BBRambles Loc: Ohio

Hello! I do travel photography and until now have used my Canon 5D Markll strictly on Automatic setting as I don't have time to fool around with buttons since animals don't pose.
In five weeks I leave for Zambia with my f2 200mm lens. Shall I continue using automatic or shall I attempt to drill specifics into this 75 year old thick skull? If your answer is yes, how is best way to accomplish this daunting task in a short time - yes, I know: take photos but where/how is best instruction?
THANKS A BUNCH!!!

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Wow a Canon 5D Mark ll on full automatic. That's like putting rabbit ears on a 50" Plasma TV. You also list a very expensive piece of glass with the F/2 200mm. Sure, keep using it on Full Automatic and you'll get some fantastic snapshots to remember the trip.

larrycumba

I would start with program mode and that will allow you to adjust your ISO. This mode will control aperture and shutter speed but still give you some flexibility. You might also try the Tv mode and play with shutter speed just to get a feel for it. If you get a chance grab a copy of this book. It is great and an easy read. Are you going to take any other lens?



http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Canon-Digital-Photography/dp/1435454332/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318009838&sr=1-11

BBRambles Loc: Ohio

THANK YOU for replying to my MayDay! And Thank You for your suggestion --- I will order it post haste and hopefully my brain will get past these counter intuitives related to adjusting the settings for my photos. I plan to put somee of these photos in my next bookto publish so they must be GREAT! Barbara

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I personally would start with aperature priority and set your aperture for a desired depth of field. Then I would set your ISO to obtain a desired shutter speed based on the 5D's built-in light meter OR....Go completely manual, setting your ISO so that at f/8 or f/5.6 so you get a proper exposure at 1/200 sec. You can then adjust you aperture and shutter speed with your forefinger and thumb using the built-in light meter that you see at the bottom of your viewfinder. Shoot in RAW and post process will give you a four stop or better leeway.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

for critters, if they're not moving, i'd use aperture priority (Av) mode, and let the camera pick a shutter speed. if they're moving, switch to Tv (shutter priority), and pick a speed that will freeze their movement. for most animals that don't fly, 1/320-1/500 should be plenty fast enough. for birds in flight, go to somewhere between 1/1000 and 1/1600. you might consider renting a longer lens as well... a 200 is a bit short for wildlife photos. don't be afraid to bump the ISO to get the shutter speeds you need. the 5D2 will produce good results at stupidly high ISO settings.

if you'll be shooting most landscape and "postcard" photos, use Av to control the depth of field. i'd also recommend taking a wider lens for scenic images. a 24-105 would be marvelous on the 5D2 for that kind of shots. this is probably a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so take the gear to get the shots you want... be a shame to come home without some great photos because you didn't have the right lenses.

BBRambles Loc: Ohio

I know it's probably inconveivable to you, an expert,that someone with a 5D wouldn't have a clue about what you speak but so it is. You're like a foreign language and that's what I'm wanting to learn; you're way ahead of me. As a traveler I take only animals and people - almost no landscape and yes I have a 100-400 but not the clarity of the f2 200 that I'm using for best possible. I do shoot in RAW. Learning aperture and fiddling with lightroom. Have an expert assist until I get it down pat. This is definitly not a once in a life time -- it's my 9th African safari and have done 5 in India. THANK YOU so much for your reply! I will print it and keep it on my the horizon as I try to figure this out. Too bad you can't see the elephant head I've had printed at 56" X 37". A WOW! Going for perfection! Barbara

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

Barbara,

sorry... i assumed someone who'd spent over $6000 on a 5D2 and fast lenses probably understood the basics of aperture and shutter priority.

first, some basics. aperture is the term used to denote the size of the lens opening. the aperture controls how much light the lens lets in for any given shutter speed. a larger aperture lets in more light, and a smaller admits less.

your 200mm lens has settings from f/2 (a very large opening) to f/32 (a very small opening). at f/2, you can shoot photos in very dim light without a flash, but the depth of field (the portion of the photo that's in sharp focus) will be small. with a small aperture, your photo will be sharp from front to back, but you'll need a lot more light to get a correct exposure.

the shutter speed tells you how long the shutter stays open. a fast shutter, say 1/1000, means the shutter only opens for 1/1000 of a second - not very long, so not a lot of time for light to reach the sensor. that means you can only use fast shutter speeds in bright light, but a fast shutter will stop motion, so it's desirable for photographing moving subjects. a slow shutter, like 1/60 of a second, means the shutter stays open longer, so that more light reaches the sensor. this is useful when the light's not as bright and the camera needs more time to gather enough light for a proper exposure.

the ISO setting controls the sensitivity of the sensor. a low ISO setting, like 100, means the sensor isn't very sensitive to light, so it needs more light (a slower shutter or a wider aperture, or both) for a good exposure. a higher ISO setting means the sensor is more sensitive, and doesn't need to be exposed for as long to a capture enough light. when the light is bright, you can use a lower ISO setting and still get enough light. in dim light, you'll want a higher ISO setting so that the sensor will collect enough light to make a good picture.

as you can see, aperture, shutter speed and ISO are all inter-related, and you have to understand all three in order to make the most of your camera's capabilities.

now for operating modes...

in aperture, or Av mode, you set the aperture, or size of the opening in the lens, which controls depth of field, or how much of the image will be in focus. a small aperture makes most of the image, from close to far, in focus. a wider opening (smaller f-number) makes only the subject clear, and in some cases, not even that. when you shoot in aperture mode, you select the aperture, and the camera automatically selects a shutter speed that will give you a proper exposure.

in shutter priority (Tv) mode, you select the shutter speed you want, to control how motion is captured, and the camera chooses the aperture to provide a good exposure. for moving subjects, like a running antelope, you might want a fairly fast shutter, like 1/500 or 1/1000, to freeze the animal's movement and avoid blur. for birds in flight, you'll need a minimum of 1/1000, maybe faster.

in manual mode (M), you set both aperture and shutter speed, and the camera will shoot what you've told it to, whether it's properly exposed or not. you won't be using manual any time soon, most likely, but it's still good to know what it does.

of course, as you know, in auto, or 'program' mode, the camera chooses everything, and all you do is compose and press the shutter.

i strongly suggest you invest some time before your trip in reading about how exposure works, and the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. your images will get better, and you'll open up a whole new world of photo possibilities. read the manual that came with your camera. read online articles on camera basics. learn as much as you can before you go, so that you'll be better able to take the photos you want.

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

you'll also want to learn to read and use the exposure information that's displayed in the viewfinder. that'll tell you if your settings will produce a good picture, or if you've chosen settings that will be either under- or over-exposed.

you didn't mention how long you've had the 5D2, but i assume not very long. it's an immensely capable camera - i'd love to have one, but can't afford the upgrade - and if you take some time now to learn how to use it correctly, you'll be amazed at the photos you can capture with it. of course, in auto mode, it will take wonderful shots, but if you want to get creative at all, you really need to understand exposure, and once you do, that camera will do wonders.

JerseyGRRRL Loc: Asheville, NC

Since you have some time before your trip, I'd Phil that puppy off automatic/program and get to know my camera. You have an extremely high quality camera and I think that it's a good time to start to get to know it's capabilities. It takes a while to learn a new camera. I would read my manual cover to cover, and make sure I brought it with me so I could change settings if need be. Conditions change. Now I understand if you feel a bit intimidated by the technology, but the more you experiment, the better you will become more quickly. For an important trip like this, make sure you have enough batteries and SD Cards. Also, I would bring lens cleaners etc.
The only way to really learn your cameranis trial and error. However, I would certainly recommend shooting in program if you aren't schooled on the particulars by the time you leave. Good luck and I can't wait to see the images. Practice as much as possible prior to leaving, but while there I wouldn't take too many chances if I didn't know my camera. You certainly don't want to lose any images because you were experimenting with the camera. So, learn what you can and. Have a great trip!!!

JerrysPhotos Loc: Arkansas

I always shoot my wildlife shots in Aperture mode so that I can control the DOF. I will adjust it when I need to change the shutter speed. If I am wide open and still need a faster shutter, then I will adjust the ISO. Having said this, if you have been happy with the results you are getting shooting in Auto, then why change it?? If you are not happy then you have 5 weeks to pratice one of the way that have been suggested here.. Enjoy your trip and get so great shots.........

Bob Curtis Loc: Bay City, TX

An old pros secret setting. Set the speed (ISO) at 2,000 or as close as you can and then set the camera on automatic as far as shutter is concerned. You can take good photos without a tripod to worry about, but you may have some noise in the background. (So far I have had very little noise using a Sony A 700.) I have shot a bunch of photos in low light, medium light and bright light without any problems that couldn't be solved in just a few seconds time.

Bob Curtis

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Wow, sounds like a great trip coming up. If your happy with the photos your camera's been taking then shot away on Auto. You don't want to be in the field and miss shots because you've screwed up something in the camera. On Auto your camera will take plenty of good shots.. Extra battery and extra cards is all you'll need. Take your time and learn when you get home.. Remember this about having fun............

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

When I am taking once in a life time shots. I will take a few on auto then throw it into manual and see what I come up with. Of course if you are taking wildlife shots you might not get more than one chance.

XJoeyX Loc: San Antonio, TX

Hehehehe I like your analogy, Bob! But I agree with your advice. It's too late in the game FOR THIS TRIP to try and learn how to shoot on manual. Leave it on Auto for the trip so that you KNOW you'll get good snapshots. When you get back home, THEN you can try learning all the manual settings.

Just my two cents worth,

-Joey