Newbie saying hello

VisionLight wrote:

Bigman80 wrote:

VisionLight wrote:

Bigman80 wrote:

i'll download the manual, thanks for that.

any idea what im doing wrong outside ?

If you remember or wrote down the exposure settings to a particular image (I'm assuming your use of the first camera manually is not coming out well), post the image. Tell us as much about the ambient light as you remember. We may be better able to help you figure out the problem.

Hi Ed

Ok, I didn't record any settings so I'll take a fresh set and make some notes. I'll post as soon as they're done !

Oliver.

I thought of another idea that you may find helpful. You have two cameras now, one manual that you are learning to use, and one that is automatic. Use both of them together, taking an image with the manual camera in Aperture Priority first, since this one's aperture is fixed wide open and only the shutter speed and ISO can be controlled. Note the shutter speed and ISO used and whether you liked the results or not. Then set the automatic camera to Aperture Priority and set the aperture to the same value as the wide open manual lens. Set the ISO to the same value used on the manual camera as well. Take the same picture (do the settings on both cameras first before taking the pictures so that the light dose not change in between). Now compare the results. If the second image is better, note any changes that were made in the exposure vs the manual lens camera. Doing this a number of times in different lighting situations will help you learn the "personality" of the first camera in making adjustments to the exposure (including EC adjustments) that will get you the results you want.

As to focus differences, without having the camera and knowing its manual focus aids, I can not be a lot of technical help. But I can offer a manual focus tip. We visually perceive focus as high contrast between neighboring tones rather than actually seeing the sharpness (which is more apparent in pixel peeping). When looking at the screen while manually focusing, watch as different areas of the subject appear to increase in contrast. That is most likely the point of focus.

Automatic cameras are great, but there is a lot to learn in using a camera manually. With enough practice, you will soon be able to combine the benefits of both in capturing the light exactly as your eye perceives it, rather then depending entirely on the average exposure a computer program chooses. The SOOC image comes out better needing less or no post, and your satisfaction with your craft increases no matter which camera you have in your hands. It is a worthwhile endeavor for anyone wishing to up their photographic ability. Those of us who have been photographing for 50 years or more remember when manual was the only game in town. So we were "lucky" enough to get in a lot of practice before automatic cameras of any kind became the general rule.

Ed

Excellent advice.  I did some more photos today and paid more attention to what I'm doing. My results were a lot better. I also realised I can set the camera to magnify the screen to fine tune the focus before I take a shot.   Thatsade the biggest difference. Also got the tripod out and used it to do a couple of shots for aperture testing. I realised switching  to manual meant I had greater control over light etc so I'll be experimenting again tomorrow