Tutorial Sunny f16 rule

[Edmund]

I use the Sunny 16 rule all the time but here is a link I found that really explains it very well and simple to follow.
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/3762805_fpgXr
By the way there are many more excellant TUTS on that site.
Eddie:)

[Diana]

Thanks for that Link, Eddie. I bookmarked it to read later.... looks like a lot of good information on photography and tutorials to boot!

Diana

[Not4wood]

Great Link.

Sometimes we get so caught up in this digital age we forget the basics. Nicely done.

[lexcell]

Wow, I think I just had a flashback! I used to use the sunny 16 rule all the time when my first camera did not have a meter...no comments on my age please. :)
Thanks for posting the link. It's good to understand the basics of light even if you shoot in automatic mode.

[Not4wood]

First I just want to say "Laurie" I dont know what your talking about, it was only yesterday I was using my Argus C3 fully manual camera :D

Now, I just came from an interesting thread over at PhotoCamel. The Original Question was about using a Digital SLR only in <P> Program Mode.

Question Here:

Posted by 00silvergt over at PhotoCamel

If you bought a DSLR only to always shoot in AUTO or Program Exposure (P) are you wasting the purchase of a DSLR. To go further, the reason for the question is that I have some friends so only shoot in P or Auto, that is if they shoot with their DSLR at all, since many of them complain about the weight, but chose to buy a DSLR as a status symbol. I'm hoping someone here would give a valid reason to always shoot in P or Auto. Some in the earlier threads have already given some reasonable justifications which I can see. I, personally still won't always shoot in P or auto, there is not enough control, leaving me at the hands of the microprocessor inside that camera to make the decisions. I like to believe I am smarter and can make a better judgment call than the microprocessor, in my case, by the way runs with software that is based off DOS and Windows!

[lexcell]

IMHO, I don't care for P or fully auto. I agree with the person who wrote the post...you loose control when you shoot in P mode. I like to have the option to determine which aperture to select so I can control depth of field and/or shutter speed. The camera does not know what effect I am trying to achieve. It does a pretty good job of averaging the light, the exposure and giving me a good overall average photograph but, I want much more than average in my images!

[TonyW]

Laurie: You're right of course but I do object to one thing and that's putting P mode in the same category as Auto. I use P mode most of the time as it seems to me that used intelligently it gives you more flexibility than A or S modes and can also be used as an M mode. Maybe it's just the way I shoot, the layout of the controls on my D80 and what settings show in the viewfinder but I find it easier to shoot in P mode and twirl the command dial to change the relative aperture/shutter speeds to get what I want in terms of depth of field or stop action. I can also adjust the ISO and Exposure Compensation without taking my eye off the viewfinder. That would seem to give me everything that A, S or M would give me. Just about the only time I wouldn't use that mode is when using Flash because of the way it works with flash. I guess at the end of the day though there is no right or wrong - it's whatever works for each individual photographer and camera.

Tony

[Chuck S.]

Tony, I'm in the same camp as you: P mode can be both a "fast and safe" approach if in a hurry and a "thoughtful" mode if you want to take the time to change multiple variables while maintaining a reasonable EV. I don't believe I can tweak as many controls while looking through the viewfinder as you do - maybe I need a third hand!

[lexcell]

Tony & Chuck,
You are correct about the ability to override the P mode however, most people don't do what you do and use it fully automatically. It's a good place to start and yes, you do have overrides when in P mode that you don't have in the picture modes. Bottom line is to shoot in the mode that best suits your style of shooting. If P works for you then that is themode you should use.

[Chuck S.]

Good morning, Laurie:

I'm trying to use Manual more often now, but I find I have to overcome the tendency to "point and shoot" when I spot something I want to grab quickly. Guess my brain just won't process the information in the viewfinder fast enough to tell my fingers I need to make some adjustments before pressing that shutter.....:o

[nkeevers]

Okay, so I've never used the P mode hardly at all...is it preferably to Manual? I try to use manual a lot but even then, after I adjust for the "perfect" exposure, some of my images still don't look good to my eye.

[Chuck S.]

