Photography learning partner
Are you a beginner who wants to use your camera to its full capacity? Are you a professional, or do you aspire to become one and want to improve your photography skills? This course is designed for you. Please visit the site to discover the full potential of photography.
Elaborative checklist for camera settings
The table below shows the photo settings that can be applied in different situations
| Subject | Speed | Aperture | ISO | focal length | Mode | AF | Filter | Metering | White balance | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storms | 30 seconds or more -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/8 to f/11 | 100 to 200 | wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode M (Manual) | AF S | ND 4 or 8 if storm during the day | Matrix metering | Neutral or cold (Incandescent light) for the city | Don't turn up the ISO too much, lightning sends out a significant amount of light Using ND filters can blur some of the ramifications. In this case, it is preferable to close the diaphragm and reduce the exposure time | |
| Landscape | 1/50 | f/8 to f/11 | 100 to 400 depending on the amount of sunlight | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode A (aperture priority) - Aperture choice, the camera selects automatically the shutter speed (and ISO if auto) | AF S | ND 4 or 8 GND Hard if sea landscape GND Soft if mountain landscape Polarizing | Matrix metering if occupying the whole scene Spot metering if the subject occupies a small part of the image | Auto, cloudy, shadow, Day light | Comply with third-party rules. Either 1/3 of the sky if the landscape is to be highlighted, or 2/3 of the sky to show the details of the clouds | |
| Day portrait | 1/100 with 50mm or 85mm, 1/200 with 135mm or 200mm | f/4 or less | 100 or 200 ISO | 50, 85, 135, 200mm | AF S | cloudy, shadow | |||||
| Water, waterfalls | Between 1/3 and 2 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/11 to f/22 or f/36 | 100 to 200 | 14 to 150 mm | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF S | ND | Matrix metering | Auto, cloudy, shadow, Day light | ||
| Moving child in a parc | 1/500 minimum. Adjust according to the amount of sunlight to obtain an aperture of f/4 or f/5.6. | f/4 to isolate the child from the background. f/5.6 with low light lens | 100 or 200 if sunny, greater than 400 with low light lens (f/5.6) or else cloudy | Longue focal length (70 to 500 mm) | AF C | Auto, cloudy, shadow, Day light | |||||
| Moving object (car, plane, …) | Less than the focal length | f/4 to f/5 | 100 or 200 if sunny, greater than 400 with low light lens (f/5.6) or else cloudy | Longue focal length (150 to 500 mm) | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF C | Spot metering | Auto, cloudy, shadow, Day light | The exposure time must be less than the one that designates the focal length (example with a 200 mm, the exposure time must be less than 200, i.e. 1/125). Example of exposure: 1/125 with focal length to 190mm, ISO 100, f/5 | ||
| Wildlife photo | 1/2000 if bird 1/500 if mammal | Less than f/6 if the subject must be isolated from the background greater than f/6 if the subject must be part of the scene | 100 or 200 if sunny, greater than 400 with low light lens (f/5.6) or else cloudy | Longue focal length (70 to 500 mm) | Mode A (aperture priority) - Aperture choice, the camera selects automatically the shutter speed (and ISO if auto) | AF C | Spot metering | Auto, cloudy, shadow, Day light | |||
| Day sport | 1/500 minimum, 1/1000 if possible. | f/4 to isolate the athlete from the background. f/5.6 with low light lens. | 100 or 200 if sunny, greater than 400 with low light lens (f/5.6) or else cloudy | Longue focal length (150 to 500 mm) | AF C | Spot metering | Auto, cloudy, shadow, Day light | ||||
| Northern lights | Between 10 and 30 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/2.8 or less | Between 800 and 3200 | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode M (manual) Mode A (aperture priority) - Aperture choice, the camera selects automatically the shutter speed (and ISO if auto) Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF S | Day light | Close the diaphragm if the scene is part of the composition Start with a maximum aperture and adjust according to the depth of field | |||
