Nikon D80

[handicap18]

I rarely shoot in Manual mode. The meter in todays dSLR's are very good.

If you new and trying to figure out exposure, then I also suggest starting in Program. This way you can still choose your ISO and your focus points. From there move on to Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority.

I mostly use Aperture Priority. I use Manual when doing long exposures or when I feel the camera is underexposing and I know that adjusting one of the settings will work better than what the camera is choosing. Though that doesn't happen very often.

If you do use Manual, pay attention to the meter in the view finder. You don't want any bars showing on either side of '0'. Unless of course you purposly want to over or underexpose.

 

[Groucho]

If the lens is set to M, then that is manual focus. I would recommend using the P (program mode) until you get a little more comfortable with the camera. The camera chooses the setting for you, but you still have some creative controll when you want it.

I think you mean manual exposure, not manual focus.

Like the others have said, you'll rarely need to venture into Manual mode. The only time I used it last DL trip was when doing planned HDR shots, and I could have just used Aperture priority and exposure compensation to accomplish the same thing.

If you are there, there's probably whatever the Nikon equivalent of "AE-L" or a "green button" on your camera, which should set the aperture and shutter speed to what it thinks you'll want for good exposure. You can then adjust those as you wish, but at least you'll be starting from a known good place.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I think you mean manual exposure, not manual focus.

Well, I actually did mean manual focus. My Nikon lens has a focus mode switch on the lens. You can select M/A or M. M is for manual focus. My D80 also has a focus mode switch on the camera body and I also set that switch to M when I want to manual focus. Maybe I only need to set it on the camera or lens, but for some reason I've always set it to M on both for manual focusing. Guess I should experiment with that a little.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Well, I actually did mean manual focus. My Nikon lens has a focus mode switch on the lens. You can select M/A or M. M is for manual focus. My D80 also has a focus mode switch on the camera body and I also set that switch to M when I want to manual focus. Maybe I only need to set it on the camera or lens, but for some reason I've always set it to M on both for manual focusing. Guess I should experiment with that a little.

Hi Steve's Girl,
Actually the d80 manual does sya that if you are shooting in M mode, the lens and body should also be switched to M.
Thanks for your input on the 3rd post above. I wanted to start shooting in M mode to force myself to learn how the camera works and then I started panicking when the photos were coming out black. I was worried something was wrng with the camera. (Duh...) I figured out that my shutter speed and/or aperture were set incorrectly. EVen though I fiddled with it to change it, I didn't change it enough. For some reason, the M mode on my camera was default set at 1/4000s for shutter. So I lowered it to 1/250 and the pictures were still black. Then I panicked, posted, and then tried again. The camera works, I just need to go learn how to use all its features and learn more about exposure.
Thanks again..

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I think you mean manual exposure, not manual focus.

Like the others have said, you'll rarely need to venture into Manual mode. The only time I used it last DL trip was when doing planned HDR shots, and I could have just used Aperture priority and exposure compensation to accomplish the same thing.

If you are there, there's probably whatever the Nikon equivalent of "AE-L" or a "green button" on your camera, which should set the aperture and shutter speed to what it thinks you'll want for good exposure. You can then adjust those as you wish, but at least you'll be starting from a known good place.

So Groucho (or anyone),
I was thinking I had to have the camera in Manual using the Bulb mode (using remote) to take awesome firworks shots, but you're saying that I don't? I thought all you professionals and semi professionals usually shot in Manual mode? I don't feel so stupid after all. (I was feeling pretty dang dumb this morning!)

I am trying to read the manual that came with the camera, but it's a yawn... The d80 Field guide is so-so. I'm beginning to regret just not buying one of those "this is how you use the d80 and here're all it's fetaures DVDs." This camera is very intelligent and because of that I think there is a lot to learn wbout all of the features built in. I love the low lights shots I've gotten just messing around at home so far...
Thanks guys...

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I rarely shoot in Manual mode. The meter in todays dSLR's are very good.

