get my ss, what if shutter speed is too slow or not what I want how do I set it so that the exposure will come out right? Is manuel almost like TV and AV? You set the SS and the camera sets the AV, like in manuel you set the ss and camera sets the correct exposture by using the exposure comp bar and visa versa. Is it better to set camera on AV if I want to open wide and blur background or use manuel. I am a little confused about the 3 different settings.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

More info needed.

Which camera are you talking about? Digitial or film?
What lenses do you have available?
What type of light and what time of day?
Indoors or out?

We can help if we know these things.

helmigr

First, remember that photography is all about balancing the amount of light entering the camera with the length of time that it stays there. Some would argue that it's also about color, but I would also argue that if the balance of light (exposure) is correct, then color just is what it is until we manipulate it in post processing.

Which exposure function you use is just a method of balancing an amount if light with the duration of light. Manual exposure is where you the photographer set both the aperture and the shutter speed. A good place to start for sunny exposures is f/11 @ 1/125th sec. This is the standard for non-adjustable point and shoot cameras. Now maybe you like your photos a little less bright (under exposed). You need to reduce the amount of light coming into the camera or reduce its duration. Using the above camera setting as a starting point, you would change to f/16 @ 125th sec. (closing your aperture setting) or increase your shutter speed to 1/250th of a sec.

Aperture priority means that you set the f/stop and the camera sets the shutter speed for you. Since I'm primarily a landscape photographer I usually use AP because I'm concerned about my depth-of-field (the area in the photo that is in focus) which is determined by your aperture and to a lesser extent, which lens you're using.

Shutter Priority or Time Value (TV) means that you select your shutter speed and the camera sets your aperture, just the opposite of AP. If I were a sports photographer I would use TV.

I hope this long, drawn out, and very probably boring explanation helps.

LarryD Loc: Mojave Desert

Manual means manual.. The camera does not set anything, you do..

If you set your aperture, then center the needle, and your shutter speed is slower than you want; you need to change something (ISO is the third parameter in exposure)

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I would also ague that shooting manual isn't really about "centering the needle" so to speak. It's finding what works for you and your equipment to help you create the image you desire. I hardly ever center my meter, I tend to shot somewhere around one stop above center.

jw32003 Loc: Oklahoma

I normally shoot outside on aperature priority and let the camera set the shutter speed. I will nearly always get good exposure. Just check your histogram and you should be able to determine if your exposure is good or not. I would guess it will be..

jaybm

I've just recently begun using the manual mode and manual focusing on my Rebel XS. My favorite subjects are Humming Birds and with a lot of help from friends a filtered on board flash and ISO 800 has proved successful. SS is set slightly higher than the lens zoom setting. For really good results a remote flash is advisable.
If there is a way to adjust AV in manual I haven't figured it out, it pegs -2 ??? That's why the flash.
jaybm

elisab Loc: SouthwesternPennsylvania

I learned it one step at a time. When I got the camera I set it to automatic. Later I worked with the aperture setting. After I learned that I went to shutter speed. Then I started working on Manual. I usually shoot in manual now, but go back to the other settings when the shutter speed is most important or the aperture is most important. If there is action in the shot and I want to freeze it, I go to shutter speed, if depth of field is more important, I go to aperture settings. Night shots I do in manual. I don't know if this is right for everyone, but it works for me.

tsamori

if you set your aperture to a low number (wide open) and your ISO for the type of sky ( sunny, cloudy, shade etc..) there should be a dial to move your "needle to the center" ( that is your in camera light meter) that should get you to an accurate shutter speed. and if you look at the LCD and think it is too bright or too dark, adjust the needle (which adjusts your shutter speed) and then you shoot again. And if you decide to do all three of these needle in the center , one or two to the left and one or two to the right, (called bracketing) you can tru HDR later when you are ready. Just a thought. Good luck and lets see what you get.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I believe you are referring to W/B settings not ISO. ISO denotes is how sensitive the image sensor is to the amount of light present. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the image sensor and therefore the possibility to take pictures in low-light situations. And on every camera I have owned it is set with numbers, 100, 160, 200, 1600 are examples.

White Balance is set by selecting cloudy, shade, tuscan, custom, etc.

tsamori

yes, white balance, too many things in my head at the same time, thanks for catching that..

walbrookem Loc: Michigan

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my question, I am not as confused as I was when i posted this. I will go out and try what I have learned on this post.

walbrookem Loc: Michigan

I have a canon 7d camera , 28-135mm lens, 50 1:1.4,55-250 and a macro 100. usually shoot outside, have trouble with indoor shots havent done much indoors, on weekends usually during day during week around5pm

Hiskid.58 Loc: Erie, PA

It depends on what camera you have. If you have the Rebel XS then you probably have to hold down a button as you turn the main dial. I'm sure it is in your owners manual how to do this. Why are you trying to shoot in manual if you don't know how to adjust your settings? If you can't control your settings, you shouldn't even be trying it. You won't learn much if you can't change the aperture. If you don't have your manual to read, download it from Canon's site or Google it and download it.

Hiskid.58 Loc: Erie, PA

I did check and you are supposed to hold down the AV+/- button while turning the main dial. That is how you change your aperture in manual mode.