P, S, A, and M Modes

[CBGCAT9]

Thanks! I'll ignore the settings and try to use my brain instead. I was just using the settings the camera chose as a starting point while I try to learn what exposure, aperture, iso, etc needed for any given situation. In other words - at this point in time - I can take a photo in fully automatic mode and then look at the photo, look at the histogram,etc etc and see what needs to be changed from there to improve the photo. I just felt it wise to not use my "saved" settings from a photo I took on an overcast day in the shade of a tree for a photo I'm now taking on a sunny day at the beach with white sand. Does that make sense?? I know the basics - just don't know how to apply them automatically in my head in the moment.

 

[analog.universe]

I have been reading the manual and a book I bought and an on-line course I bought. All say, "note - when making changes in A, S, M modes you must put the settings back or your changes will stay even if you turn the camera off." The settings I am talking about are shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure.

I'm going to reply very non-specifically to this... my opinion when it comes to this stuff is not accepted by a lot of folks, but I'll mention it anyway... It's great to read the manual, because it was written by the folks who know the most about the equipment, but they may not know the most about how to take photographs. And it's great to read online and print books, because the people that write that stuff usually have quite a bit of experience, but they may not know the best about your equipment or your goals or style. So when you read a blanket statement that says "you must always do this", question where it comes from. I always approach this stuff from the perspective of understanding the technique and equipment, so that I can experiment and make my own decisions. I disagree with the teaching style that says "do this for this reason", i would much rather hear, "this controls this, now go play". ymmv

 

[Gaerek]

I have been reading the manual and a book I bought and an on-line course I bought. All say, "note - when making changes in A, S, M modes you must put the settings back or your changes will stay even if you turn the camera off." The settings I am talking about are shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure.

I'm going to reply very non-specifically to this... my opinion when it comes to this stuff is not accepted by a lot of folks, but I'll mention it anyway... It's great to read the manual, because it was written by the folks who know the most about the equipment, but they may not know the most about how to take photographs. And it's great to read online and print books, because the people that write that stuff usually have quite a bit of experience, but they may not know the best about your equipment or your goals or style. So when you read a blanket statement that says "you must always do this", question where it comes from. I always approach this stuff from the perspective of understanding the technique and equipment, so that I can experiment and make my own decisions. I disagree with the teaching style that says "do this for this reason", i would much rather hear, "this controls this, now go play". ymmv

If you pick up a book on exposure, there's a good chance it won't be able to tell you exactly what buttons or menus or whatever control the different functions. The purpose of reading the manual is to become familiar with the operation of your camera. If the exposure book says use Aperture Priority mode, and you don't know that the Av on your dial means aperture priority, then what do you do? I agree, your manual doesn't teach you how to make photos, but if you don't know how your equipment works, you're not going to be able to make photos either. More so that just about any consumer electronic equipment out there, you need to read your manual to understand the operation of your camera.

Most people, who know what they're doing that I've run into won't use the "do this for this reason" approach except when it's the truth. I know that I always try to give the rule of thumb, but encourage playing around with things. But really, the most important thing you can do when you purchase a new camera is sit down with your manual and your camera, and read the book. More than anything else in photography, you MUST know how to operate your camera. Everything else might be just as important as knowing how to operate your camera, but it all comes afterwards.

 

[CBGCAT9]

Everything everyone has said makes sense. Just didn't answer my question. Here's my answer to my question: I'm thinking that there is no magic button to reset the exposure, aperture, etc back to what it was before I manipulated the settings. Where I've read that you need to put it back or it stays the same was just a note to the reader that the next time you take a picture (whether 2 seconds later or two days later) in that particular mode it will be the last changes to the settings made by the photographer not chosen by the camera. It was so you understand how the camera works - not that you have to put them back. So, just a note so you understand why your camera wants to choose ISO 3200 on a bright sunny day - oh yeah - because that's where you set it the last time you were in that mode. And if you change your aperture or shutter - don't forget to change the ISO ..... That would be my reason for wanting to go back to the settings that the camera chose - so the next time I get the camera out I'm starting from a level playing field and don't miss that great photo because I forgot to change one of the settings. Does that make sense?

