Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

[HPS3]

S setWHat Thi

Hi, HPS3! so are you saying that the available shutter speeds are based on the amount of light? I thought that you ALWAYS had the full range of shutter speeds available -- you just had to select it in either Shutter Priority or Manual??? But it sounds like the lighting conditions dictate what the camera will allow you to choose from, even in Manual??? I have a LOT of learning to do.

BTW, your pictures are beautiful!!!! I'll never even get close to your abilities.

Thankyou for the comments! I really just started shooting about a year ago. I learned everything I know mostly from here and Flickr.com. First thing you should do is pick up the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. To make a proper exposure you have to control 3 things: Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO (The Exposure Triangle). Example: if your shooting on a sunny day with your camera set at 1/20, f8, ISO 100 your picture will be mostly white(overexposed). If you change your shutter speed to 1/3000 your picture will be mostly black(underexposed). Lets say your correct shutter speed is 1/320 to make a proper exposure(picture lighting is correct). The ND400 I use allows me to lower my shutter speed by 9 stops, so instead of 1/320 I would shoot at 1.5 seconds and come out with the same exposure(lighting would be the same). The ND filter is like sunglasses for your lens.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

S setWHat Thi

Thankyou for the comments! I really just started shooting about a year ago. I learned everything I know mostly from here and Flickr.com. First thing you should do is pick up the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. To make a proper exposure you have to control 3 things: Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO (The Exposure Triangle). Example: if your shooting on a sunny day with your camera set at 1/20, f8, ISO 100 your picture will be mostly white(overexposed). If you change your shutter speed to 1/3000 your picture will be mostly black(underexposed). Lets say your correct shutter speed is 1/320 to make a proper exposure(picture lighting is correct). The ND400 I use allows me to lower my shutter speed by 9 stops, so instead of 1/320 I would shoot at 1.5 seconds and come out with the same exposure(lighting would be the same). The ND filter is like sunglasses for your lens.

I can't agree with that more. That book has been worth it's weight in gold. In sitting down and reading the first chapter, I mean REALLY reading it, I went from not knowing a thing about anything beyond an automatic mode or two to being able to stage some great shots. It takes time and a lot of practice, but that book has built so much confidence for me it's insane. I hope by the time I go to Disney in September, I can take some really great shots. Especially night shots.

I will say, I still don't know all that the camera does and I forget what some of the settings are talk people talk about. Like I'm only vaguely aware what the f settings are and how to adjust it with a degree of confidence that I could explain it to somebody else. LoL

 

[HPS3]

Tropical Wilds, make sure you bring a tripod for your night shots.

This is my oldest DD enjoying the Teacups.


Spin Me Faster by Harry Shields, on Flickr

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

It's correct that you have access to all the shutter speed settings on your camera but the problem is the exposure. Even though you can select anything your selections could cause you to just have a washed out or blank picture from over exposure. How much light is allowed in to your camera is based upon your ISO setting, aperture setting and shutter speed. When you use a slow shutter speed like HPS3 did to get the ghosting images it allows a lot more light in to the sensor. The compensation is to use a low ISO and a small aperture but you are limited in how far you can stop down (most camera's it will be somewhere around f/22) and ISO may be 100 or 200. In bright light this will still allow too much light in so that's why you need the ND filter which blocks light and allows you to get a correct exposure with the very slow shutter speed.

Oh, that makes so much sense now -- i feel so dumb! I knew those three settings worked together to make a good exposure, but for some reason (dumbness!) it just never clicked that you could still get too much light. Duh.

Thanks so much for explaining it to me, Kat!

 

[HPS3]

Mommy Love by Harry Shields, on Flickr

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Tropical Wilds, make sure you bring a tripod for your night shots.

I am, I actually just got a tripod that I'm going to fiddle around with. I figure if I hit a lot of local fairs at night, I can get some good practice in. It works out well, since that's the photography I love.

Trudging through the book though, taking my time, and hopefully I'll get there.

 

[HPS3]

Tropical Wilds, when I'm not shooting something where I need to control shutter speed, I use Aperture Priority mode(AV). I use this because I like to control aperture and the camera decides what shutter speed makes a proper exposure. I control ISO manually and sometimes use exposure compensation when needed. Your landscape shots will be the easiest because you have time to make adjustments. I still get caught off guard with moving targets when lighting changes.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Tropical Wilds, when I'm not shooting something where I need to control shutter speed, I use Aperture Priority mode(AV). I use this because I like to control aperture and the camera decides what shutter speed makes a proper exposure. I control ISO manually and sometimes use exposure compensation when needed. Your landscape shots will be the easiest because you have time to make adjustments. I still get caught off guard with moving targets when lighting changes.

I'm learning mostly in manual at the moment, only just starting to venture into the other modes. I know that my "focus" (no pun intended) will be on vivid coloring, night shots, and scenic action shots (fireworks, ocean waves, etc), so I'm fiddling with the settings I like for the desired effect in those shots. Right now, specifically, shutter speed and getting really, really vivid colors. I'm doing fine with the former, struggling with the latter. Now I've got a tripod, so I'm really going to start playing.

When it comes to action shots where I want quick, sharp detail, like the kids and their various hijinks, I still rely on flashless auto. I haven't mastered the fast action shot with settings I like quickly.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Oh, that makes so much sense now -- i feel so dumb! I knew those three settings worked together to make a good exposure, but for some reason (dumbness!) it just never clicked that you could still get too much light. Duh.

Thanks so much for explaining it to me, Kat!

No problem! And it takes some time to get familiar with how the different settings affect with each other so don't beat yourself up over it. Just come ask questions!!

