Beginners DSLR Help
Discussion
I'm heading off to the Isle Of Man for the TT this weekend and will be taking my other half's Nikon D40x to hopefully get some decent pictures.
Any suggestions as to what settings I should use on the camera for action/non-action shots?
Would I be better off just putting the camera in 'auto' mode and using it like a big point and shoot camera as I don't know what I'm doing?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Any suggestions as to what settings I should use on the camera for action/non-action shots?
Would I be better off just putting the camera in 'auto' mode and using it like a big point and shoot camera as I don't know what I'm doing?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
It could be a little late to become comfortable with all the controls so quickly, but a better compromise from "Full Auto" would be use the Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Macro etc modes. I'm a Canon man myself, but I'm sure the Nikon has these too! These will make a reasonable attempt to select an appropriate aperture, shutter speed and focus mode.
I'd guess about 1500.
If you have a fast shutter speed, (1/500th or shorter) you'll get the bike in focus, but the background probably wont be blurred (to give the impression of speed). If you take the shutter speed down to 1/100th or below, and 'pan with the bike' the background will probably be blurred, bit you might not get a pin sharp bike.
So... If I were in your shoes, I'd chuck it into speed priority mode ('S') and take some at various speeds. Likekelyhood is, you get some that work. As you look through the lens you'll see the shutter speed, and you just move the big dial to make the shutter faster or slower.
PS... if it's cloudy, make the ISO 400 (it's in the manual how to do it)
If you have a fast shutter speed, (1/500th or shorter) you'll get the bike in focus, but the background probably wont be blurred (to give the impression of speed). If you take the shutter speed down to 1/100th or below, and 'pan with the bike' the background will probably be blurred, bit you might not get a pin sharp bike.
So... If I were in your shoes, I'd chuck it into speed priority mode ('S') and take some at various speeds. Likekelyhood is, you get some that work. As you look through the lens you'll see the shutter speed, and you just move the big dial to make the shutter faster or slower.
PS... if it's cloudy, make the ISO 400 (it's in the manual how to do it)
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 2nd June 17:13
GetCarter said:
I'd guess about 1500.
If you have a fast shutter speed, (1/500th or shorter) you'll get the bike in focus, but the background probably wont be blurred (to give the impression of speed). If you take the shutter speed down to 1/100th or below, and 'pan with the bike' the background will probably be blurred, bit you might not get a pin sharp bike.
So... If I were in your shoes, I'd chuck it into speed priority mode ('S') and take some at various speeds. Likekelyhood is, you get some that work. As you look through the lens you'll see the shutter speed, and you just move the big dial to make the shutter faster or slower.
PS... if it's cloudy, make the ISO 400 (it's in the manual how to do it)
Excellent, thanks for that If you have a fast shutter speed, (1/500th or shorter) you'll get the bike in focus, but the background probably wont be blurred (to give the impression of speed). If you take the shutter speed down to 1/100th or below, and 'pan with the bike' the background will probably be blurred, bit you might not get a pin sharp bike.
So... If I were in your shoes, I'd chuck it into speed priority mode ('S') and take some at various speeds. Likekelyhood is, you get some that work. As you look through the lens you'll see the shutter speed, and you just move the big dial to make the shutter faster or slower.
PS... if it's cloudy, make the ISO 400 (it's in the manual how to do it)
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 2nd June 17:13
neenaw said:
GetCarter said:
I'd guess about 1500.
If you have a fast shutter speed, (1/500th or shorter) you'll get the bike in focus, but the background probably wont be blurred (to give the impression of speed). If you take the shutter speed down to 1/100th or below, and 'pan with the bike' the background will probably be blurred, bit you might not get a pin sharp bike.
So... If I were in your shoes, I'd chuck it into speed priority mode ('S') and take some at various speeds. Likekelyhood is, you get some that work. As you look through the lens you'll see the shutter speed, and you just move the big dial to make the shutter faster or slower.
PS... if it's cloudy, make the ISO 400 (it's in the manual how to do it)
Excellent, thanks for that If you have a fast shutter speed, (1/500th or shorter) you'll get the bike in focus, but the background probably wont be blurred (to give the impression of speed). If you take the shutter speed down to 1/100th or below, and 'pan with the bike' the background will probably be blurred, bit you might not get a pin sharp bike.
So... If I were in your shoes, I'd chuck it into speed priority mode ('S') and take some at various speeds. Likekelyhood is, you get some that work. As you look through the lens you'll see the shutter speed, and you just move the big dial to make the shutter faster or slower.
PS... if it's cloudy, make the ISO 400 (it's in the manual how to do it)
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 2nd June 17:13
You will also want to put the camera into 'servo' autofocus mode so that the camera tracks the moving bikes.
On the d40x I believe this is located in the 'custom menu' - option 2 - "AF-C Continuous-servo AF"
I would also set the camera to only focus with the centre AF point ( its apparently set via the 4-way controller on the back of the camera when in 'shooting mode'). It'll be easier to track the bikes that way
Hope this helps,
Cheers.
Carter, would that be shutter priority you're on about ? I've got a 40D and last week I knelt on a manky verge panning while my son drove past at various speeds. I went for the easy (?) option and mistakenly put it in sports mode, the results, you've guessed it, is that every photo came out with the car looking stationary, wheels and all. I wanted the lovely background blur and got nothing.
So I need a slower shutter speed ?
So I need a slower shutter speed ?
LMC said:
Carter, would that be shutter priority you're on about ? I've got a 40D and last week I knelt on a manky verge panning while my son drove past at various speeds. I went for the easy (?) option and mistakenly put it in sports mode, the results, you've guessed it, is that every photo came out with the car looking stationary, wheels and all. I wanted the lovely background blur and got nothing.
So I need a slower shutter speed ?
You do indeed need to slow the shutter speed So I need a slower shutter speed ?
On your 40D, turn the dial (on the top left side of the camera) to 'Tv' - then with the 'finger dial' next to the shutter button you will be able to set the shutter speed.
The current shutter speed will be shown on the top lcd panel - eg. 200 means 1/200th of a second.
To set your autofocus to servo mode (so it will track the moving car) press the 'AF-Drive' button above the top lcd panel, then roll the 'finger dial' until 'AI Servo' can be seen on the left side of the top lcd panel.
I'd also select the centre autofocus point if your going to be tracking a moving car
Hope this helps,
Cheers.
neenaw said:
One thing I forgot to ask.....Should I have the camera set to Fine quality and Large photo's or would I be better off with smaller photo's or a lower quality setting?
With memory cards being so cheap there's usually no reason not to use the highest quality. The only reason might be that some cameras are able to shoot at a higher speed or shoot at top speed for longer when set at a lower quality.Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff