Beginner Did I miss something (preparing to shoot)?

[snerkler]

I never use S(Tv) because I don't like the way that mode operates (Nikon favors changing aperture over changing ISO). .

From my experience all the cameras I've used operate like this. In aperture or shutter priority they try to keep ISO as low as possible so will change the other variable first. This is why I don't use shutter priority either as I always want a specific aperture too, so use M with auto ISO instead of shutter priority.

 

[sk66]

My Nikons (and your's as well) change the ISO before they change SS when in A(Av) with auto ISO.
They start with ISO at minimum setting and SS wherever... when SS get's to my minimum setting (usually 2xFL) then ISO increases. When ISO get's to the set limit, then SS decreases below my minimum setting which is "ok" down to ~ 1/FL, or I can override it (change aperture/increase ISO limit). I guess technically that's changing SS "first;" but when there's not excess SS and it's time to compromise, it increases ISO first which is what I want.

When I care about SS and aperture equally I go to manual w/ auto ISO (which is usually when forcing slower SS's).

 

[snerkler]

My Nikons (and your's as well) change the ISO before they change SS when in A(Av) with auto ISO.
They start with ISO at minimum setting and SS wherever... when SS get's to my minimum setting (usually 2xFL) then ISO increases. .

Two contradictory statements, you're second sentence states SS changes until it reaches min shutter THEN ISO changes, so SS first, ISO second which is what I said (and what you allude to further on)

 

[Chrisphoter]

Indeed. I know what you mean. But many people like to claim they're working in full manual, when all they're doing is setting the shooting parameters so that the camera tells them they have a correct exposure ... in which case they aren't doing anything that an automatic mode wouldn't do more quickly and easily.

Hmm. So what about someone who shoots in P mode but makes frequent use of the EV? They're doing the opposite - allowing the camera to set the parameters, then overriding the exposure if they feel it needs to be. I'm not saying either way is more 'correct' , just that many options exist.

 

[StewartR]

Here's an interesting thing though, Phil. The camera isn't such a simple machine as it used to be, and that makes it harder to predict what it will do.....

Well either:

• I've got really low standards and I'm happy with any old crap
• The camera is brilliant and gets it right always
• Or I've worked out where and when I need to kick my brain in, and honestly I'm no genius so it can't be that difficult (maybe the evaluative metering is more predictable than we've heard).

Or maybe you're an experienced professional.

I wasn't claiming that evaluative/matrix metering was unfathomable; just that spot metering and centre weighted metering are more straightforward. I think that's self-evident.

Thinking about it, I reckon my perception that evaluative metering is hard(er) to predict arises from a combination of factors.
* I'm not a professional or even a serious hobbyist; I'm not using my camera as intensively as many people, so it takes me longer to climb the learning curve.
* Evaluative metering generally works really well, so I don't encounter so many situations where I need to allow for its shortcomings.
* The kind of photography I do usually allows me to chimp and adjust; I don't always have to get it right first time.

YMMV.

 

[Ulfric M Douglas]

I'm saddened (not really) this has degenerated into an argument between a few old hands about stuff they would ignore if they were taking photos instead of telling each other how to use cameras.
Personally I was hoping for more ripping the p*** out of the OP's stupid OP checklist...

Now we know it's about landscapes and bracketing and merging I'll shove in my twopenneth : go buy a camera with a really big bracket EV range, get a really heavy tripod, bracket the hell out of that field of sheep. There'll be plenty of leeway to get enough frames to merge into anything!

 

[sk66]

Two contradictory statements, you're second sentence states SS changes until it reaches min shutter THEN ISO changes, so SS first, ISO second which is what I said (and what you allude to further on)

I don't have a problem w/ the camera trading off excess SS first... that's what I would do anyways.
The difference is that in S(Tv) mode the camera will not adjust ISO until the aperture is at max... and there is no setting to modify that behavior (at least w/ Nikons).
But, like you, if I need a specific SS and aperture I'll generally use manual mode w/ auto ISO.

 

[sk66]

Hmm. So what about someone who shoots in P mode but makes frequent use of the EV?

My problem with that scenario is that *I* do not know which exposure value the camera will change when I dial in some EC... If I did know, and the changed setting will be the one I prefer to change, then I would be perfectly fine with it.