If you new and trying to figure out exposure, then I also suggest starting in Program. This way you can still choose your ISO and your focus points. From there move on to Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority.

I mostly use Aperture Priority. I use Manual when doing long exposures or when I feel the camera is underexposing and I know that adjusting one of the settings will work better than what the camera is choosing. Though that doesn't happen very often.

If you do use Manual, pay attention to the meter in the view finder. You don't want any bars showing on either side of '0'. Unless of course you purposly want to over or underexpose.

Thanks handicap18! I don't know much about ISO other than I didn't like the noise in my P&S. I have a lot to learn. Thanks for the info about the meter in the view finder. Someone else on another board mentioned that, but you rarely see people mention that feature and what will happen if you don't remove the lines. I wouldn't have known if you two hadn't mentioned it and I'd still be wondering why my pictures weren't coming out, because I looked through the entire manual regading everything about Manual mode to figure out why my pics weren't coming out, and it didn't mention the exposure meter and that you should remove the lines at all. Basically because when in manual mode, the camera doesn't meter for exposure anymore, right? You have to do it. (Right?...I think that's the right info.)

 

[Groucho]

Well, I actually did mean manual focus. My Nikon lens has a focus mode switch on the lens. You can select M/A or M. M is for manual focus. My D80 also has a focus mode switch on the camera body and I also set that switch to M when I want to manual focus. Maybe I only need to set it on the camera or lens, but for some reason I've always set it to M on both for manual focusing. Guess I should experiment with that a little.

Whoops - I knew that DisneySuiteFreak (DSF?) was in manual exposure mode, but didn't notice that he was also in manual focus. I didn't catch that you said "lens" - yes, you're right, I should read more thoroughly next time. Oops!

I suspect I'm not the only one in this boat though! DSF, manual exposure (on the mode dial, by P, Av, Tv, etc) is unrelated to the manual focus settings on the body and lens. (And I'm still not sure why they're on both - over here in Pentaxland, you set the focus mode on the body only, not the lens. I can only assume it's to allow the focusing ring to turn, though I'm not sure why they couldn't just do that electronically or some other way, since obviously it can be done.) If you're setting everything to manual, you're really roughing it. And as for metering in M mode - well, it still does meter (that's how it can give you the lines that tell you how close you are to proper exposure, or numeric readout if your camera displays it that way), but it doesn't change anything. Unless you press the AE-L or green button or whatever the D80 uses for that function. (Apparently it's an AE-L/AF-L button - if it works like it does over here, it will set your aperture and shutter speed to recommended values in M mode, you can then adjust them as you like.)

As for bulb mode - again, this is an area where things are slightly different in Pentaxland. Here, Bulb is actually a separate setting on the mode dial - P, Av, Tv, M, and B. I think that in Nikonland, you select Manual then choose Bulb as your shutter speed? I'm not 100% sure. But anyway, yeah, technically I don't use M mode for my bulb-exposure fireworks photos, but someone with a Nikon or Canon taking the same photos might. Confused yet?

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Whoops - I knew that DisneySuiteFreak (DSF?) was in manual exposure mode, but didn't notice that he was also in manual focus. I didn't catch that you said "lens" - yes, you're right, I should read more thoroughly next time. Oops!

I suspect I'm not the only one in this boat though! DSF, manual exposure (on the mode dial, by P, Av, Tv, etc) is unrelated to the manual focus settings on the body and lens. (And I'm still not sure why they're on both - over here in Pentaxland, you set the focus mode on the body only, not the lens. I can only assume it's to allow the focusing ring to turn, though I'm not sure why they couldn't just do that electronically or some other way, since obviously it can be done.) If you're setting everything to manual, you're really roughing it. And as for metering in M mode - well, it still does meter (that's how it can give you the lines that tell you how close you are to proper exposure, or numeric readout if your camera displays it that way), but it doesn't change anything. Unless you press the AE-L or green button or whatever the D80 uses for that function. (Apparently it's an AE-L/AF-L button - if it works like it does over here, it will set your aperture and shutter speed to recommended values in M mode, you can then adjust them as you like.)