 

[Gaerek]

Everything everyone has said makes sense. Just didn't answer my question. Here's my answer to my question: I'm thinking that there is no magic button to reset the exposure, aperture, etc back to what it was before I manipulated the settings. Where I've read that you need to put it back or it stays the same was just a note to the reader that the next time you take a picture (whether 2 seconds later or two days later) in that particular mode it will be the last changes to the settings made by the photographer not chosen by the camera. It was so you understand how the camera works - not that you have to put them back. So, just a note so you understand why your camera wants to choose ISO 3200 on a bright sunny day - oh yeah - because that's where you set it the last time you were in that mode. And if you change your aperture or shutter - don't forget to change the ISO ..... That would be my reason for wanting to go back to the settings that the camera chose - so the next time I get the camera out I'm starting from a level playing field and don't miss that great photo because I forgot to change one of the settings. Does that make sense?

If your manual doesn't mention something like that, I assume it doesn't exist. My camera doesn't, and I don't know of any that do. But if you could do that, your manual would tell you.

 

[CBGCAT9]

... and remember... I'm a beginner. I had an SLR camera and took some really great photos. Then I had a point & shoot digital and took some really great photos. My DSLR is way more sophisticated, i.e., big learning curve. As a beginner - at this point - I do understand what ISO, Exposure compensation, aperture, shutter speed are. I just don't have it in my head yet to choose the right combination of settings for each particular situation I'm in. I have to think about it too much at this point. I need more practice. All I wanted to know was - is there a way to reset back to where I started without having to remember what it was. There is no "undo" button on the camera. I'm thinking I have to remember where I started and manually put it back. ... and it's dudette - not dude!!!!

 

[Gaerek]

and it's dudette - not dude!!!!

Whoops! My bad.

 

[kundalini]

You're right, there is no Crtl-Z button on your camera. There are a couple of ways to handle this situation of yours. 1) Do as KmH suggested... before you put your camera away for the day, manually put the ISO on 100 or 200 (whatever is your native ISO), set the aperture and shutter speed to certain settings. This way you know that everytime you pick up the camera on the next venture, you are on a level playing field. 2) Have a look on your LCD or viewfinder to what your current shooting mode, ISO, aperture and shutter speed are. Given the current lighting, adjust to a baseline. 3) Decide what shooting mode you want to be using and half-press your shutter and see what info the camera is sayig for exposure on the light meter bar in the viewfinder. 4) Take a shot as is. Think to yourself "$hit, that sucks, I need to adjust my *fill in the blank*, take another shot.

<<:quitely exists stage left:>>

 

[CBGCAT9]

Thanks Kundulini!! I will persevere. And you just described my process.
So I am clear in letting you know my thinking - what I mean by level playing field is what the camera would choose. Then from that place I can manipulate the settings. Someday I will know what is needed automatically without needing a starting place to guide me.

 

[Ginu]

Oh boy... I used to encounter the same exact issues and then I discovered the camera reset buttons. Now every-time I pick up the camera I push the two buttons which resets all settings to default and I start from there; its always the same and it only takes a few seconds to adjust the settings as needed.

 

[JClishe]

Thanks Kundulini!! I will persevere. And you just described my process.
So I am clear in letting you know my thinking - what I mean by level playing field is what the camera would choose. Then from that place I can manipulate the settings. Someday I will know what is needed automatically without needing a starting place to guide me.

I believe I understand what you're asking. Say you're outside and see a bird you want to take a picture of. You grab your camera, which happens to be in aperture priority mode, and it happens to be set at f/11 and ISO 100 because that's where you set it last. You take a meter reading of the bird and as you're looking through the viewfinder you notice the camera is suggesting a shutter speed of 1/30. You're worried that's too slow so you bump the ISO to 200 and open the aperture to f/8. You take another meter reading and the camera is now suggesting 1/120. You decide that will work, and you take the picture.

