Interesting idea, Tom. Using a DSLR is quite different from using a
film camera, however, as you can use the facilities of the camera to
ensure that you have gotten what you want immediately, and don't have
to work "into the unknown", as it were. I have spent so many years
with CW Averaging metering cameras that my metering techniques are
nicely tuned to that way of seeing a reflected light meter; I only
use partial area (or incident light) metering occasionally. With my
film SLRs that supported AE, I have mostly used manual and Av
exposure automation, and spent a lot more time in manual and zone
focus. With a DSLR, I can use the image review immediately in
questionable circumstances and allow the AF/AE systems a bit more
reign since in most circumstances I can check and reshoot without
stepping away from the scene.
.... my uses with the DS and notes ...
used a lot:
AF Pattern-Matrix Meter-AF+AE linked *
Manual Focus
EV Compensation (1/3 ev steps)
Av, P, M exposure modes (in that order of priority) %
AE-Lock
less often:
mirror pre-fire %%
spot pattern metering
CW Averaging pattern metering **
ttl flash ***
hardly ever:
autobracketing ****
Tv mode *****
* This is the default configuration my camera is set to, and usually
with Av exposure mode selected. I use EV compensation and AE-Lock
often in combination with this configuration. Note that then AF does
not lock in on what I consider important or when I do zone focus
street shooting, I flip the switch and focus manually, which has
second order affects ... see **.
% I usually use Av exposure mode since I usually am working on focus
zone control. I use Program when I'm grab shooting in average
lighting. And I use Manual when I'm working with stable lighting and
want to ensure consistent exposure setting, reflecting local
differences in exposure.
%% Very useful with macro and exposures when using long telephoto
lenses, shutter times between 1/2 and 1/60 second. I just don't do
these sorts of things very frequently. Similar for the use of the IR
Remote.
** Any time you fit a manual focus lens to the DS, the AF pattern is
locked to the center sensor for focus indication and the Pattern
Matrix metering mode operates almost indistinguishably from CW
Averaging pattern.
*** Usually when I use flash, I fit my non-dedicated Sunpak 383 flash
unit and operate the camera in manual exposure mode. I do look
forward to purchasing a Pentax-dedicated flash unit one of these days
so as to use rear-curtain sync and HSS.
**** Rather than using autobracketing, I normally have image review
on and set to 3 second display with highlight saturation indicators.
If I'm working on a chancy lighting situation, I check the review and
adjust the EV compensation rather than blindly bracket. Once I know
what's going to make the right exposure for the scene dynamics, I
turn off the review entirely so as not to be distracted.
***** I rarely need to lock in a shutter speed range, but did when I
was shooting motorcycle racing on my trip. I tested the Sports mode
preset (only way to obtain C-AF on the DS) vs Tv+manual focus and
found that generally Tv+manual focus returned images more to my
desires: faster sequences, more exposure control. I haven't found
much need for
----
Godfrey
On Jul 20, 2005, at 6:26 AM, Tom Reese wrote:
I think you might find the ZX-5N spotmeter capability to be
extremely useful. I use it far more than autofocus, autobracketing
and all the other whiz-bang modern features. I find it
indispensable for checking tonal ranges in my compositions and
setting my exposure.
This might make for an interesting thread. Features I use the most
in descending order:
used a lot:
spotmeter
mirror lock-up
ttl flash
less often:
double exposure
auto exposure lock
much less often:
autofocus
multisegment autoexposure
exposure compensation
hardly ever:
autobracketing
Tv mode
not at all:
program mode
I'm interested in how others rate their cameras features.
Tom Reese
