Best "standard" camera settings

andycallaghan

andycallaghan

Messages
503
Edit My Images
Yes
When I had my Sony a230, I had the Magic Lantern book to go with it.

On the DVD, it talked about the best "standard" settings you should have you're camera on.

It talked about what ISO, what AF mode, etc.

Does anyone have a standard setup they would recommend?

I can't find the DVD anymore.

Ta.

Andy
 
For what it's worth, my default settings are:

- ISO 320

- Av Mode, aperture usually set to one stop up from wide open for the lens that's fitted (f/4 for f/2.8 lenses and so on)

- Centre weighted metering (I think)

A/F set to single, centre point


Of course this all gets altered as the circumstances change..
 
I tend to leave my camera set on something like 1/250s, f/8, iso200, white balance 5000k if I'm out shooting in reasonable weather.

There's nothing more annoying that finding I've been spending the whole day shooting at iso3200 without realising like i did the other day.
 
boliston said:
I tend to leave my camera set on something like 1/250s, f/8, iso200, white balance 5000k if I'm out shooting in reasonable weather.

There's nothing more annoying that finding I've been spending the whole day shooting at iso3200 without realising like i did the other day.
Click to expand...

Ouch!

Mind you I would never go over 400 anyway, the Oly is too noisy at over 800...
 
Setting a "standard" sounds really odd to me - you will not learn anything by doing something like that.

Buy a book on exposure and your photography will iomprove.
 
EOS_JD said:
Setting a "standard" sounds really odd to me - you will not learn anything by doing something like that.

Buy a book on exposure and your photography will iomprove.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree. If you want a 'ready for anything' setting then I suppose that's got to be P. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, and you can get any combination of settings you like from there by using the programme shift.

My defaults are ISO800 (because you can with a 5D2 :D ) Av and evaluative metering. Everything else changes as and when.
 
I try to set mine back to A (something reasonable like f5-8ish), ISO 200, Auto WB, matrix meter, Single point AF when I am done. I also make sure I have turned off any EV comp and bracketing.

I have missed shots before where I have left it on bulb or left it on manual focus. By having a "standard" setup I at least know where I stand and can change from there easy enough.
 
HoppyUK said:
I tend to agree. If you want a 'ready for anything' setting then I suppose that's got to be P. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, and you can get any combination of settings you like from there by using the programme shift.
Click to expand...

That's my philosophy. I stick in P mode and often shift one way or the other to get a specific aperture or shutter speed if I want/need shallow/deep DoF or movement blur etc. ISO tends to be at 400, single shot (sometimes C[slow]) and S focus (central focus point). WB is left on Auto, I also stick with Large, fine JPEGS and trust the meter to get it close enough to ideal not to need the leeway that raw gives you. NR gets left off and any noise (not a real problem with a D700 anyway) gets dealt with by Noiseware Community Edition.

I'm fully aware that I'm not using the full capabilities of my bodies but I'm satisfied with the results I get, as is my wife who's my only "customer" (I've done some shoots with and for her for her Yoga business) and a Greek hotelier friend for whom I've done a few interior shoots (mainly because I have a wider lens than the Greek photographer she uses).

ETA... Please note that the above is only what I use and not necessarily the BEST settings to use.
 
Last edited:
I'm using the 30D, but I suppose the principle is the same. Default/park mode is P, ISO 200, Auto WB, evaluative metering, AI Servo/back button focus and low speed continuous drive (I can shoot single frames easily with this, and retain the burst capability).

These settings are just to give me a fast shot and a reasonable image under normal conditions if I need it. They're no substitute for using the best settings for the circumstances though.
 
I agree with P and set your iso as you go - with a kit lens 200 sunny, 400 dull, 640-800 heavy overcast.

It's a while since I've done a session with the A230 but from what I remember the Auto ISO setting works well for outdoors with the kit lens and relatively static subjects.

Good luck, John
 
On my D5k and D200 Mine is P, ISO 640 and auto WB. noise seems fine tbh
 
EOS_JD said:
Setting a "standard" sounds really odd to me - you will not learn anything by doing something like that.

Buy a book on exposure and your photography will improve.
Click to expand...

I agree, but would prefer to use aperture priority. At least you maintain a relationship with depth of field. And in the process a relationship with exposure value.
 
In M you gain that and more.... Av is quick to use yes but can be inconsistent depending what you're shooting. In M you are forced to think about the exposure so you make the decision. All settings have their uses :)

But to have a "standard" set up I'm not sure that's the way to go. Even in Av you need to think about your exposure.

Don't get me wrong I don't get it right all the time, certainly not but I'm happy I'm forced to think about it and I learn from that,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top