"Pre-flight" checklist - for photogs.

I've been meaning to ask~:

I'll have to preface this to illustrate what I'm looking for - when I was taking flying lessons, we did everything with a checklist. Absolutely everything. It prevented one from making careless, and potentially critical mistakes, either before a flight, during a flight, or after a flight.

I can see an application for the same principals when picking up a camera. There should be, at the very least, a mental checklist, if not written checklist, until it becomes rote, instinctual, second nature.

Admittedly, I'm no pro! In fact, my self-deprecating side would say "I'm a photo-hack!" I don't know how many times I've picked up my "Nikki" and started taking photos only to find it on "S" mode and my shutter stopped down to a ridiculously low 'ss'. Or on "A" mode and set on some less-than-preferred aperture that I didn't want it set on. Or image quality stopped down because last use was for smaller ebay pics.

ad infinitum.

So fellow DPS people, if YOU were to develop/author/compose a "checklist - how would it read?

1. Securely grasp camera.
2. (your turn)




Thanks in advance kids!
Blessings,
"Bakeys"
Matt. 25:40

[nickbedford]

Mine tends to go like this:

1. Take cap off and do a quick once over of the camera hardware.
2. Turn on.
3. Make sure I've formatted (if starting a new shoot).
4. Make sure I'm on Manual and check shutter mode and other settings.
5. Set a "guess" exposure triangle and shoot some tests.
6. Start shooting (changing settings as I need to).

[scootermcq]

Add to:

Check ISO
Check WB
Check Metering Mode
Check Focus Mode
Check resolution/quality

[Cola]

Before leaving, be sure you have your card in your camera and battery charged.

[rosserx]

Pre-flight is also a printing term for preparing digital files for the printing process. In my day job I pre-flight InDesign files before we send them out to the vendor!

[navcom]

Oooooo....as a commercial pilot, I started to drool just seeing the tagline "checklist".

Here's my landscape checklist...

- Use the lowest ISO the camera can muster
- Use an aperture between f/8 and f/13 if possible, where a good reason is needed to depart
- Use manual mode (or aperture priority at a minimum)
- File type set to RAW
- Tripod in use
- Turn off auto focus and use hyperfocal distance
- Remote shutter cable installed (or remote if required)
- 2-second delay set
- Clearance and GUMPS check
- Missed approach altitude set
- Call runway in sight!

...couldn't resist.

[sk66]

For me it's:
Turn on camera
2 button reset (The two button reset clears things like bracketting and exposure compensation.)
set to RAW

then check: (my default)
focus mode (C)
ISO (auto (w/ limits))
Focus Point Selector (Dynamic)
Metering Mode (Matrix)
Shooting Mode (Aperture Priority)
power- check
crew, cards, lenses- secure
takeoff

(I'm a helicopter pilot )
With these settings I can generally capture anything; even though they might not be ideal for a given situation, they will work.

[Raoul Isidro]

On some modern cameras, there is a dial setting for pre-programmed checklists.
On the Canons, it is the C1, C2, C3 settings on your PSAM dial.
Program your settings at home and input them on the C1, C2 and C3.
As your situation changes during shooting, just flick back and forth to these C settings.
Here's my personal setting on one of my cameras:
C1: Two stops per image multiple (3 frames) bracketing for HDR
C2: High speed FPS capture for sports or UFO's...
C3: Raw with tweaks settings