 Debbie L. Ross |
How to use speed and aperature for proper exposure I am in a photography class and I don't understand how to set my apperature and shutter speed. I don't understand and I really want to. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on. I have to do it all manually on a 35mm slr camera. Can anyone help me please. Thanks
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Camera type can make a difference how. May be the type, older modles, that have a ring on the lens that you turn to change the apeture. And a dial on top of the camera, somewhere near the viewfinder, that you turn to change the shutter speed. Or with a newere model, there may be a dial on the back of the camera that you rotate to change the apeture. And another dial, maybe by the picture taking button, that you turn to change the shutter speed. That's a how. Like how to light a grill. Add lighter fluid to charcoal and throw in a lit match. Now if you meant how as in how to come up the right combination of apeture and shutter speed so that picture turns out right, then that's what you need to ask. That's a how. Like how do you grill so that you don't cook all the flavor out the meat.
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- Carolyn M. Fletcher  Contact Carolyn M. Fletcher Carolyn M. Fletcher's Gallery |
Ask your instructor! You may need a more basic class or something. Or get Brian Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" book. That's supposed to be quite good. I think they still sell it here in the store section.
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
do you physically not know how to set it on the cam? or is it that you dont know what to set it at? is you cam old? newer? does it have a meter? do you have a light meter? setting exposure is not something you can just look at and know what setting to use..in the beginning.. That would have to come with lots of experience so for now, youll need something to read the lighting for you to give a hint as to where each setting needs to be. is this a digi or film cam? what make/model?
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Debbie L. Ross |
Thanks for your answers, my camera ia 35 mm Minolta X-370, I know how to set my shutter speed and apeture,just not how to set it for the correct exposure. I am not getting any depth of field. I guess what I am asking when I am taking a picture how do I know what to set the speed and apeture to. There are lines with a red flashing light on the inside that moves up and down, the built in light meter. From there how do you know where to set the correct speed and apeture. Thanks for being so helpful..I really want to learn this and be able to take great pictures.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
When it's reading something accurately, you might see a + and a - sign in there that when you got the red line in the middle of them, that's telling you you have the right exposure set. You don't get depth of field if you don't or can't use a small apeture. And it all depends on how much light you have to start with and how much you can let in thru the lens. You can let in a small amount of light with a small apeture, but will need to keep it open for a longer time. Or let in a bunch of light with a big apeture, but keep it open for a short time.
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Pete H |
Hello Debbie, "There are lines with a red flashing light on the inside that moves up and down, the built in light meter. I'm kinda' guessing here, but I'd say the lights you mention are showing over and under exposure, and most likely, the "middle" is proper exposure. Try this; point your camera at something really bright, (NOT the sun!) LOL, and see if the lights move upward, then at something dark, do they move downward? If so, the middle is basically a good exposure. Now getting the (proper) exposure is another story all together. Light meters are pretty dumb. They deal with the information presented to them..if they get partial information, you will get less than desireable results. For example: Most photographers know that metering bright white snow will fool the camera into thinking the scene is brighter than it actually is. The result? The camera (thinks) it has to stop down, so you get gray or dingy looking snow..so, we open up a stop or two ignoring what the meter told us. There are many instances where "reflected" light meters are fooled. If your questions are more specific, let's look at them one at a time. All the best, Pete
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Molly A. Galloway |
This is confusing. Remember that the lower the f/stop the more light is let in so it's reversed. Shutter speed is just like it says. 30-slow, 60-faster, and 125-faster that 60. The best thing to do when you are confused is get to a small notebook and write down what you shoot and at what settings. Then print and compare everything. Make a poster and label all of the pictures and put their settings under each photo. It will help you learn it better. Make note cards too and keep them handy wherever you go!
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Molly A. Galloway |
This is confusing. Remember that the lower the f/stop number is the more light is let in so it's reversed. EX. F/2 lets in the most light, f/22 lets in the least. Shutter speed is just like it says. 30-slow, 60-faster, and 125-faster that 60. The best thing to do when you are confused is get to a small notebook and write down what you shoot and at what settings. Then print and compare everything. Make a poster and label all of the pictures and put their settings under each photo. It will help you learn it better. Make note cards too and keep them handy wherever you go!
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
its much easier to learn on a digi slr as you have the convience of instant feesbak via the LCD screen and or Histogram.. try getting the line on the meter dead center then look at the shot, is it too dark, too light? just right, then you need to remember what the shot was, was it a dark scene? was it lost of reflective light like water or glass? its all about taking tons of photos and learning your camera... trial and error is your friend here. sometimes youll know where to expose even when the camera says differently!
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William Collins |
Debbie, in manual mode the X-370 shows the manually-set shutter speed as a blinking LED in the viewfinder, while the metered speed (recommended setting) is a constantly lit LED. Set your shutter speed at the speed indicated by the constant LED and you should get a correct exposure.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
There's yet another recent thread about somebody in a photo class that dosen't know about setting shutter speeds and apeture. She asked for somebody to send her a chart for it. Who or what kind of teachers are in these classes?
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