Using the Av mode???

[wastedimages]

Ok, so Im trying to learn to give auto mode a miss and try manual shots with my new s95..

I plan to start with Av mode and play around with different apperture settings and see what that gives me...

I have read that Apperture controls depth of field, but DoF isn't really applicable with small compacts, so Im confused over what changing the apperture will give me in the pictures I take on Av mode?

If I shoot at f20 and then at f2.4 - I can't see a difference..

 

[lumigraphics]

Aperture does control depth of field, the differences are not quite as dramatic with a small sensor compact though. Remember that aperture also controls exposure, under low light you'll normally need to open up to a large (small f-number) aperture.

Try this as an exercise- shoot a fence or long brick wall at a sharp angle, from one end to the other. Keep changing aperture from smaller to larger. You'll see a difference.

Ok, so Im trying to learn to give auto mode a miss and try manual shots with my new s95..

I plan to start with Av mode and play around with different apperture settings and see what that gives me...

I have read that Apperture controls depth of field, but DoF isn't really applicable with small compacts, so Im confused over what changing the apperture will give me in the pictures I take on Av mode?

If I shoot at f20 and then at f2.4 - I can't see a difference..

 

[KCampbell]

Because, as you have seen, with a very small sensor depth of field is never particularly limited, perhaps try controlling the shutter speed instead?

Once you establish how slow you can comfortably hand hold the camera without shake being a factor you can use the shutter speed to alter how moving objects are captured. Perhaps try with a relatively slow shutter, say 1/200 or 1/125, and follow moving objects as you capture the image.

Kevin

 

[SilverbirdFLG]

There is more to DOF than just your aperture setting. A big part of controlling depth of field depends on how far you are from your subject. If you focus your camera at something a significant distance away, everything from your subject to infinity will be in focus (especially when using a compact camera with a small sensor). If you want to see DOF change with your compact, you will need to focus on something close to your camera.

Try this:

Place a line of soup or soda cans on a table with the first one about a foot away from your camera. Line the cans up so that each one is about 6 inches behind and slightly to the left or right of the can in front of it. when finished you should have a line of 6 or so cans moving away from your camera in a diagonal line. Set your camera on the lowest aperture number and focus on the SECOND can in the line while keeping the other cans still in the shot. Continue taking photos at increasingly higher aperture numbers while focusing on the second can in line. When you look at your photos you will see the point at which the cans in back of and the one in front of the second can begin to fall out of the DOF. The combination of having several objects at different distances and taking photos close up will give you an idea of how well the aperture on your camera can alter DOF.

 

[Chris R-UK]

[snip]

If I shoot at f20 and then at f2.4 - I can't see a difference..

If you viewed the image at full size you would certainly see a difference. An effect called "diffraction" (google for an explanation) would be pretty horrific by f20 on a compact and would create a very, very soft image. That is why most compacts have a very limited aperture range.
--
Chris R

 

[Graystar]

[snip]

If I shoot at f20 and then at f2.4 - I can't see a difference..

If you viewed the image at full size you would certainly see a difference. An effect called "diffraction" (google for an explanation) would be pretty horrific by f20 on a compact and would create a very, very soft image. That is why most compacts have a very limited aperture range.

I'd bet anything the OP meant f/2.0 because the S95's max aperture is f/8.

.

 

[Hugowolf]

Ok, so Im trying to learn to give auto mode a miss and try manual shots with my new s95..

I plan to start with Av mode and play around with different apperture settings and see what that gives me...

I have read that Apperture controls depth of field, but DoF isn't really applicable with small compacts, so Im confused over what changing the apperture will give me in the pictures I take on Av mode?

Since Av is a semi-automatic mode, when you change the aperture, the shutter speed will also change. You can use a wide aperture when you want to increase the shutter speed. There can be situation with dim lighting when obtaining a reasonable shutter speed is more important than the DoF.

Another reason for varying the aperture would be when using flash. The shutter speed has little effect on the flash exposure because the flash duration will be a few milliseconds at most, but the aperture has an effect on how much reach the flash has. At larger apertures (smaller f-stops), the flash has more reach than at smaller apertures.

If I shoot at f20 and then at f2.4 - I can't see a difference..

The S95 doesn’t do f/20, so I assume you mean f/2.0. The difference between f/2.0 amd f/2.4 is only half a stop. You will not see much change in DoF with only half a stop change in aperture.

Try comparing shots at f/2.0 and f/8. The difference in DoF should be especially noticeable when shooting something fairly close up.

Brian A

 

[wastedimages]

A big thank you for all the replies, I did mean f2.0..

Im taking the camera out tomorrow, 3 batteries, and 2 memory cards and plan to shoot away and try and get my head round this...

Special thanks to those who gave me some practical examples to try, this will help me alot as it is hard to initially find things to enhance understanding when you are not sure what you don't understand

Thx again

 

[SilverbirdFLG]

For further learning I would highly recommend you read a book called "Understanding Exposure."

It is short, easy to read, and covers just about every reason why you would want to alter aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

 

[wastedimages]

By Bryan Peterson?

Ordered from Amazon for delivery next week

 

[AnandaSim]

This simulator may help you understand
http://dryreading.com/camera/index.html

--



Ananda
http://anandasim.blogspot.com
https://sites.google.com/site/asphotokb

'There are a whole range of greys and colours - from
the photographer who shoots everything in iA / green
AUTO to the one who shoots Manual Everything. There
is no right or wrong - there are just instances of
individuality and individual choice.'

 

[SilverbirdFLG]

Yep, that's the one.

 

[Hank3152]

If you're shooting under ideal sunny conditions use Av and set the aperture between f/3.2 to f/4. This area seems to be the sweet spot of the lens with the least amount of distortions.

--
Regards,
Hank

 

[KOK Yoon Lee]

Not sure if this is relevant, but with Nikon dSLRs (that I use), one major difference between Auto modes and using Aperture priority mode is that I can add (or subtract) exposure compensation in the Av mode, but not in the Auto mode. So my workflow would be to take a photo in Av mode, look at the histogram (or for blown highlights), adjust EV compensation and retake if not satisfied. Would this work for a S95?

 

[Hank3152]

Not sure if this is relevant, but with Nikon dSLRs (that I use), one major difference between Auto modes and using Aperture priority mode is that I can add (or subtract) exposure compensation in the Av mode, but not in the Auto mode. So my workflow would be to take a photo in Av mode, look at the histogram (or for blown highlights), adjust EV compensation and retake if not satisfied. Would this work for a S95?

Yes, it's the same.....by adjusting EV in Av mode the shutter speed will vary since the ISO remains the same.
--
Regards,
Hank