 

[Tropical Wilds]

BurgerTime by Tropical Wilds, on Flickr

 

[saintstickets]

Original Quote by HPS3:
First thing you should do is pick up the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

I can't agree with that more. That book has been worth it's weight in gold. In sitting down and reading the first chapter, I mean REALLY reading it, I went from not knowing a thing about anything beyond an automatic mode or two to being able to stage some great shots. It takes time and a lot of practice, but that book has built so much confidence for me it's insane.

I have the book, picked it up, got overwhelmed immediately and have not looked at it since. I guess I'll have to muddle my way through or my A550 will be nothing but a P&S with interchangeable lens!

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Thankyou for the comments! I really just started shooting about a year ago. I learned everything I know mostly from here and Flickr.com. First thing you should do is pick up the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. To make a proper exposure you have to control 3 things: Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO (The Exposure Triangle). Example: if your shooting on a sunny day with your camera set at 1/20, f8, ISO 100 your picture will be mostly white(overexposed). If you change your shutter speed to 1/3000 your picture will be mostly black(underexposed). Lets say your correct shutter speed is 1/320 to make a proper exposure(picture lighting is correct). The ND400 I use allows me to lower my shutter speed by 9 stops, so instead of 1/320 I would shoot at 1.5 seconds and come out with the same exposure(lighting would be the same). The ND filter is like sunglasses for your lens.

I will definately look into that book! I just bought Gary Friedman's photography book, where he specifically talks about photography using the Sony NEX cameras, which I like. I have a LOT of reading to do!!! And your sunglass analogy really helps it all make sense to me a little bit more.

I can't agree with that more. That book has been worth it's weight in gold. In sitting down and reading the first chapter, I mean REALLY reading it, I went from not knowing a thing about anything beyond an automatic mode or two to being able to stage some great shots. It takes time and a lot of practice, but that book has built so much confidence for me it's insane. I hope by the time I go to Disney in September, I can take some really great shots. Especially night shots.

I will say, I still don't know all that the camera does and I forget what some of the settings are talk people talk about. Like I'm only vaguely aware what the f settings are and how to adjust it with a degree of confidence that I could explain it to somebody else. LoL

I'm going in November, and i think i'll need all the learning time i can get beforehand.

This is my oldest DD enjoying the Teacups.


Spin Me Faster by Harry Shields, on Flickr

I love that shot!!! I'm really hoping to be able to get a similar pix when we go in Nov. May I ask what shutter speed you used for it????

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Sorry, HPS3. Didn't mean to get my question about the teacups shot mixed in with your quote.

Edit: i fixed it.

 

[HPS3]

For the teacup shot I was probably around 1/30. With the slow shutter I used a flash to try and freeze my DD. She was actually moving alot. The flash helps with freezing your subject.

 

[HPS3]

I forgot to mention I shot it at f7.1 to make sure I kept focus on my DD. I also used continuous focus. If I would have used f2.8 the shutter speed would have been to fast. I adjusted my aperture until my shutter was 1/30 at ISO 100.

 

[HPS3]

Barnstormer Reworked by Harry Shields, on Flickr

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Specifically for the Sony NEX cameras (e-mount), what lens do you guys/gals think would be the best one to use in Disney World? Just for general, all-around, every day "tourist-ey" picture taking? I'm going in November with my 5N. Right now I only have the kit 18-55 (and not a lot of money left). Think just that one lens is sufficient?

 

[Amy]

Specifically for the Sony NEX cameras (e-mount), what lens do you guys/gals think would be the best one to use in Disney World? Just for general, all-around, every day "tourist-ey" picture taking? I'm going in November with my 5N. Right now I only have the kit 18-55 (and not a lot of money left). Think just that one lens is sufficient?

I went to WDW in October with my NEX 5 and the 18-55 lens (Sony released the 55-210 zoom while we were in WDW). To be honest, the only time I wished I had the zoom was in Animal Kingdom. The rest of the time, I was able to get the shots I wanted with the 18-55. The resolution is so good that I was able to crop for the shot I "really" wanted. (For Animal Kingdom, I used my old Canon SX10 IS specifically for the zoom.)

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

I went to WDW in October with my NEX 5 and the 18-55 lens (Sony released the 55-210 zoom while we were in WDW). To be honest, the only time I wished I had the zoom was in Animal Kingdom. The rest of the time, I was able to get the shots I wanted with the 18-55. The resolution is so good that I was able to crop for the shot I "really" wanted. (For Animal Kingdom, I used my old Canon SX10 IS specifically for the zoom.)

Hi amy! That's good to know. Did you ever need to use the included flash? Or wish you had it when you didn't? Did you use any lens filters on the lens? And, did you ever find yourself saying "i wish i had a smaller lens, or a wider lens"???

 

[Amy]

Oh boy, you want me to remember way back to October, when I couldn't even tell you what I had for dinner last night!

Well, it was just DH and I (our son was marching @ WDW with his college band), and we didn't do any character meals which would have required a flash. I remember taking pictures inside the T-Rex restaurant, but I used either the Anti-Motion Blur or Handheld Twilight setting so the flash wouldn't ruin the neat lighting in the restaurant.

As for filters, I always keep a UV filter on my lens, and then I used a polarizing filter in the sunshine (and sometimes all the time when I'd forget to take it off).

One shot I didn't get that I really wanted to was the Hall of Presidents. The Anti-Motion Blur or Handheld Twilight would be perfect for that, BUT I still haven't been able to find the setting (if there is one) to turn off the shutter noise. Since both of those settings take 6 photos very quickly, I didn't want the noise to bother other people, so I didn't take any photos there.

And I know there's a difference between the Anti-Motion Blur and Handheld Twilight settings, but danged if I can remember it now. I think with the Twilight, if an object is moving (like a car) you'll get the blur, but Anti-Motion Blur will freeze the car. I'm sure one of the NEX gurus here will be able to tell you.