| Sunset | Between 1/25 and 2 minutes -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/11 to f/16 | 100 | Wide angle 14 to 24mm Longue focal length (150 to 500 | Mode M (manual) Mode A (aperture priority) - Aperture choice, the camera selects automatically the shutter speed (and ISO if auto) | AF S | ND 8 GND Hard if sea landscape GND Soft if mountain landscape | Matrix metering en mode M Spot metering en mode A | shadow or cloudy | Use the live view Comply with third-party rules. Either 1/3 of the sky if the landscape is to be highlighted, or 2/3 of the sky to show the details of the clouds | |
| Night sky (without star trails) | Less than 30 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/2.8 | 2500 | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF S | Auto | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | |||
| Night sky (with star trails) | Minimum 60 seconds (ideally greater than 400 seconds). Using Bulb Mode -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/5.6 to f/2,8 | 100 | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF S or Disconnected (focus to infinity) | Auto | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | |||
| Night photo (city movement) | Between 3 and 7 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/7.1 maximum (by default f/6.3) | Between 100 and 200 | Longue focal length (70 to 500 mm) | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF C or Disconnected (focus to infinity) | Auto or Tungsten if neon of street lights | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | |||
| Night photo (car's lights) | Less than 5 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/10 | Between 100 and 200 | Longue focal length (70 to 500 mm) | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF S | Auto | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | |||
| Night photo (city) with neon and street lamps | Less than 5 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/5.6 to f/2,8 | 100 | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | AF S | Matrix metering | Tungsten | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | ||
| Full moon | Less than 30 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated Ideally between 1/125 (for ISO 100) and 1/250 | f/8 to f/11 If the moon needs to be brighter, open to f/5.6 | Between 100 and 400 | Longue focal length (150 to 500 mm) | Mode A (aperture priority) - Aperture choice, the camera selects automatically the shutter speed (and ISO if auto) | AF S or Disconnected (focus to infinity) | Spot metering | Auto Warm the moon with shadow or cloudy modes In the city and if the sky is yellowish, cool the colour temperature to tend towards a midnight blue | Measure with part of the moon and sky to avoid underexposure | ||
| Milky way | Between 20 and 30 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated To calculate the maximum for the shutter speed, use the following formula for a full frame (24x36) : 500 / focal length used for a APS-C, use a 1,5x multiplier with the formula : 500/ (1.5 x focal length used) | f/2.8 | Between 800 and 3200 (by default 1600) | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | Mode M (manual) Mode A (aperture priority) - Aperture choice, the camera selects automatically the shutter speed (and ISO if auto) Mode S (shutter speed priority) - Speed choice, the camera selects automatically the aperture (and ISO if auto) | Disconnected | Auto | There are two ways to focus: - Disengage the AF, fix the brightest star and focus - Focus to infinity In mode A, start with a large aperture to limit exposure time. In S mode, start with a fairly slow speed without exceeding the speed defined by the formula | |||
| Night landscape | Between 2 and 30 seconds -use tripod, -Mirror up (MUP selector), -stabilizer deactivated | f/8 or more | Between 100 and 200 | Wide angle 14 to 24mm | AF S or Disconnected (focus to infinity) | Auto | Comply with third-party rules. Either 1/3 of the sky if the landscape is to be highlighted, or 2/3 of the sky to show the details of the clouds Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | ||||
| Night portrait | 1/100 with 50mm or 85mm, 1/200 with 135mm or 200mm | f/2.8 or less | Between 1600 and 6400 depending on the brightness of the room | 50, 85, 135, 200mm | AF S or Disconnected (focus to infinity) | Spot metering | Auto | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) | |||
| Night sport | minimum 1/500, 1/1000 if possible. | f/2.8 | Between 1600 and 6400 depending on the venue or stadium | Longue focal length (150 to 500 mm) | AF C or Disconnected (focus to infinity) | Spot metering | Auto | Prefer twilight or blue light (between the moment the sun goes down and night begins to fall - duration between 20 and 30 minutes) |