I think you're getting yourself all worked up over a problem (fast
moving light/subjects/etc) that is easily solved. But before venturing
there let's dwell a moment on manual and aperture preferred exposure. I
submit that manual exposure control with today's modern cameras (those
having 1/3 stop exposure increments on shutter and aperture) is an
easier and more straightforward way of effecting both aperture preferred
and shutter preferred controls.
Why is that? Consider an OM-2 which allows aperture preferred
automation. You select the aperture and the camera selects the shutter
speed. But if you don't like the camera's choice you have the option of
turning the exposure compensation dial. This sort of begs the
question about how you knew you needed to turn the exposure compensation
dial and by how much but more on that later. But why did there have to
be an exposure compensation dial? Because, on an OM-2, the shutter
speed dial is only graduated in full stops. I think we all know that
the exposure compensation dial on OM cameras operates by adjusting the
ISO which can be done in 1/3 stop increments. But ask yourself why is
this other "compensation" control needed. In my book it isn't. Why
have a separate control whose real purpose in aperture preferred mode is
really only to indirectly adjust the shutter speed. Why not just adjust
the shutter speed directly? Well, directly adjusting the shutter speed
in 1/3 stop increments in manual mode is exactly what you can do today
that you couldn't do on an OM-2. So, simpler Av and Tv modes are both
more easily implemented by switching into manual mode instead and
preselecting either the aperture or shutter speed to your liking and
adjusting the opposite control to the meter's recommendation or +/- a
bit if you think the meter's lying to you a bit.
So, how about those grab shots that take place unexpectedly and with
little time for the poor photographer to think about exposure. That's
why we (going back to the OM-2s) have the P mode (program or
professional as prefer) on the dial. I can relate to that quite well.
Several years ago I was covering a groom and his groomsmen preparing for
his wedding while at his father's house not far from the church. The
house being rather dark inside I was shooting with a slow shutter speed,
moderately high ISO and flash.
<http://www.chucknorcutt.com/weddings/pict3111.htm> Without warning to
me, father, groom and groomsmen suddenly walked out the front door into
full sun and started hoofing it to the church about 3 blocks away. It
was all I could do to gather my bags and run after them as fast as I
could. I was in no mood for critical thinking so simply slipped the
camera into P mode and made this and a few other related shots
<http://www.chucknorcutt.com/weddings/pict3166.htm>
So, let P mode handle the unexpected. But here you do need a
compensation setting since you're not directly controlling either
shutter speed or aperture. But, if you can get a good exposure in
manual mode now it either means that the meter is telling the truth or
you know how much the meter is lying and can adjust for that. Whatever
compensation tricks you already apply can also be applied in P mode.
After studying some of your pics and their histograms you may learn that
you can generalize as Moose does for his 5D. When in any auto mode he
keeps a -2/3 exposure compensation set since the 5D has a tendency to
overexpose.
See, I don't think it's very complicated at all. You already know how
to do it. You've just got to put a few of the pieces together.
Chuck Norcutt
Brian Swale wrote:
>
> Snip a bunch of stuff from Rickard about manual operation of the camera
> Regards,
> Rickard Nilsson
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Now I have a feeling somewhat akin to panic. Yes, this configuration DOES
> work. I'm amazed.
>
> It requires a deliberate approach which is what I wanted and gives me full
> control and responsibility over exposure and focus.
>
> But what if I want (as sometimes happens to all of us, I'm sure) to grab the
> camera and just fire off a shot or two to capture something taking place
> unexpectedly and fast, leaving the camera to manage exposure and speed
> control (I prefer aperture priority).
>
> I can't do that now ... ...
>
> I remember AG, I think it was, writing that he had set up his camera for two
> users with different needs. Seems to me that I now need to have that ability
> in the E-3, otherwise I'm hamstrung for grab-shot situations. I don't want
> to
> HAVE to carry two cameras ALL the time, "just in case".
>
> Can someone please point me to the menu area?
>
> The manual for the E-3 is worse than obfuscating legal documents - the
> devil is in the detail (and the consequences are not spelled out well at all).
>
> Brian Swale.
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