Aperture settings in DSC V3

[comedydave]

Firstly - I've looked all over the forum for this info, so sorry if it's out there - I couldn't find it!

I'm torn between the V3 and the G6, with the only thing making me not go with the V3 being the fact that there is the issue with the lousy auto aperture setting on it. Were it not for that, I'd have plumped for the V3 already, as its other features (night shot and frame, unlimited video clips, inexpensive car battery charger compared to G6 and others) have me won over already.

How much of a problem is it? If I set the camera to aperture priority / full manual, set my aperture to c. 4.0 to improve on the auto settings for brightish daylight outdoor, take my photos and then turn the camera off, will it automatically resume in aperture priority and my F=4.0 when I turn it back on? Or do I even have to reset it after every photo? I could live with needing to reset it every time the camera is turned on, but if it goes back to auto after every shot, I'd be rather pissed off with it very quickly, I reckon.

From what people have been saying, this seems to be the major issue in the G6 / V3 brawl. Photo quality seems to be excellent (thanks to this great site for that shoot off), and seeing as I'm not quite ready for a dSLR, I want to fiddle around with manual settings for a while, and these cameras seem great for the job.

Any replies greatly appreciated,

Dave

[GVales]

There's a good V3 thread going with many pics in the photo gallery. I myself liked alot of things on the G6, but felt the V3 was a better camera for me overall. I'm learning to make all the settings myself. The colors on the V3 are very good and better in imho compared to the G6. There have been some reviews where I actually thought the V3 @ f8 was better looking than the G6 @ f8 (stevesdigicam review). The only time I really think its been soft for me (@ F8) is when I take landscape pics in bright daylight. But I will try a manual setting @ F4 or so with infinite focus soon to see if it remedies it. The only other thing I really dont care for on the V3 is the long processing time of raw pics-but truthfully, when I'm using this format, I'm in no hurry anyways. Otherwise, the V3 I believe is a faster camera over the G6. The thing that I really like about the G6 is the swinging LCD, but sony was a much larger LCD! I also think the G6 doesn't feel as nice in the hands...almost cheapy. I've also read a few reviews about the G6 and ISO 50 setting claiming that it's BS and not that fast, and the setting is equaivalent to any other cams ISO 100 setting. Few other pros on the V3....up to 30 sec shutter time making some awesome nite shot, excelent and fast focusing, great nite shots and focusing, an awesome hotshoe to mount the HVL-F32X Flashe (I bought), dual capability of memory stick and compact flash cards with the ability to use either with a flip of a button, surperb movie mode...ladda ladda la....

If I could combine the G6 and V3, I could make the best damn mid level digicam!

Regardless, hurry and get one or the other, as both are being replaced...and you can get great prices on them!

[Robert]

Firstly - I've looked all over the forum for this info, so sorry if it's out there - I couldn't find it!

I'm torn between the V3 and the G6, with the only thing making me not go with the V3 being the fact that there is the issue with the lousy auto aperture setting on it. Were it not for that, I'd have plumped for the V3 already, as its other features (night shot and frame, unlimited video clips, inexpensive car battery charger compared to G6 and others) have me won over already.

How much of a problem is it? If I set the camera to aperture priority / full manual, set my aperture to c. 4.0 to improve on the auto settings for brightish daylight outdoor, take my photos and then turn the camera off, will it automatically resume in aperture priority and my F=4.0 when I turn it back on? Or do I even have to reset it after every photo? I could live with needing to reset it every time the camera is turned on, but if it goes back to auto after every shot, I'd be rather pissed off with it very quickly, I reckon.

From what people have been saying, this seems to be the major issue in the G6 / V3 brawl. Photo quality seems to be excellent (thanks to this great site for that shoot off), and seeing as I'm not quite ready for a dSLR, I want to fiddle around with manual settings for a while, and these cameras seem great for the job.

Any replies greatly appreciated,

Dave

In answer to your question. Aperture priority remains set until the setting of the Mode dial is physically changed. That's really the whole point of the Mode dial.

[jeff31]

Yes, the aperture priority remains set.
i've my camera since 3 months and i never been confronted to the f/8 issue. I've some pics taken at f/8 and i've not detected any degradations. Perhaps because i set very rarely in the "green" mode. :confused:

[comedydave]

Thanks guys,

I didn't realise it was actually on the mode dial Robert, I thought it was controlled via one of the camera's control menus. Thanks for pointing that out.

I'll check out that thread Gvales, thanks for mentioning it.

Sounds like it's the V3 for me so.

Laters,
D