As for bulb mode - again, this is an area where things are slightly different in Pentaxland. Here, Bulb is actually a separate setting on the mode dial - P, Av, Tv, M, and B. I think that in Nikonland, you select Manual then choose Bulb as your shutter speed? I'm not 100% sure. But anyway, yeah, technically I don't use M mode for my bulb-exposure fireworks photos, but someone with a Nikon or Canon taking the same photos might. Confused yet?

Yep!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Whoops - I knew that DisneySuiteFreak (DSF?) was in manual exposure mode, but didn't notice that he was also in manual focus. I didn't catch that you said "lens" - yes, you're right, I should read more thoroughly next time. Oops!

I suspect I'm not the only one in this boat though! DSF, manual exposure (on the mode dial, by P, Av, Tv, etc) is unrelated to the manual focus settings on the body and lens. (And I'm still not sure why they're on both - over here in Pentaxland, you set the focus mode on the body only, not the lens. I can only assume it's to allow the focusing ring to turn, though I'm not sure why they couldn't just do that electronically or some other way, since obviously it can be done.) If you're setting everything to manual, you're really roughing it. And as for metering in M mode - well, it still does meter (that's how it can give you the lines that tell you how close you are to proper exposure, or numeric readout if your camera displays it that way), but it doesn't change anything. Unless you press the AE-L or green button or whatever the D80 uses for that function. (Apparently it's an AE-L/AF-L button - if it works like it does over here, it will set your aperture and shutter speed to recommended values in M mode, you can then adjust them as you like.)

As for bulb mode - again, this is an area where things are slightly different in Pentaxland. Here, Bulb is actually a separate setting on the mode dial - P, Av, Tv, M, and B. I think that in Nikonland, you select Manual then choose Bulb as your shutter speed? I'm not 100% sure. But anyway, yeah, technically I don't use M mode for my bulb-exposure fireworks photos, but someone with a Nikon or Canon taking the same photos might. Confused yet?

I think I'm having a slightly easier time of undersanding it by reading the D80 Field Guide. The manual is a hodge podge of info and it skips back and forth. (But from my research, I knew that, and that's why I bought the D80 Field Guide!)
So far, the D80 manual has told me that the lens, body and Mode selector should be set to M when you are in M mode, but the Field Guide said you can set the lens and body to AF and have the mode selector in M. I tried it; it works. I never would have known it was an option though if you didn't say something Groucho. The manual is more confusing than helpful. I just discovered that you can use the Bulb feature in M mode and leave everything else at AF. (I havent felt this dumb in years!!!) Good thing I still have my sense of humor! I can still use the focus rings even though the lens and body are set to AF. (Thank God!)
You're correct, it does still meter in M mode, it just doesn't correct it, that's where the adjustment thing comes in w/the lines. (That really sounds amateurish, but my brain is in overload trying to absorb everything all at once.)
There is an AE-L/AF-L button on the back of the camera. Still not sure what it's suposed to be used for. I believe I read that it has something to do with locking in the focus. There is also a focus selector lock switch, so??? I guess I would use then in tandem? I figure that if I pressed the AE/AF-L, it would lock the focus -- at least that's what I read in the manual. The switch is a whole other story. (Haven't gotten that far yet!) The D80 Field guide info on the AE/AF-L was pretty limited. Here's what the FG says:
AE/AF Lock - A control on the D80 that lets you lock the current autoexposure (AE) and/or autofocus (AF) settings prior to taking a picture, freeing you from having to hold the shutter release partially depressed, although you must depress and hold the shutter release partially to apply the feature. HUH??? What's the point of 'freeing you from having to hold' it, if you have to press it and hold it to make it work in the first place? Am I not reading English??? Is it just me who finds that verbiage slightly confusing? That's all it says regarding AE/AF-L in the D80 FG. And the FG is a VAST improvement over the manual.
IMO, these kinds of things are why people buy a DSLR and then continue to shoot everything in Auto. The manual is written from the standpoint that you may, or should, already know a bit about how the camera is set up, what it's for and why.
Right now all I can think is: to make it easier on myself and in the interest of time, and to protect my self esteem -- I should've bought the how to DVD!!!
I still love the camera; I just hate feeling so dumb!
BTW, I'm a she, not a he...
I welcome any info from all you D80 experts out there if it'll help free me from reading the confusing and imho poorly written manual! Share your wealth of information; I'll take it however I can get it!
DSF