Norma, I wouldn't say it's preferable to Manual - it's easier (selects an aperture and shutter speed combo for you, then allows you to adjust from there) but you have less direct control of the camera settings. Given some time, I might be able to wean myself from Program mode, but....

[TonyW]

I guess that if you use manual and adjust it for the "perfect exposure" - or at least the one the camera suggests which isn't necessarily right - then you might just as well use one of the other modes as all you're doing is turning manual into semi-automatic :). I guess a lot depends on the camera and how easy it is to adjust things on the go. Personally I find manual on the D80 slightly awkward because I need to rotate two command dials to adjust the aperture and shutter speed. I prefer P where I only have to rotate one, its the same one I use for exposure compensation and ISO changes and it fits my thumb when my forefinger is on the trigger. So I guess camera ergonomics may well be a big part of which mode is best for you.

Now if I could only have a live histogram, viewable in the viewfinder I'd have what I would consider to be an ideal camera but I'm still waiting :)

Tony

[Michel B]

I guess that if you use manual and adjust it for the "perfect exposure" - or at least the one the camera suggests which isn't necessarily right - then you might just as well use one of the other modes as all you're doing is turning manual into semi-automatic :). I guess a lot depends on the camera and how easy it is to adjust things on the go. Personally I find manual on the D80 slightly awkward because I need to rotate two command dials to adjust the aperture and shutter speed. I prefer P where I only have to rotate one, its the same one I use for exposure compensation and ISO changes and it fits my thumb when my forefinger is on the trigger. So I guess camera ergonomics may well be a big part of which mode is best for you.

Now if I could only have a live histogram, viewable in the viewfinder I'd have what I would consider to be an ideal camera but I'm still waiting :)

Tony

I totally agree, ergonomics is the problem. I find myself using 'P' mode as a starting point, which is necessary if you are in a hurry. I find it easy to switch to another speed/aperture combination while looking through the viewfinder. However, when I want to make a +/- exposure compensation depending on the subject or by looking at the histogram, I often find myself forgetting the correction for the next shots... shooting raw has saved those shots several times!

[Not4wood]

Its back to the Original Question really. Perspective and I guess its all about what your used to.

Even though this Nikon D80 is extremely smart, sees color and adjusts the Metering, Shutter speed, Aperture, ISO and Auto White Balance it still cant see whats in the Photographers Mind or what we call "PreVisualization". To make the Camera be able to perfrom and create what is in our heads you have to take control of the camera and using the Auto Settings Might Work on occasions but there are the exceptions to the Rule and your shots may not come out like you intended.

Shooting in any of the Auto Settings including the Program Mode is extremely helpful and would give you a good start to be able to Create what you want. But eventually you will have to learn how to shoot in Manual Mode for sheer creative purposes.

When some of us who started in Photography way back in the 70's most cameras we had were Fully Manual and this gave us both the Technique and Experience to make the decision when we eventually progressed to the Film SLR which was based on either Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority depending on the make and model.

The Camera is only a Tool to create, and where you want to go is completely up to the individual. Using Auto, picture modes, program mode, Aperture and or Shutter Priority is a choice that has to be made at that particular time of shooting. I can use any/all and neither by going back to the Basics of Manual Settings to override all of the choices I see that the camera is giving me.

Good Luck, and remember we are all students of Photography and we all go into different places by progression of learning experiences and techniques. Some favor Portraits, Sports, Fashion, Product, Landscape and Sceneries and all of the others and depending on what workds for you doesn't really matter as long as you are creating what you really want.

Here's an example of shooting with my Old Vivitar 283 last Saturday Night shot set on Manual Mode since my D80's computer cant see this Flash because its not a high tech TTL compatible.

I also used a Stophen Diffuser slipped onto the 283 to get softer shadows and almost no reflections in the Glasses.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Portraits/DSC_1080038_Roberta_George2a.jpg

Exif:
Nikon D80
Exposure: Manual
ISO: 200
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture f:/4.2
Focal Length: 32.0 mm
Lens: 18.0-135.0 mm
Metering: Pattern

[Joe M]

Now I'm embarrassed. I thought P-Mode stood for Professional. :)