Settings Guide - Is there such a thing

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Andy64

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Andy
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What I had in mind was, something credit card size that has a list of recommended shutter speed and aperture settings for a given situation. Low light, sports etc

Is there anything like this I can print and keep until I get used to my camera

Cheers

Andy
 
I haven't seen anything of the like, but tbh, there's never a set guide to anything about taking hpoto's because every situation is different. I do a bit of motorsport, so here's a few 'base settings' you could use.
Shutter speed - 1/250
ISO - depends on light, but 100/200 in bright sunlight, 800-1600 in the shade, or maybe higher if cloudy or at night.
Apeture f/11-16 in bright sunlight f/4-5.6 in dull/overcast or at night.
 
Not seen a guide, but there is an iPhone app called "Digital SLR Photography Toolkit for dummies" which is similar, as well as "Photo Trainer".

Nikon do a "Learn & Explore" app too - but like the others the info is only a general guide as weather conditions etc. vary.

They are handy if you want to see "what if" with their recommended settings, but sometimes they only act as a guide.
 
Rob - That's the sort of info I'm after, if there isn't a list, I can gather information and make up my own "idiots guide"

WideEyedFox said:
Nikon do a "Learn & Explore" app too - but like the others the info is only a general guide as weather conditions etc. vary.
Click to expand...
That looks okay, never gave the iphone apps a thought

Cheers
 
What you really need to focus on, rather than trying to memorise settings for different photos, is to instead try to understand what each one does and what the various implications are.

Once you understand that, then you can just dream up settings on the spot for any requirement you have.

All there is really are shutter speed and aperture, and their implications are pretty simple, in respect of depth of field, stopping motion (or not), and the way as one goes up the other goes down, generally.

Trust me - time spent reading about shutter speed and aperture off wikipedia/google is better invested, then time spent printing out any kind of 'suggested shutter speed tables'.
 
One last point by the way.

Generally speaking, you only really need to control one setting.

I hardly ever go to take a photo and think 'Right! For this photo I need ISO400 with f/4 and 1/250th!'.

Far more likely is that you only have one thing to set - e.g. a fast shutter speed, because that blasted bird won't stay still - or a wide aperture, because you don't want to see that building site behind your girlfriend - and the other settings follow suit automatically because you're using S or A mode.
 
There were some in an old edition of the Practical Photography magazine. They run some kind of DSLR skills course and it was part of that. It was a couple of A4 sheets with different situations on both sides - set out so you could cut them out and take them along with you. Hang on...

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I've just checked and it looks like I threw them away I'm afraid otherwise you could have had them. Sorry - this post isn't all that helpful is it! Maybe someone else will have a set though.
 
loplyg said:
What you really need to focus on, rather than trying to memorise settings for different photos, is to instead try to understand what each one does and what the various implications are.
'.
Click to expand...

Yes, I thought that if I have some sort of base, then I can go from there.
Thanks for the advice

-halli- said:
Is this Andy64 offov mx5nutz?
Click to expand...
Yep :)

See what you did, I got myself a Nikon D3000, and it's all your fault :lol:
 
Couple of links:

Sunny 16 Chart
Fred Parker

Used these sites to prepare an A6 sized ready-reckoner that I laminated and it sits in my gadget bag. However, sits in gadget bag is about accurate, because as loplyg points out, it is better to think about what you are trying to achieve than slavishly use a chart (treat it as a guide).
 
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