 

[Nikel]

IMO, it's easier to learn the features on the camera and understand the manual if you already have at least a basic understanding of exposure and metering. Pick up Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It does a great job explaining it in an easy to understand way.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I think you are confusing manual focus and manual exposure. They are two different things. You can set the camera to auto focus and you can still manually set the exposure and vice versa. The M on the lens is for manual focus and really has nothing to do with the M on the dial on the camera body which is for manual exposure.

My recommendation is to use Program mode most of the time. I have come to appreciate that my camera is much smarter than I am and can set exposure better than I can most of the time. With experience, I have come to understand that, as hc18 pointed out, there are certain times I want to override the camera's settings. But that only came after shooting thousands of shots in program mode, viewing them on the computer, studying the EXIF and making notes on what to adjust next time I have a shot in that type of situation.

On my first Disney trip, I used Program mode for almost the entire trip and my photos were much better than the photos my husband took with our P & S. And quite honestly, at WDW, there just isn't time to mess with changing settings all the time. The time to use manual mode is with fireworks and low light settings. There are many threads on these types of shots.

I have Thom Hogan's ebook and have found it rather useful. But I have found that reading too much of it is overwhelming. I read a section, practice and learn what is in that section and move on when I have a good grasp of that particular aspect of the camera. In the custom settings menu, you will find that you can change how many of the buttons work (ie, the AE/L etc.) But I wouldn't start changing all that yet. Get comfortable with the camera. The D80 has a ton of features that you can grow into. You don't necessarily have to learn them all in a week.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

IMO, it's easier to learn the features on the camera and understand the manual if you already have at least a basic understanding of exposure and metering. Pick up Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It does a great job explaining it in an easy to understand way.

I already have that book and Digital Photography by Scott Kelby. I started to read them both when I first got the D80. Then a friend of mine who is a professional photgrapher told me that I really should read the camera manual first, and really get to know how to work the camera first, then pick up where I left off on Understanding exposure. He said I was doing it backwards by trying to learn about exposure when I didn't even know how to run the camera. I thought he made a good point, especially since he's a pro. Basically he said something like, "You're wanting to try to do things with your camera, and you don't even know how to access it within the camera, so sister, if I can give you one piece of advice, read the manual and really learn how to use the camera first! Then worry about getting fancy." He also said he made the same 'mistake' when he first got his first DSLR. The whole thing is confusing...

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I think you are confusing manual focus and manual exposure. They are two different things. You can set the camera to auto focus and you can still manually set the exposure and vice versa. The M on the lens is for manual focus and really has nothing to do with the M on the dial on the camera body which is for manual exposure.

My recommendation is to use Program mode most of the time. I have come to appreciate that my camera is much smarter than I am and can set exposure better than I can most of the time. With experience, I have come to understand that, as hc18 pointed out, there are certain times I want to override the camera's settings. But that only came after shooting thousands of shots in program mode, viewing them on the computer, studying the EXIF and making notes on what to adjust next time I have a shot in that type of situation.

On my first Disney trip, I used Program mode for almost the entire trip and my photos were much better than the photos my husband took with our P & S. And quite honestly, at WDW, there just isn't time to mess with changing settings all the time. The time to use manual mode is with fireworks and low light settings. There are many threads on these types of shots.

I have Thom Hogan's ebook and have found it rather useful. But I have found that reading too much of it is overwhelming. I read a section, practice and learn what is in that section and move on when I have a good grasp of that particular aspect of the camera. In the custom settings menu, you will find that you can change how many of the buttons work (ie, the AE/L etc.) But I wouldn't start changing all that yet. Get comfortable with the camera. The D80 has a ton of features that you can grow into. You don't necessarily have to learn them all in a week.