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're asking how would you remember that the aperture was originally at f/11 and the ISO was originally at 100 before you starting manipulating them? Is that your question? If so, the answer is you don't, because there's no reason to. Those settings were incorrect (remember they resulted in a shutter speed that would not have produced the results you wanted). Since those settings were creatively incorrect, you have no need to remember them or ever go back to them.

There is no "starting place", no "baseline" when it comes to your cameras exposure settings. Every exposure will be creatively different, requiring different settings. Maybe that bird has a busy background that you want to throw out of focus so you need to open the aperture all the way up and then make changes to ISO and shutter speed as appropriate based on lighting conditions. Or, maybe there's another bird 10 feet behind the first bird that you want to get in focus so you stop your aperture down to f/22 and again make the appropriate adjustments to ISO and shutter speed. The exposure settings that your camera just happened to select the very first time you metered on that bird are irrelevant and you have no need to try to remember those settings or ever want to go back to them. YOU have to decide what makes your exposure "creatively correct"; your camera will not know what depth of field you want, whether you're trying to blur motion, stop action, etc.

So....grab your camera, take a meter reading on your subject, manipulate settings until you get an exposure that is creatively correct for you. Take picture (s). Put your camera away. See something else to get a picture of, grab your camera, take a meter reading, manipulate settings, take picture(s). Put the camera away. See something else, grab your camera, take a meter reading, manipulate settings, take picture(s). Put the camera away. Repeat infinitely. The point is, there is no baseline or starting place, and no need to remember the settings that your camera selected on your very first meter reading because those settings were wrong anyway.

The only exception to having a documented baseline might be a completely controlled environment, such as a studio.

 

[CBGCAT9]

OK - was away for a few days. If I'm understanding you correctly, you're asking how would you remember that the aperture was originally at f/11 and the ISO was originally at 100 before you starting manipulating them? Is that your question? Yes, JClishe, you did understand my question. And I do understand that there is no "baseline". I understand what you are saying about creatively changing the settings for DOF, etc. as you described in your example. My problem is that, as a beginner, I can't think what to do as fast as you can - yet!! So, I guess what I meant by putting the settings "back" was so that when I point the camera and check the settings - those settings will have actually been chosen by the camera for that particular situation NOT for the last picture I took. Then I can change my settings creatively from there - from the settings that the camera would have chosen. Someday I will be able to just know what to do. At this point it would be easier for me to manipulate the settings based on what the camera chose for that given situation - even if they were not creatively-correct. If I am totally confused by the camera at this point - I put it in the fully automatic mode, point and press the shutter release halfway and then check the settings - then return to A or S or whatever mode and manipulate the settings based on what the camera chose in fully automatic. I hear you groaning. But I am a beginner. The camera doesn't take the best photos in fully automatic. My little point & shoot digital camera took better photos. The camera I have is not really designed to shoot in fully automatic. I will force myself to just use my brain!!! Thank you!!

 

[SNBniko]

Put the camera in manual. It will make you learn what is going on a lot faster than using the priority settings.

That is what I did, and I am figuring out what means what much faster than before.

 

[CBGCAT9]

I have beed advised to do that - and plan to go outside and take lots of photos if it ever stops raining and the sun comes out again. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Studio7Four]

Granted I skimmed over the last half of the responses, but I have an alternate interpretation to offer. When you read (my emphasis added)

"note - when making changes in A, S, M modes you must put the settings back"

that does not mean that something bad will happen if you don't. Perhaps a better emphasis would be

"note - when making changes in A, S, M modes you must put the settings back"

It simply means that the camera will not default back to particular settings, you must do it manually if you desire. There are reasons for and against changing back to a specific set of settings. Say you shoot studio portraits 90% of the time, then take the camera out to shoot, oh I don't know, star trails. Since you shoot with the same settings 90% of the time it's probably not on your radar to check settings when you start the next studio session, so you're better off putting them back to "studio standard" after you finish your star trail shots. However, if you are shooting something different almost every time you take the camera out you're going to be changing settings quite often, so where is the value added to starting from the same place every time? (There may be some value added for you - it's just like post-processing, everyone has a different workflow which suits them best.)