RESULTS: People's camera settings

[Aussie Dave]

Thank you to everyone that participated. It was interesting to see the different variations on how everyone has their setup.

From the 30 records received, I have collated the following information.

The average D70 user:
- uses Matrix Metering
- shoots Aperture Priority
- manually controls ISO speed
- uses exposure compensation "on occasion"
- shoots in NEF
- does not use an in-camera curve
- uses the histogram "on occasion"

The results for each question were:

1) Metering Modes:
Matrix - 66.5% ave.
CW - 16.3% ave.
Spot - 17.2% ave.

18 out of 30 people use Matrix metering more than 80% of the time
16 out of 30 people use Centre-weighted metering less than 5% of the time

2) Shooting Modes:
Manual mode - 31% ave.
Aperture Priority - 58% ave.
Shutter Priority - 9% ave.
Auto modes - 2% ave.

16/30 prefer Aperture priority & only 2/30 prefer shutter priority

3) ISO setting:
Manual ISO - 96.4% ave.
Auto ISO - 3.6% ave.

obvious winner here...

4) Exp. Comp:
Use all the time - 17% ave.
Usually use - 13% ave.
Use On Occasion - 53% ave.
Never use - 17% ave.

The same amount of people "Always" use it as "Never" use it...

5) File settings:
NEF - 75% ave.
NEF/JPEG - 14% ave.
JPEG - 12% ave.

another clear winner here...

6) In-camera Curve:
Yes - 37% ave.
No - 63% ave.

7) Use of Histogram:
Use All the Time - 23% ave.
Usually use - 23% ave.
Use On Occasion - 40% ave.
Never use - 14% ave.

Very interesting indeed. I'm sure there are some people that would be interested to know why some of these settings are used more often (or less often) than others.

Let the discussions begin......and again, thank you for your help

[phillipb]

I always knew I was just average
Seriously though, interesting experiment. As far as exposure modes go, I use what is right for the shot, it just so happens that I tend to shoot static subjects so DOF is more of a consideration then shutter speed.

[gleff]

I shoot the following modes for the following reasons. Note: I also get a reasonable failure rate in getting good photo's.. or at least I have high standards of my own work.. maybe even too high

Manual mode - Night shots, or very low light shots
Shutter Priority - Sunsets
Apature Priority - Don't use very often, usually experimentation
Portrait Mode - When I take pictures of animals, or people
Sports Mode - When I want to freeze fast action
Program Mode - When I want to ensure a shot works but low in light source.. eg. don't want flash to pop up.
Full Auto Mode - When I absolutely want to ensure a shot works and there is lots of light, or I can use a flash.

I tend to always shoot in 200 iso, even for night shots to minimise noise, however, I should experiment more with higher isos.

I tend to shoot without exposure compensation, or always in matrix metering simply because I haven't got the experience to know better

That's about all I can think of.. I should get back to work

Geoff

[MCWB]

Dave, is there a correlation between the people who always use exposure compensation but don't use an in-camera curve?

[Aussie Dave]

Dave, is there a correlation between the people who always use exposure compensation but don't use an in-camera curve?

60% of those that always use EC also use a curve

40% that always use EC do not use a curve.

From what I can see, using the results that have been submitted, there is no definitive equation where users that always use X also use Y. This is pretty much straight across the board.

If I get some more time over the weekend, I will try to have a more indepth look and see if I have missed anything.

If anyone else can see any stand-outs, please feel free to contribute.

Anyone care to add why they use (or don't use) certain settings ?? I'm sure that the few of us who use things like AUTO ISO (for example) could benefit this thread by explaining why they use it and why they find it useful. Perhaps this will enlighten others as to what other functions can do for them ??

[mic]

Thanks Dave for doing this interesting experiment, I now know why most of my shots turn out. Well, except for the inversions

Mic.

[kipper]

Thansk for compiling the results. Metering modes should be really dependant on what you're shooting. Sometimes the sensors can be fooled and incorrectly expose, especially if large areas of the shot are made up of sky. For shooting birds in the sky I tend to use spot or centre-weighted spot. Especially if the subject is dark. I guess the same can apply to shooting aerial shots of planes.

[WadeM]

Anyone care to add why they use (or don't use) certain settings ?? I'm sure that the few of us who use things like AUTO ISO (for example) could benefit this thread by explaining why they use it and why they find it useful. Perhaps this will enlighten others as to what other functions can do for them ??

I'd like to ask people who use custom curves for more information about why they use them, and perhaps some examples??

Thanks,
--Wade

[phillipb]

Early on, when I was shooting jpegs, custom curves were all the rage. I installed one (can't even remember the name) I haven't bothered to change since then. I don't think of it much because with Raw it is only the starting point for PP. I usually adjust settings anyway so whatever the custom curve produces is meaningless to me.

[mudder]

Anyone care to add why they use (or don't use) certain settings ?? I'm sure that the few of us who use things like AUTO ISO (for example) could benefit this thread by explaining why they use it and why they find it useful. Perhaps this will enlighten others as to what other functions can do for them ??

