Will travel in a month

[mogahdsian15]

Hi guys,

I'll be travelling soon and I'll be shooting mostly in day light. No night shots. I use a Canon 700D with a 18-55 kit lens.

What are the things I should be prepared for or should always check on?
For example the white balance?
I've watched some videos on how it can mess up the real color in photos. This is an island hopping sort of travel, so I can colors to look nice and realistic then maybe do some post processing on my phone.

To be more specific I'm talking about in camera settings.
I know shooting RAW is better but my PC is down so I don't have the chance on doing some editing. I can only edit on my android phone using apps.

I'll shoot some scenery including my girlfriend and without her at times.

Do you also set the sharness, color and rest of the settings in cam or you leave it all to zero then do the editing later?

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[imagemaker46]

It doesn't sound like you have much knowledge as to how your camera works. At this point I would leave the camera on auto and enjoy your trip without trying to overthink any settings.

 

[mogahdsian15]

It doesn't sound like you have much knowledge as to how your camera works. At this point I would leave the camera on auto and enjoy your trip without trying to overthink any settings.

I recently purchased it but I still preferring being on manual and learn how it works. I don't want to go on auto and regret it later on. I know how Shutterspeed, ISO, Aperture and most of the basics.

Any tips aside from being on auto?
Shutter Priority or Aperture priority?

Should I bring around a white paper with me so I can set the white balance?

I just really don't like photos to have the incorrect color.

 

[fjrabon]

Just go with auto white balance. You can mostly fix white balance issues with a program like snapseed on your phone unless it's radically off.

I'd shoot aperture priority, auto white balance. This will likely be as accurate, if not moreso than a sheet of paper. paper is notorious for having a slight color cast enough that it makes white balance worse, not better. Paper is usually either itself slightly colored (usually it's slightly warm) or since it's not 100% opaque, colored ambient light can pass through and your white balance could go all kinds of ways.

If you're determined to use custom white balance, buy an actual grey card or an expo disc. But again, just use auto white balance. In sunshine it won't run into any problems. And if you're in a bar at night (where auto white balance gets confused) are you really going to stop the bartender and say "hey, would you terribly mind taking a test shot holding my grey card?"

 

[mogahdsian15]

Just go with auto white balance. You can mostly fix white balance issues with a program like snapseed on your phone unless it's radically off.

I'd shoot aperture priority, auto white balance. This will likely be as accurate, if not moreso than a sheet of paper. paper is notorious for having a slight color cast enough that it makes white balance worse, not better. Paper is usually either itself slightly colored (usually it's slightly warm) or since it's not 100% opaque, colored ambient light can pass through and your white balance could go all kinds of ways.

If you're determined to use custom white balance, buy an actual grey card or an expo disc. But again, just use auto white balance. In sunshine it won't run into any problems. And if you're in a bar at night (where auto white balance gets confused) are you really going to stop the bartender and say "hey, would you terribly mind taking a test shot holding my grey card?"

Thank you for pointing that out! I've been reading and watching too many white balance tutorials and that could be the reason why its driving me crazy. And Yes! I do lots of phone editing and I'm happy with it although I know its no where close to editing on a PC. I'm learning on getting the best out of camera then just add VSCO filters just adjust within VSCO.

 

[TwilitLens]

Hello, M! Just a couple of additional thoughts.

First, in light of your lack of a working PC (but with an eye to the future), consider setting your camera to the RAW+jpg mode. That way, when your PC is back up, you'll have a RAW copy to play with. I realize this means that your memory cards will fill up faster, but having a RAW image is nothing to sneeze at: using RAW means that the wb can be easily adjusted in post-production. By contrast, a jpeg whose white balance is off is a true headache to deal with. Remember, auto white balance doesn't necessarily mean that the camera will get it right. It just means the machine will make its best guess under the present conditions.

Second, I applaud you for wanting to go manual! By choosing your aperture first, you can then use your camera's meter to dial up a decent shutter speed for correct exposure (or at least the exposure you prefer). And if your meter seems at all off to you, just try adjusting your shutter speed to a stop or two upwards or downwards until you get the right setting. With practice, you'll soon get a good feel for what works and the shots will come easier to you. Just don't neglect a good tripod, especially if you're a fanatic about low ISO settings like me.

Have fun on your trip, and be sure to share your favorite shots!

 

[mogahdsian15]

Hello, M! Just a couple of additional thoughts.

First, in light of your lack of a working PC (but with an eye to the future), consider setting your camera to the RAW+jpg mode. That way, when your PC is back up, you'll have a RAW copy to play with. I realize this means that your memory cards will fill up faster, but having a RAW image is nothing to sneeze at: using RAW means that the wb can be easily adjusted in post-production. By contrast, a jpeg whose white balance is off is a true headache to deal with. Remember, auto white balance doesn't necessarily mean that the camera will get it right. It just means the machine will make its best guess under the present conditions.

Second, I applaud you for wanting to go manual! By choosing your aperture first, you can then use your camera's meter to dial up a decent shutter speed for correct exposure (or at least the exposure you prefer). And if your meter seems at all off to you, just try adjusting your shutter speed to a stop or two upwards or downwards until you get the right setting. With practice, you'll soon get a good feel for what works and the shots will come easier to you. Just don't neglect a good tripod, especially if you're a fanatic about low ISO settings like me.

Have fun on your trip, and be sure to share your favorite shots!

Hello, T!

I appreciate your effort into replying. I have a 32Gb card in my camera and I'm sure its more than enough. I will take your suggestion about the RAW+JPG. The more options, the better. And I love low ISO shots. I try to make ways on getting the best shot at low ISO.

Will enjoy it. Will upload photos when I get a chance to. Thank you!

 

[Dave442]

I learned a lot about using the camera while I was young and on family trips. I think it is a good idea to go ahead and do custom white balance or playing with the preset white balance options. With the presets, try different ones with the same scene to judge their effect.

Go ahead and play with the picture control settings. Just be careful to also spend some time with your girlfriend. Take a lot of memory cards if you don't have a PC to download to. Take a few extra batteries so you can spend a lot of time trying out different settings in the menus. Check if you need plug adapters for the charger for where you are going. I think it would be great to come back and have learned how to use white balance.

 

[mogahdsian15]

I learned a lot about using the camera while I was young and on family trips. I think it is a good idea to go ahead and do custom white balance or playing with the preset white balance options. With the presets, try different ones with the same scene to judge their effect.

Go ahead and play with the picture control settings. Just be careful to also spend some time with your girlfriend. Take a lot of memory cards if you don't have a PC to download to. Take a few extra batteries so you can spend a lot of time trying out different settings in the menus. Check if you need plug adapters for the charger for where you are going. I think it would be great to come back and have learned how to use white balance.

Thanks a lot Dave. I have seen many just going out and shooting without caring about the WB. But I've noticed the difference and its huge. Especially I'm travelling to an island and I don't want skies, trees or even the beach to look different.

I would like to take photos of some foreign ladies along side with my girlfriend.