SX 40 Settings in P Mode

[Quickbeams]

I was wondering if people could tell me what they believe are the best settings for the SX 40 in P Mode. I did a search through the forums and could not find anything. Maybe I’m blind, but if there is something I did not see it.

I should also explain that I am not an experienced photographer. I want to make some settings to things like Custom Colours and exposure compensation and then just leave the settings and take pictures. I know enough that for exposure compensation I may need to adjust this depending on lighting conditions, but for everything else I’d like to be able to leave the settings alone.

I should also explain that I do not yet have the SX 40. I have the “old” SX10 and am considering going to the SX 40. I do not want to get it however, if I will need to be continually changing the settings to get good pictures.

Any suggestions???

 

[iAnoop]

I use P mode when I am in confusion in what setting is best (shutter speed and aperture)
P mode is simply automatic but you can control ISO and white balance.

--
Anoop
My Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianoopkumar/

 

[stef]

To use P mode, adjust exposure compensation and custom colors, you don't need to do anything special really.

Use the Function button to find custom colors, choose what you like and the camera will leave your choice in memory until you want to change it. You could use the C1 and C2 settings to have alternate choices of color settings and perhaps sharpness, contrast and other things. Give it a try -- you can always change things back or revert everything to the default settings you originally had.

The exposure compensation is so easy to adjust you can just click that on the muli-function wheel button and play around with it or even use the exposure bracketing function.

I use the shortcut button for the tele-extender at the moment but it is easy to switch to something else. It is much easier to use the shortcut button than it is to go into the menu constantly.

For custom colors try using the film setting and see how that works for the kind of pictures you are taking. It is one of the things that you might try to set up in C1 or C2. If you prefer to only use the post processing functions in your image editor, you can set up one of the C settings to do minimal color, sharpness, contrast, etc. And use the other C setting for vivid color, mid-range sharpness and contrast.

I haven't set up the C1or2 to do anything yet but I will.

 

[Kali12]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why do you think you will want to change anything? You can use P mode exactly as is--most people never go into those sub menus "Custom Colors, etc." unless they know they are trying for a particular result and that's the best way to get it.

A better idea, imo, is to use P Mode--which is quite good--and see if you like the results. You might find out, like many people, that you do and that those settings are just fine. (If you -do- feel a need to change a setting because you want a particular result, it is easy to adjust the Exposure Compensation to -1/3 or -2/3--again, if you think you need it. The Control Dial is right on the back of the camera and you just push one side of it to make the change. You don't even need to go into a menu).

The default settings on P Mode are good. I'd say enjoy the camera and don't worry about the settings needing to be changed unless you're dissatisfied with something. (Many people just stay in P mode and find it's fine "as is").

It's a fun camera.

 

[Dale Buhanan]

I have an SX40, and the settings I like to use in P mode are these:

In 'My colors', go to 'Custom color,' and set saturation +1, Sharpness +1, Contrast +1, skin tone 'llighter'. That makes wonderful pictures with good pop.

On really sunny days I also back exposure off -1/3 with the exposure compensation to avoid blowing the highlights. For cloudy or dull days, or inside, I set it back to no compensation. Auto ISO of course. This has worked really well for me.

Hope that helps you...

I was wondering if people could tell me what they believe are the best settings for the SX 40 in P Mode. I did a search through the forums and could not find anything. Maybe I’m blind, but if there is something I did not see it.

I should also explain that I am not an experienced photographer. I want to make some settings to things like Custom Colours and exposure compensation and then just leave the settings and take pictures. I know enough that for exposure compensation I may need to adjust this depending on lighting conditions, but for everything else I’d like to be able to leave the settings alone.

I should also explain that I do not yet have the SX 40. I have the “old” SX10 and am considering going to the SX 40. I do not want to get it however, if I will need to be continually changing the settings to get good pictures.

Any suggestions???

--
kind regards
Dale

 

[Quickbeams]

Thanks Dale,

That is exactly the kind of information I have been looking for. Funny thing is that with other Canon cameras I have always seen many, many posts about what are the best settings to use regarding Custom Colours, Exposure, etc. When I did a search I could not find anything like this for the SX40. It had me thinking that maybe each shot required different settings with this camera. Glad to see this is not the case.

Anyone else care to share what settings they use?

 

[iAnoop]

Oops I forgot to mention custome colors and function modes.

