help! high ISO but totally black photo?

[crownofstorms]

okay ... I will admit that I am not super knowledgeable about my camera & what it can do yet. But I've read plenty of stuff online and am understanding that a higher ISO means the camera is more sensitive to light, helping out a photographer in low-light situations.

SO.

I must've totally screwed up my manual setting, because even at the highest ISO my camera (a Nikon D40X) has (which is HI1, not sure what that means) ... the picture comes out totally black. What gives?

Like I said, the camera's a Nikon D40X. The other settings that can be adjusted on Manual are: Image Quality (Fine) ... Image size (7.3mb) ... White Balance (I have it set to indoor with normal lighting -- not fluorescent lighting) ... ISO (at 800, currently) ... Shooting mode (continuous) ... Focus Mode (AF-C) ... AF-area mode (it doesn't have a name but shows two kids sword fighting outside) ... Metering (the middle one - again no name - simply shows a flower) ... Flash compensation (-1.0) ... Exposure Compensation (+0.3) ... and Flash Mode (rear).

So ... what the heck am I doing wrong?

[JFSanders]

First, calm down. Second post the exif data from the totally black photo. I suspect your shutter speed is too fast to allow enough light in to the sensor. If you are in Manual mode you have to set the shutter speed and the f/stop as well as the ISO setting. When you looked through the view finder did you not get a warning that the picture was "too dark"?

[crownofstorms]

I'm not flipping out, so no need to calm down.

The exif data:
Metering: Center
Shutter: 1/4000
Aperture: f3.5
Exposure Mode: Manual
EXP +/-: +0.3
Focal length: 18mm

Yes, it did tell me the subject was too dark. :/

[private]

Your shutter speed was waaaay yo fast. YOu may know this, but think of the settings like your eyes. The aperture is your pupil (how wide) the shutter speed is like your eyelids (blinking) and the ISO is just how sensitive your eyes are.

So if you make your eyes very sensitive, but you blink your eyes really fast, light will still not get in.

[JFSanders]

Shutter: 1/4000

This is your problem.

[crownofstorms]

okay, knowing that the shutter speed is way too fast DOES help me ... but how do I change the shutter speed?

[Car2n]

Someone needs to read the manual,,,,,,
Also pick up a copy of "Understanding Exposure" if you can get the chance.

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by crownofstorms

okay, knowing that the shutter speed is way too fast DOES help me ... but how do I change the shutter speed?

See page 43 of the D40X user's manual.

[chipshill]

Lol User Manual page numbers? Help doesn't get much better than that!