I'd like to ask people who use custom curves for more information about why they use them, and perhaps some examples??

Thanks,
--Wade

G'day Wade,
I loaded a few curves just to try them out but I use NEFs by default and found I could always get a more pleasing and unobtrusive result in PP.

If you do shoot JPEG and want to try some out there's a few links to try, the ones below are from one guy that writes curves, interesting stuff...
http://www.pbase.com/oldskoo1/news

And some tests...
http://www.pbase.com/oldskoo1/latests_tests

Some good ones here...
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=10976007
http://www.planetneil.com/nikon/custom-curves.html
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=10195478

Cheers.

[stubbsy]

I'll chime in on a tangent. For me I use the histogram and highlights displays a lot and I also use Exposure comp a lot. Reason being I take a test shot for exposure, check highlights and histo then adjust EV to take the real shots. I've got fairly disciplined about this and my keepers have gone up.

Also, while I have a custom curve in camera I don't actually use it.

[Aussie Dave]

I'll chime in on a tangent. For me I use the histogram and highlights displays a lot and I also use Exposure comp a lot. Reason being I take a test shot for exposure, check highlights and histo then adjust EV to take the real shots. I've got fairly disciplined about this and my keepers have gone up.

Hi Stubbsy
I've actually found myself doing this more and more also....taking a shot then reviewing the histogram to see if I can use EV to make it better. I know the histogram is not completely correct (only showing the green channel), but seems to be a good indicator most of the time.

As for the curve, I have a custom one installed, but find I usually use curves in PSCS anyway....so I played around with having it turned off, but at the moment still have it turned on.

I found it interesting that so many people use Matrix metering. I find I prefer to use centre-weighted or spot and then use EV Lock to determine what it is I want to expose for.

[mudder]

Great thread idea...

I think I'm basically the same with the histogram... I always check the histogram in conjunction with the blinking highlights...

Curves, loaded one to play with at first but use raw anyway...

Metering, I'm always careful when chosing centre-weighted or spot metering as I've blown out some backgrounds and not having a second chance at the shot, like animal stuff, that's when I use Ap Pri, I use manual for landscape where the subject's not going to run away

Don't pretend to understand Exp Comp, guess I'll have to RTFM to know how it could be used or when etc...

[Aussie Dave]

It seems that Exposure Compensation is a big mystery to quite a few people here...

Perhaps someone could start a thread on it to help those that don't understand it ??

Any takers ??? There has to be an Exp. Comp. guru out there that can spell it out in "plain english" so everyone can try to utilise this valuable camera function.....

[big pix]

A bracket of exposures could be called EXPOSURE COMPENSATION as it does the same job..........

can't make it any plainer.........

cheers
bp

[big pix]

It seems that Exposure Compensation is a big mystery to quite a few people here...

Perhaps someone could start a thread on it to help those that don't understand it ??

Any takers ??? There has to be an Exp. Comp. guru out there that can spell it out in "plain english" so everyone can try to utilise this valuable camera function.....

The only time I would consider using EXPOSURE COMPENSATION would be If I needed to keep the same F Stop on the lens and shutter speed, but this need is yet to happen, so....... bracket exposures........

cheers
bp

[embi]

I just found this interesting tidbit..

Nikon's 3D Matrix Metering employs methods of exposure calculation that automatically apply exposure compensation, depending upon scene brightness and contrast and distance information.

As a result, your subject, whether it is centred in the viewfinder or not, is given corrected exposure in most lighting situations. We do not recommend using any manually or automatically applied exposure compensation when using Matrix Metering.

If you identify an extreme condition under which Matrix may have some difficulty, such as severely backlit or one with extremes of contrast, we recommend using your camera's other built-in meters. Centre-Weighted or Spot. Ultimately, only you know what the subject or part of it requires in terms of exposure measurement.

That's why the camera incorporates three meters plus a variety of exposure compensation systems. The photographer's creativity is always the deciding and controlling factor.

[stubbsy]

Interesting quote embi. What was the source? Interesting too that I don't use matrix metering.

[johndec]

I just found this interesting tidbit..

Nikon's 3D Matrix Metering employs methods of exposure calculation that automatically apply exposure compensation, depending upon scene brightness and contrast and distance information.

As a result, your subject, whether it is centred in the viewfinder or not, is given corrected exposure in most lighting situations. We do not recommend using any manually or automatically applied exposure compensation when using Matrix Metering.

If you identify an extreme condition under which Matrix may have some difficulty, such as severely backlit or one with extremes of contrast, we recommend using your camera's other built-in meters. Centre-Weighted or Spot. Ultimately, only you know what the subject or part of it requires in terms of exposure measurement.

That's why the camera incorporates three meters plus a variety of exposure compensation systems. The photographer's creativity is always the deciding and controlling factor.

Interesting but from my (albeit limited) experience, total bollocks The D70 is an habitual underexposer no matter what the metering mode. Just about every custom curve boosts EV by 1/3 to 1/2 a stop to counter this problem.

Who wrote that? Nikon PR?