Going Skiing w/new FZ-20, need some advice.

[jepjep]

Hey everyone.

I've had the camera for about 2 weeks now. I've been practicing quite a bit, taking pictures in so many different modes, and in so many different lighting situations. I've read the whole manual with some useable knowledge, and some not so useable knowledge. I'm very much a beginner too, and I could ask all of you 100 questions. I have mixed reviews, some photos are excellent, others are terrible.

But...let me ask some basic things.

1. I'm going skiing in a couple of weeks, does anyone have any advice for me? Polarized filter; using the lens hood for the sunny bright environment; White Balance mode to sunny; etc???

2. What are some of your basic configurations for the camera? I know they obviously change for different things, but what about your 90% normal shots?
Metering Mode; AF Mode; Continuous AF - on/off; Picture adjustment - noise reduction high/standard; Stabilizer mode - 1/2???

3. Is there any way to see your Flash adjustment settings that you used for a particular picture? I have been taking a lot of practice pictures indoors, in not so well lighted areas and adjusting the strength of the flash, but you can't see the flash adjustment settings on any software I've used.

Thanks for any help.

Jack
Still learning

[jepjep]

help from anyone?

Thanks
Jack

[genece]

Hey everyone.

I've had the camera for about 2 weeks now. I've been practicing quite a bit, taking pictures in so many different modes, and in so many different lighting situations. I've read the whole manual with some useable knowledge, and some not so useable knowledge. I'm very much a beginner too, and I could ask all of you 100 questions. I have mixed reviews, some photos are excellent, others are terrible.

But...let me ask some basic things.

1. I'm going skiing in a couple of weeks, does anyone have any advice for me? Polarized filter; using the lens hood for the sunny bright environment; White Balance mode to sunny; etc???

While I have not tried those conditions< I am sure that if you know how to use a polarizer it would be a big help.
But for sure I would use the hood and I usually leave the white balance on auto as I can see when I focus if the white balance seem correct and will focus again if its wrong when the camera gets it right it will stay right until the conditions change.

2. What are some of your basic configurations for the camera? I know they obviously change for different things, but what about your 90% normal shots?
Metering Mode; AF Mode; Continuous AF - on/off; Picture adjustment - noise reduction high/standard; Stabilizer mode - 1/2???

This is something I hardly ever change Spot meter and either muliti pattern or most often spot meter.
I do not like Continuous auto focus, I am not sure why I just seem to get sharper photos with it off.
Picture adjustments I set every thing on standard except NR which is always on low. And Stabilizer on Mode 2 as I never Manual focus and that is what mode 1 helps with.

3. Is there any way to see your Flash adjustment settings that you used for a particular picture? I have been taking a lot of practice pictures indoors, in not so well lighted areas and adjusting the strength of the flash, but you can't see the flash adjustment settings on any software I've used.


I do not think so

Thanks for any help.

Jack
Still learning

One other thing that helps me, is when using spot meter, try metering on the edge of the bright and dark areas.
that works great for landscapes and such, but would probably be difficult with a moving subject so that is maybe where the multi pattern may work.
And use the Highlight feature with a short review so you can see how much of the bright area is blown out , so you can try again.

If there is a lot of snow you may need to shoot with a + exposure compensation. I seem to get around that with the spot meter but you may want to Google up some tips for shooting in the snow.

That is just the way I approach it but others may do it quite different.
I did not mention the histogram which you should also get familiar with.

[gary_hendricks]

Hi I'm an FZ20 owner too - I came across this site on snow photography which should be very useful for your trip. Check it out ;)

http://www.acdsystems.com/English/Community/ColumnsArticles/PhotoTips/photo-2004-01-15.htm

[jepjep]

Thanks guys for the replies.

One more thing? What do you mean when you say, "when using spot meter try metering on the edge of the dark and light"?

Thanks guys

[genece]

The easiest way for me to explain that would be to say on a landscape to focus where the hills or trees meet the sky. That way the sky will be correct and the foreground will be a little dark but that is an easy fix with most photo editors. Whereas if the highlights get blown out there is no fix for that.
like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v463/genece/P1110381reduced.jpg
And then lighten the forground
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v463/genece/P1110381lightenedreduced.jpg

I see I compressed those files way too much but you get the Idea?