Still Struggling...

[Jennifleur79]

Hi All

I posted on here a few days ago about pictures taken on S function showing as 'subject too dark' on the screen and the pictures being really dark once I have taken them. I managed to sort that by adjusting my shutter speed accordingly and I had a certain degree of success. However, it is now doing it on the Aperture function, but it doesn't seem to do it whilst I am outside, only inside.

The pictures are coming out really dark no matter how much I adjust the aperture or shutter setting. I'm really confused and I'm getting frustrated with it. So at the moment I am using the Auto function whilst indoors and adjusting whilst outside.

PLEASE help

[fletch]

The best thing to do is do some reading up on the exposure triangle. The thing that goverens the shutter speed, aperture and ISO you need to get a well exposed shot. Once you understand the basics of that it should be instantly obvious why your camera is picking the wrong settings in the semi auto modes.

It could be many things so without more detail we would just be guessing what the problem is.

[Jennifleur79]

Hi
Thanks I have been reading up on that over the last few days, I thought I'd cracked it but quite clearly I haven't

Here is an example picture:



EXIF

shutter: 1/40
aperture: 5.6
Exposure: aperture
exp: -2.3
focal length: 55 mm

[AGoldenTouchPhotography]

Do you have the option to shoot aperture priority? I would do this and take notes ( I keep a notepad in my bag) that way you can see what shots you are exposing correctly and the details so when you switch to manual mode you will be able to compose the shot and know where your settings should be to get the desired result.
What was your ISO on that shot? I think it was too low and had you bumped it up and opened the aperture more with a 1/250 ss you would have liked this better.

[WooD]

shutter: 1/40
aperture: 5.6
Exposure: aperture
exp: -2.3
focal length: 55 mm


I think this is your problem.

[Stflorian]

If it lacks light just adjust the ISO, try to shoot the same photo with different ISO values, and see what comes out.. If you practice like this, you will soon know what ISO you need in certain light conditions..

[Stflorian]

Originally Posted by WooD

shutter: 1/40
aperture: 5.6
Exposure: aperture
exp: -2.3
focal length: 55 mm


I think this is your problem.

The button to correct this, is next to your on/off button.. the -+

[Chip]

Originally Posted by WooD

shutter: 1/40
aperture: 5.6
Exposure: aperture
exp: -2.3
focal length: 55 mm


I think this is your problem.

That, and in most indoor settings, there typically isn't as much light as you'd think - our eyes adjust to the relative darkness much better than does a camera's sensor. So, to take well-exposed indoor shots, you generally need: flash, a fast lens (large aperture), a longer shutter, high ISO, or some combination of all of these.

Since there's more light generally available during the daytime outside, you typically don't run into these problems when outdoors.

Seems that you're making progress, even though you're frustrated in the short run. Keep at it!

[WooD]

Originally Posted by Stflorian

If it lacks light just adjust the ISO, try to shoot the same photo with different ISO values, and see what comes out.. If you practice like this, you will soon know what ISO you need in certain light conditions..

Her ISO was set at 100, she could have easily bumped it up to 400 without too much noise.

That and fixing the EXP -2.3 would have made a world of difference.

[Digidave]

You need to familiarize yourself with the Exposure Triangle.

Exposure Triangle

Shutter Speed, Aperture, & ISO all effect the amount of light that gets to the cameras Sensor.

Shutter Speed: Quickness of the shutter. Faster = less light. Slower = more light.

Aperture (f/number): Width of opening. Larger(smaller f/number) = more light. Smaller(larger f/number) = less light.

ISO (Sensor sensitivity): Higher number = less light needed for correct exposure. lower number = more light needed for correct exposure.

For now, let's take ISO out of the equation in order to keep this simple.

When you were having problems while in Shutter priority, you had to slow down your shutter speed, correct? This held the shutter open for a longer period of time to allow more light in. Now that you are in Aperture Priority, you need to open up the aperture more to allow more light in. The problem with this is, that lenses have a limit to how wide you can open the aperture. If you are using a kit lens, it's probably a lens with f/3.6 or f/4.5 for a maximum aperture. This isn't very good for low-light situations(indoors). That is where the problem arises.

Try experimenting with Manual mode (M). I'm not familiar with the D60 but you should have 2 wheels, one on front of camera, & one on rear of camera. One will control the aperture & one will control the shutter speed. Keep your eye on the meter within the viewfinder & try to keep it centered as much as possible.



What you'll discover is, when you turn your aperture to a higher f/number(smaller opening) you need to slow down your shutter speed to keep the meter centered. When you turn your aperture to a smaller f/number( larger opening) you need a faster shutter speed to keep the meter centered. This is the essence of the Exposure Triangle.

This all may seem a little confusing but if you use manual mode more you'll find it starts to make sense after a while.