I hope this makes sense

[Lesco]

Evening guys, sorry I'm a bit confused.

I went on a DSLR course a while ago and the guy set up my camera.

in the viewfinder when I depressed the button slightly (before committing fully to taking the picture) I used to get a meter at the bottom of the view finder that went up and down in increments as I adjusted my aperture accordingly to get the meter in the middle, the other day I was taking some pics of my new granddaughter and I've screwed up the settings some how and not sure how to get it all back.

sorry for such a noob question but I cant work it out and its frustrating me a bit.

thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

[mrodgers]

What mode is it in? It sounds like you had it in manual mode before, and now it is in one of the automatic/semi-automatic ones where that camera adjusts aperture/shutter time itself to get the meter in the middle.

 

[TCR4x4]

I would have said that, but the d300 only has M A S and P.

I thought the exposure meter was always visible in all those.. I've just sold my d300 so can't check. I don't recall seeing a setting in the menus to turn it off though.

Maybe if its in P it doesn't show. Put it in M and see if it comes back.

 

[Yv]

hmm just looked at mine, the in viewfinder meter at the bottom is there for M, P, S but not A - are you in aperture priority by any chance?

edit: it also disappears off the top LCD in A too .... can honestly say I have never noticed this before, but as I don't really use it anyway, hardly surprising.

 

[Nguss]

I think that you may be in manual mode. In the bottom at the middle is a meter which, as you say, goes back and forwards and the middle being the camera's recommended proper exposure value. This only appears in manual mode however. Try holding down the mode button and rotating the dial on the back of the camera to get it to A for aperture mode.

 

[Lesco]

Thanks guys you were all spot on, I was in manual mode, I've been trying to take pictures this way to try to learn a bit more about this fantastic camera and great hobby.

Am I right in saying that for normal still type subjects stay in aperture mode and for more moving type subjects shutter mode?? and what are the full benefits of going full manual mode out of interest, I'm learning slowly but surely, but still find things a bit confusing, but that is what this forum is for, thanks again guys

 

[mrodgers]

I normally use aperture mode for moving subjects, so I can select the widest aperture and change the ISO to get a shutter speed fast enough, this is just personal preference really though and shutter mode will work just as well.

Full manual is useful when you're shooting a subject which confuses the camera's meter. For example, I often use it when shooting whitewater kayaking, as the camera will overexpose shots that are mostly dark water (it thinks it is too dark and needs lightening up), and will underexpose shots that are mostly white foamy water (it thinks it is too bright and reduces exposure to compensate). Using manual mode I can take a few test shots to get the right exposure then keep it the same as long as the ambient light doesn't change.