Shutter Speed Question- 2" ??

[malleryschuplin]

I am using a D80 for the first time and I am at a total loss. I let someone practice a lesson in class and she had to have pressed a button to make everything change.

My shutter speed is measuring in a format like 2" versus what I was practicing at prior (30, 60 etc) So my question is how to get it to go back to normal? I am just learning about shutter speed and apeture so this is just totally throwing me for a loop because I don't know what this measurement stands for.

Keep in mind this is all in manual mode because I am trying to learn this whole camera thing.

Exp delay is off
ISO is 100
I tried taking the lens off and putting it back on
I also tried to reset the settings with the green buttons
The battery is charged
I read the manual and it didn't help

At 2", F4.5, ISO 100 it shows that the exposure is balanced right in the middle. It also appears to be a fine picture (I am just shooting a photo on my wall) But it is a very slow shutter release.

If I switch it to 30, F4.5, ISO 100 is shows the meter as extremely underexposed and is nearly all black. The shutter speed 'sounds normal' without the lag.

I tried to provide everything I could think of to solve this problem. Let me know if you need more details. I really appreciate any help!

[RichardTaylor]

Welcome to the forum.

Have a look at this multi part intro to exposure tute, on this site.

Exposure (1) A balancing act

If your exposure is ok at 2 seconds (at F4.5 and ISO 100) and you want to shoot at 1/30 second at the same aperture, and in the same light you will need to shoot at ISO 6400 or around F2.8@ ISO 3200 or F2 @ ISO 1600.
If your camera cannot be used at these settings then you will need to add light or shoot at a slower shutter speed.

[Aegea]

2" means 2 seconds, while 30 means 1/30 second. You must have very dim lighting conditions. As Richard says, you need some combination of more light, a higher ISO, and a faster lens. Or a tripod.