D3100 photography

[wingflapp]

Does anyone else using this camera notice that you need to take a 'tripod speed' photo when you want to have more depth of field?

It seems that when I get above f/11 on a sunny day, or f/8 on an overcast day that I need to use a shutter speed slower than 1/60 if I want to keep using ISO 100. (according to the exposure meter) My initial thoughts are "It's perfectly bright out here, I shouldn't need anything higher for this picture"

I realize that you guys might be thinking "Well what exactly are you trying to photograph". Could be any number of things. I just have been finding that my camera wants a slow shutter speed for most things if I want to use f/11

Is this normal?

[RichardTaylor]

Don't believe your eyes, it may be a lot darker than what you think..
It doesn't matter what camera/lens you are using.

There is an old "guide". The "sunny 16 rule"

On a bright sunny day the shutter speed = 1/ISO @ F16

[wingflapp]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Don't believe your eyes, it may be a lot darker than what you think..
It doesn't matter what camera/lens you are using.

There is an old "guide". The "sunny 16 rule"

On a bright sunny day the shutter speed = 1/ISO @ F16

Thanks much, Richard!

[Brookeabee123]

I have this camera also! I usually keep my aperture at around f/4 or f/5 so I haven't really noticed this problem yet. Are you set on Manual? It seems to me that my exposure meter is always trying to get my pictures brighter than I want them to be so usually I just ignore it and take a few practice shots in order to get the lighting I'm looking for. I'll have to go out and see if my camera does the same thing tomorrow when it's bright outside.

[RichardTaylor]

@Brookeabee123

How does the histogram look?

[wingflapp]

Originally Posted by Brookeabee123

I have this camera also! I usually keep my aperture at around f/4 or f/5 so I haven't really noticed this problem yet. Are you set on Manual? It seems to me that my exposure meter is always trying to get my pictures brighter than I want them to be so usually I just ignore it and take a few practice shots in order to get the lighting I'm looking for. I'll have to go out and see if my camera does the same thing tomorrow when it's bright outside.

Yeppers. I've been trying to shoot everything I can in manual. (unless my wife would kill me if I messed up the shot... those get shot in auto)

Yeah, I like the larger aperture settings myself, but sometimes I want the background more detailed, so I close down the aperture until my camera says 'you need a tripod, dummy'. This is generally anything bigger than f/10. (I'm sure that it's my own error somehow, somewhere).

[DanielLane]

well one, why not put your ISO to 200? It has 100 available, but the ISO 200 is the default ISO for that sensor. That alone should be enough to get the speed you are looking for.

Also, are you using any filters when doing these photos? ND's? CPL's? Those darken everything and make you have to compensate.

[Jonbar18]

I have this camera, but never had this problem.
I have seen it tends to underexpose by about .5 of a stop, but that shouldn't have a huge impact.