Thanks Steve's Girl. You're right I don't have to learn it all in a week and I shouldn't feel too bad about using P or even Auto mode. My friend the photographer confided that he, more often than not, uses Auto mode, especially when it involves getting action shots that are hit or miss and once in a lifetime.
I guess for me, I don't know anything at all about editing in PS or PSP, so I feel like I gotta get it right the first time, especially if it involves a Disney experience. I'm more concerned with nailing the low light and fireworks shots because that's the biggest reason I bought the DSLR -- to give a bigger advantage over the P&S cameras that I had been using. (Plus I needed a new hobby! ) FCOL, my Panasonic TZ3 has a Fireworks mode! I think that adds to my frustration -- if I have to keep using Auto mode, then I question, why did I even bother buying the camera? I'm sure I'll get it, it just a matter of when and how long from now? Hopefully before I make myself and everyone else crazy! Sorry... I tend to be a bit of a Type A personality and a perfectionist, so the fact that I can't seem to grasp what is written in the manual and FG in plain English is very frustrating to me. I don't expect to be a professional or anything, but I would like to better understand the features that the camera offers...and I'd like to do that as soon as possible, like tomorrow! LOL! Just kidding!
So let me ask you, do you think I should hang up the manual and go back to Understanding Exposure, or do you think I should do as my friend suggested and read the manual to learn how to better operate the camera first? Hmmm.... now that I think about it, it seems rather contradictory...the same guy who told me I should not make the same mistake he made, and that I should learn to use the cameras features first then read about exposure, etc., is the same guy who told me that he often shoots in auto mode.... Is it any wonder I'm losing my mind?

 

[Nikel]

I already have that book and Digital Photography by Scott Kelby. I started to read them both when I first got the D80. Then a friend of mine who is a professional photgrapher told me that I really should read the camera manual first, and really get to know how to work the camera first, then pick up where I left off on Understanding exposure. He said I was doing it backwards by trying to learn about exposure when I didn't even know how to run the camera. I thought he made a good point, especially since he's a pro. Basically he said something like, "You're wanting to try to do things with your camera, and you don't even know how to access it within the camera, so sister, if I can give you one piece of advice, read the manual and really learn how to use the camera first! Then worry about getting fancy." He also said he made the same 'mistake' when he first got his first DSLR. The whole thing is confusing...

I suppose it all depends on one's learning style. I've only been in business a few months, but I read Understanding Exposure before reading my camera manual. Actually I read it before I even got my first dslr. For me, it was pointless to know how to change the ISO, for example, when I didn't know what ISO was, why/when I'd change it, or what I'd change it too. Since you already have the camera, I'd sit down with both of them and look up how to change the settings as you are reading Understanding Exposure.

FWIW, I spent the first few months shooting with my dslr exclusively in manual. I now spend most of my time in Av or Tv, but I know exactly how my camera will perform in various settings. I know when to switch over to manual or dial in some exposure compensation. I've heard plenty of people say they on;y shoot in manual because they don't want to give up control. I can tell you that you can shoot in settings other than manual and still maintain complete control. It just takes knowing your camera well.

 

[Steve's Girl]

This was my first try with fireworks

I find my D80 to be very forgiving. I took notes from others who had posted fireworks shots on this board and carried a little notebook with my cheater notes.

I have made notes of things I want to improve next time.

You buy a DSLR because you have nore creative control. But a DSLR in auto will often take better pictures than a P&S in any mode simply due to the sensor size.

I personally prefer program mode because I do like to manually control whether or not I use a flash and in auto mode it pops up automatically and I usually prefer no flash.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I suppose it all depends on one's learning style. I've only been in business a few months, but I read Understanding Exposure before reading my camera manual. Actually I read it before I even got my first dslr. For me, it was pointless to know how to change the ISO, for example, when I didn't know what ISO was, why/when I'd change it, or what I'd change it too. Since you already have the camera, I'd sit down with both of them and look up how to change the settings as you are reading Understanding Exposure.

