D7100 scene modes

orangeframestudio

orangeframestudio

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Ben
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I picked up a d7100 yesterday and been having a play and read through the manual. I've come from a d300 and d800 so everything is pretty familiar with the exception of scene modes.

For 99.9% of the time, I'm in manual or aperture priority, but wanted to at least see what the scene modes could offer.
The manual says the obvious about what they are trying to achieve and roughly how, ie portrait blur background, narrow depth of field and skin tone emphasis. What I'm trying to find however is a list of the exact changes and settings each scene mode is making?
I'm sure there must be a spreadsheet on the net or in a book somewhere if anyone is aware of one? Surprised it isn't in the manual.
 
If you're really that interested, they may not be for you. I can't imagine what each scene mode does is too revolutionary. Ideal for starters. Less so if you use A and M modes.
Me, I just shoot in raw. Don't think they work on raw, just JPEG.
 
some modes on my a77 wouldnt be *possible in a pasm mode or way more of a fuss
has mode for taking multiple quick shots and merging them into one file, and the sweep panarama options

*would be somewhat a post process fuss
 
The obvious answer would be to experiment. Set the camera up on a tripod and make a series of exposures in each of the modes. Start with Auto and P to get a datum point of the basic settings the camera wants to use then see how each scene mode varies from these settings. At a guess, Landscape will get a narrower aperture, Portrait a wider one, Sports a faster shutter speed etc. but by how much, I don't know.
 
It does look like experimenting is the only way... very surprised though at such a popular camera that's over year old and the info is not around. The aperture, shutter and iso are fairly obvious to spot. I wondered more about the white balance changes, colour settings, flash settings, focus modes, etc etc - I know its maybe not that important, but wondered if it was documented what all the changes actually are.
 
Thom Hogan covers these in detail in his books. You do have to buy them though ...
 
It's like a lot of things, I know it's in there somewhere but I don't really want to see it.
I bought the D7100 for the high ISO useage, never go into the scene menus, no idea what's in there
and never felt the need to use them.
 
The scene modes are really there for beginners or to take quick snapshots (a bit like an auto mode for certain situations). It sounds like you know what you are doing if you are looking for exactly what they changes/settings they apply. I haven't used them in 2 years so I wouldn't think you would need them if you know what settings you news to use in those situations.
 
Tried the scene modes on my Mrs's D3200. Bit of a waste of time. Although changing bits like focus point,iso etc on the D3200 is hard work. So, I can sort of see the benefit on a d3200.

But, I can't imagine you'd buy a D7100 and use them. You'd be disapointed with the "firework" scene and then wonder why the image is all blurry, if you don't realise that all it's doing is using a low iso and long shutter expoosure. And maybe increasing the saturation and colour temp.

Just use RAW and sort most of it out later. At least that way you have all the information from the sensor to play with, rather than some processed mush.
 
Cheers for the replies, guess I'll just play around out of curiosity. The d7100 does sit in a funny place with the basic consumer functions but the very pro capabilities.
It's soooo much camera for £739, i'll live with the pointless scene modes if that's all they are.

And thanks for the Thom hogan heads up! I bought the d800 book, but won't bother just for the scene mode page on this.
 
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