BetterPhoto Member |
|
Deep and Shallow Focus, Light Meter
As you'll read this question you'll see that I'm a full-fledged beginner. I use an AE-1 and I'm having difficulty trying to get a decent reading since the light meter only has the apreture digits and not exposure times. How do I measure exposure?Can I trust what I see in the view-finder regardless of what the f number is? If I use 5.6 and want only the backround to be sharp can't I just achieve that through adjusting the lens?
March 13, 2004
|
|
|
Bob Cammarata |
|
If you are seeing only aperture settings, you are probably using the shutter-priority feature on your camera. You've selected a particular shutter speed, and your in-camera meter is telling you the appropriate aperture (f-stop) for that speed. The two combined, will equal proper exposure. If you want only the background sharp at f-5.6, focus on the background...(Or whatever part of the scene you want to be in focus). As a "beginner", I would highly recommend some good reading on photography basics, such as exposure and depth of field control. And, as always,... get out and practice as much as possible! p.s. You've got a great camera! Good luck with it.
March 13, 2004
|
|
|
doug Nelson |
|
The workaround to using aperture as your starting point is: Set the aperture you want and remember it. Then move the shutter dial until that aperture lights up in your viewfinder. Don't worry if you end up bewteen shutter speeds. If you're shooting print film, it won't matter. The A-series Canons are decent cameras. What's more than decent are the FD lenses. They are excellent, cheap and plentiful.
March 15, 2004
|
|
|
|
Log in to respond or ask your own question.
|