After using this several months, I am bending towards manual mode... I just set vivid color mode and instead of action, portrait or any other mode I switch to manual mode and try to change aperture and shutter speed to get better shot.

instead of auto mode, I use P mode and set the ISO to 100 and click the shutter button halfway. if shutter speed shows too slow like 1/40 , I increase the ISO for faster speed.

I really never tried all modes, my bad.
Could anyone tell me what are the modes, which works good.

--
Anoop
My Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianoopkumar/

 

[skyglider]

stef wrote:

The exposure compensation is so easy to adjust you can just click that on the muli-function wheel button and play around with it or even use the exposure bracketing function.

I've been trying to confirm whether the SX40HS allows assigning exposure compensation to the wheel which will allow adjusting exposure compensation instantly, anytime without having to press any buttons first. IOW, look through the viewfinder and just spin the wheel to adjust exposure compensation. Is this possible on the SX40HS?

Thanks,
Sky

 

[stef]

I've been trying to confirm whether the SX40HS allows assigning exposure compensation to the wheel which will allow adjusting exposure compensation instantly, anytime without having to press any buttons first. IOW, look through the viewfinder and just spin the wheel to adjust exposure compensation. Is this possible on the SX40HS?

I don't believe that you can assign any functions to the wheel. When shooting and looking through the viewfinder, I have my thumb on the textured thumb rest and just move down slightly to turn on the exposure compensation function by pressing on the top of the wheel and then it can be left on so that it is visible in the viewfinder if needed. Usually, I will set it at -1/3 when it is pretty bright and just leave it there but turn off the exposure compensation in the display so it is out sight. If I get into a more shaded light I will set it to 0.

 

[skyglider]

stef wrote:

I don't believe that you can assign any functions to the wheel. When shooting and looking through the viewfinder, I have my thumb on the textured thumb rest and just move down slightly to turn on the exposure compensation function by pressing on the top of the wheel and then it can be left on so that it is visible in the viewfinder if needed. Usually, I will set it at -1/3 when it is pretty bright and just leave it there but turn off the exposure compensation in the display so it is out sight. If I get into a more shaded light I will set it to 0.

Stef,

Thanks for your reply. Guess one press to turn on exposure compensation before being able to adjust it isn't too bad. I'm just spoiled by my FZ50 which allows assigning exposure compensation to the wheel on the front right of the camera.

On the SX40HS, if you have the live histogram displayed and you press the top of the wheel to allow adjusting exposure compensation, does the live histogram remain viewable while adjusting exposure compensation?

Thanks much,
Sky

 

[stef]

On the SX40HS, if you have the live histogram displayed and you press the top of the wheel to allow adjusting exposure compensation, does the live histogram remain viewable while adjusting exposure compensation?

Yes, the histogram does remain in view. Works well for skewing exposure to the left side of the histogram. I do that occasionally when I want to be certain that I am getting an image that I can use (not over exposed or under exposed) and maybe adjust in post processing. I could also do exposure bracketing and sometimes do. Mostly I do that when I won't have another chance to retake the photo.

 

[skyglider]

On the SX40HS, if you have the live histogram displayed and you press the top of the wheel to allow adjusting exposure compensation, does the live histogram remain viewable while adjusting exposure compensation?

Yes, the histogram does remain in view. Works well for skewing exposure to the left side of the histogram. I do that occasionally when I want to be certain that I am getting an image that I can use (not over exposed or under exposed) and maybe adjust in post processing. I could also do exposure bracketing and sometimes do. Mostly I do that when I won't have another chance to retake the photo.

Good info. Thanks Stef.
Sky

 

[c.hammett]

I have an SX40, and the settings I like to use in P mode are these:

In 'My colors', go to 'Custom color,' and set saturation +1, Sharpness +1, Contrast +1, skin tone 'llighter'. That makes wonderful pictures with good pop.

On really sunny days I also back exposure off -1/3 with the exposure compensation to avoid blowing the highlights. For cloudy or dull days, or inside, I set it back to no compensation. Auto ISO of course. This has worked really well for me.

Hope that helps you...

--
kind regards
Dale

I use the same settings as Dale, but in addition, I set the shortcut button for w/b. Auto w/b is usually good, but sometimes it misses, or you prefer another look, and the shortcut button is a quick easy way to make w/b changes and see the different effects on the LCD before you shoot.

carolyn
--
Ranger a.k.a chammett
http://www.pbase.com/chammett

'elegance is simplicity'