Can't believe its took this long...

[jemdna]

Hey

Just wanted to share this with the forum, as I feel like its a major step in my photography yet, glaringly obvious to most people!

Up until recently I usually just used AV mode on the camera and let it do the rest. "auto fix" on PSE8 and then output to jpeg...

Last night I suddenly realized that selecting WHICH focus point the camera used resulted in much more accurate/usable photos!

Then i discovered the unsharp mask! quick adjustment with that and suddenly my photos are MUCH MUCH better. (Imo anyway )

I feel stupid for never doing it before but... I do now so :razz::razz:

Bry

 

[magicaxeman]

It's easy to get bogged down in auto settings, I was the same with program mode, even when using the shift function and I should have known better coming from a full manual background.

The odd thing is I always shot flash in manual mode cos the camera's all see to set the default speed to its slowest ie around 1/60th second, I shoot at 1/200th usually and rarely under 1/125th with flash.

Now try raw mode and processing, much better sharpening tools than unsharp mask.

 

[Little John]

You can set the 500D to the shutter speed you want for the flash using the custom functions. I think the optins are auto, 1/60 and 1/200. and yes it does always want 1/60 most of the time.

 

[HoppyUK]

Shutter speed is irrelevant to flash exposure, so long as it doesn't rise above the max x-sync speed (usually 1/200sec or 1/250sec).

But if you want to balance the flash exposure with the ambient light, then Av will track that down to as long as it takes - up to 30 seconds. You can override it in custom functions if you prefer.

If the flash has high speed sync mode, Av will also track the shutter speed automatically above the normal x-sync max right up to 1/8000sec if needs be.

Edit: there are a lot of controls and override options to all the camera's apparently 'fully automatic' functions. Check the handbook.

 

[CJS]

Now try raw mode and processing, much better sharpening tools than unsharp mask.

Much the same, 'P' for everything, then someone showed me the simplest way with full manual, I prefer 'Av', but having the manual as a possible fall back gives confidence.

I fought like a man possessed against RAW!!!! Finally bit the bullet, I only use the simple RAW that comes with PSE7-8 . . . but it has transformed the way I look at 'WB and PP'ing', as has been said, sharpening is sooooo much better.

I still take [rap photos most of the time, but when I do get a decent one, its very satisfying to tweak in the 'finesse' of RAW.

CJS