XTi settings

[Stephie Baby]

Which setting should I use the most when I'm still learning everything about SLR's? I'm mainly just playing around with it right now and learning where everything is. I'm afraid I'll mess something up though. Lol. I know what AV and the other settings are, but what is the M setting?:) Oh my camera is the XTi.

[toriaj]

M is for manual, where you set both the shutter speed and aperture yourself. I learned mostly in manual (and I occasionally got completely-black or completely-white shots until I figured it out.) It might be less painful to learn in AV or TV modes, though. You could try putting it in AV with an aperture of f/8. After you take a shot, check the LCD to make sure the photo isn't too dark (meaning that you need to change to a larger aperture -- smaller number -- in order to have the proper exposure.)

If you want to experiment with depth of field, A larger aperture (smaller number) will give you a more blurred background. A smaller aperture (higher number) will give you a sharper background. That's probably a good place to start learning, unless you are photographing moving subjects (which is a whole 'nother topic :)) happy learning!

[GaryS]

#1. Go to a library or bookstore (or Amazon) and get Bryan Pederson's Understanding Exposure. This book does a great job explaining why you would use Av, Tv, M etc.

#2. As toriaj said, in M the camera will do nothing for you (except ETTL flash settings). You are on your own to set the shutter and aperture as you see fit. Its nice when you are afraid of the camera's more automatic modes will make a mistake.

You can use P mode to start... its basically full auto, but you control if the flash pops up or now.

[TheWengler]

You could try putting it in AV with an aperture of f/8. After you take a shot, check the LCD to make sure the photo isn't too dark (meaning that you need to change to a larger aperture -- smaller number -- in order to have the proper exposure.)

If you got a dark picture in Av mode you'd need to adjust the EV not the aperture right? Since in this mode only the aperture is set manually, if you change the aperture the camera will just adjust the shutter speed for an equivalent exposure.

To the TS, I suggest you start in Av mode. It's probably the most commonly used one because it allows for you to control the depth of field (portraits, landscapes).

[cdr116]

Depending on how much you actually know already, I think shooting in M is a good way to force yourself to learn the cameras settings.

I shot in Tv for a long time because it made the most sense to me, then went on to Manual after learning more about apertures. Manual was what helped me learn basically everything I could about my XTi.

[toriaj]

If you got a dark picture in Av mode you'd need to adjust the EV not the aperture right? Since in this mode only the aperture is set manually, if you change the aperture the camera will just adjust the shutter speed for an equivalent exposure.
Hmm, you're right, what was I thinking? My brain must have still been in manual ... :D If you shoot in AV you just need to watch the shutter speed (and ISO, if you're in auto ISO) the camera sets to make sure it doesn't pick too slow a shutter speed or too high an ISO for what you want. Thanks Lukas ...

[zmikers]

You won't over or under expose any more in M as you would in Av or Tv as long as you use the in-camera light meter. As long as the needle is pointing in the middle you'll be fine, just as fine as you would be in other modes anyway. I think M is the way to learn quicker. And Dusty is right, Understanding Exposure is a great book to learn from.

[TheWengler]

I don't really understand how shooting manual helps you learn? If you're completely relying on the same light meter the camera uses in Av or Tv mode then what's the point? Manual is good for flash, night and long exposures. It also works well if you're going to be shooting a bunch of shots in the same lighting conditions, as the light meter can be fooled if you put a dark or light subject in the frame.

[TenD]

This is always a tough question. There are many settings depending on the result you shooting for. I agree with Dusty Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0817463003/bookstorenow57-20) is a great book to learn the relationships between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

I would start out using the P mode, it's a basically automatic mode but allows you to change a lot of the settings. AV or TV takes it a step further allowing everything P mode does with further control. And M lets you the photog control everything.

[zmikers]

I don't really understand how shooting manual helps you learn? If you're completely relying on the same light meter the camera uses in Av or Tv mode then what's the point? Manual is good for flash, night and long exposures. It also works well if you're going to be shooting a bunch of shots in the same lighting conditions, as the light meter can be fooled if you put a dark or light subject in the frame.

This is just my experience so I'm not putting words in anyone elses mouthes, but I found when I was learning and had the camera set to Av, I just set the aperature and let the camera do the rest. I didn't really pay attention to what the shutter speed setting was and when it was set to Tv I set the shutter speed and again let the camera do the rest. I found that in manual mode, because I had to set both aperature and shutter speed it made me learn the relationship between the two of them much faster. Then I played with ISO, in M, and it just came to me faster. That's how I learned by using M mode.