Help in learning how to shoot in manual mode

dmitriyvan wrote:

One of my new years resolutions is to use my camera much much more often. Since i got my G7 a few months a go i have only used it really once on a family visit to Pennsylvania and new jersey. But in 2016 i want to learn how to shoot in manual shooting mode to shoot long exposures, landscapes and shots at night. I want to learn because i love exploring and travel, and i want to capture moments to remember. I have a trip planned to Costa Rica in Jan and Belize in April. And i want to be able to take some great photos while im there.

Any tips or tutorials you guys or girls would recommend for a beginner? one thing i plan on doing is taking my camera everywhere and just start shooting and practicing. For now i have the basic kit lens that came with the camera. I will wait to buy another lens after my skill increases.

Thanks ahead of time for all the tips and suggestions. Happy new year 2016 to ALL!

By the WYSIWYG live view shooting of M43, basically it would be similar to shoot in pure M mode or A/S mode. In M mode, we set the f/stop (or shutter speed) and then set the corresponding parameter until it looks satisfaction in evf/LCD. In A/S mode, we set one parameter and the camera select the corresponding parameter buy itself for a quicker operation. However, we still have to look at the evf/LCD and make EC until a satisfactory exposure be obtained. So they are all basically the same. Personally if time allowed, I prefer to shoot in M mode to enjoy the processing of shooting. Otherwise would shoot in A/S mode.

In the old days before live view was invented, to me mastering of "M mode = graduation". Because mastering f/stop and shutter speed (now, also ISO) on blindfold would need a lot of experience on top of having a good metering system (in-camera or a light meter). Different metering mode would affect the correct exposure. Furthermore, more experience be required on making fine tune adjustment for each of the specific shooting condition because no one metering mode could 100% meet with what we desired. For safety we would have to take multiple shots at various settings and after returning home, developed them to see the result. If not ideal, we would have lost that shooting opportunity. We also have a lot more consideration other than a proper exposure, like DOF control, action freeze, effect etc....

Now, when we make setting, a stimulation of the result could be displayed immediately on the evf/LCD. No matter it would be on 100% manual setting (M-mode) or semi-automatic (A/S mode), we could see and make any necessary change until our satisfaction. It is a day and night change in photographing changing from "blind guessing, trial and error" into "see and capturing".

So IMHO:

we must have to train our eye to tell the different in lighting changes. Call up the Constant Preview for actual exposure checking when needed (live view could tell most of the approximate information, but not 100%). As we can see the light distribution across the entire scene, metering mode would become insignificant.

Just learn the relationship between:

• f/stop vs DOF/sweet spot of each lens,
• Shutter Speed vs movement/stabilization,
• +ev for smoother/silky feel, -ev for color saturation/shadow noise,
• ISO vs noise,

Likely it would be nearly everything need to be learnt on the technical side.

If we could co-ordinate our eye and make setting right we would hardly capture a technically wrong exposure image. Mirrorless is a short cut to learn technical side of photographing.

Happy shooting and Happy New Year.