FWIW, I spent the first few months shooting with my dslr exclusively in manual. I now spend most of my time in Av or Tv, but I know exactly how my camera will perform in various settings. I know when to switch over to manual or dial in some exposure compensation. I've heard plenty of people say they on;y shoot in manual because they don't want to give up control. I can tell you that you can shoot in settings other than manual and still maintain complete control. It just takes knowing your camera well.

You know what Nikel? What you're saying makes A LOT of sense. I think I will go back to Understanding Exposure. Then when I know more or less what I'm wanting to do, I'll be able to look it up in the FG or Manual (if I haven't already figured it out on myown) to see how to get there.
Thanks!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

This was my first try with fireworks

I find my D80 to be very forgiving. I took notes from others who had posted fireworks shots on this board and carried a little notebook with my cheater notes.

I have made notes of things I want to improve next time.

You buy a DSLR because you have nore creative control. But a DSLR in auto will often take better pictures than a P&S in any mode simply due to the sensor size.

I personally prefer program mode because I do like to manually control whether or not I use a flash and in auto mode it pops up automatically and I usually prefer no flash.

WOW! That's really nice! I tried to view your Exif info but couldn't. Is it because it was resized for the boards? Was this one shot in Program mode or Manual just using the notes you took? Did you use Bulb/remote or?? Tripod or no? You're really inspiring me now Steve's Girl! I'm thinking maybe I will be able to get some decent shots on my upcoming October trip! !

 

[Steve's Girl]

WOW! That's really nice! I tried to view your Exif info but couldn't. Is it because it was resized for the boards? Was this one shot in Program mode or Manual just using the notes you took? Did you use Bulb/remote or?? Tripod or no? You're really inspiring me now Steve's Girl! I'm thinking maybe I will be able to get some decent shots on my upcoming October trip! !

Sorry about the exif info. Smugmug strips it off and I haven't figured out what to do about that. For fireworks, I use manual mode. Set my aperature to f8 or f10. I did use a tripod. When I took these, I did not have a cable release, but used my remote release and set my shutter for 1 second. I also used ISO 100.

This is another firwork shot I took this past 4th of July. It was a pretty small event literally launched from a corn field, but still a good place to practice.

Here, I used a cable releas in bulb mode with anywhere from 3 to 13 second shutter speeds. My biggest mistake here, was not being wide enough and some of my fireworks were cut off. I also use manual focus with fireworks so the camera isn't trying to auto focus everytime. All this stuff and more is in the fireworks thread. With a tripod, fireworks are not that hard. Now, for low light stuff... that is another thread also.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Sorry about the exif info. Smugmug strips it off and I haven't figured out what to do about that. For fireworks, I use manual mode. Set my aperature to f8 or f10. I did use a tripod. When I took these, I did not have a cable release, but used my remote release and set my shutter for 1 second. I also used ISO 100.

This is another firwork shot I took this past 4th of July. It was a pretty small event literally launched from a corn field, but still a good place to practice.

Here, I used a cable releas in bulb mode with anywhere from 3 to 13 second shutter speeds. My biggest mistake here, was not being wide enough and some of my fireworks were cut off. I also use manual focus with fireworks so the camera isn't trying to auto focus everytime. All this stuff and more is in the fireworks thread. With a tripod, fireworks are not that hard. Now, for low light stuff... that is another thread also.

Cool! Thanks for the info. I've been following every fireworks and lowlight photo thread I could get my hands on. My fear is that I won't be able to practice before my trip. But on the bright side if I mess it up, I'll get to try again in January! I do have a tripod and shutter release cable as well as the remote. What lens did you use? Did you use the 18-135mm kit lens or ???

 

[Steve's Girl]

What lens did you use? Did you use the 18-135mm kit lens or ???

These were with the 18-200VR lens. However, the 18-135 is an excellent lens and all my first WDW photos were with that lens and they came out very good considering the person behind the camera