DSLR Shots and Discussions

Huck · 04-12-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huck

And let me ask you guys a question. During night shots, if I'm looking through the viewfinder, the camera has no problem focusing. But after it focuses it won't shoot, and it blinks the flash symbol at me. Then without moving or anything, I'll switch to live view and it has a lot of trouble focusing. Once I get it focused (or almost, as you can see in the first pic above) it will take the pic no problems, no flash. What I resorted to doing was looking through the viewfinder, focusing, then turning off the auto focus and switching to live view to take the pics. It was kind of a pain. What am I doing wrong? For reference, I'm shooting with a D5100, stock lens, and the settings were 100 ISO, 5.6 aperture, shutter speeds between 15 and 25 seconds depending on the shot, and an auto white balance. Suggestions?

Just wanted to let you guys know I'm pretty sure I figured out the problem I was having (for the most part). My camera has three different options for metering, and I had it set on Matrix Meter, I set it on the next one Dow which I can't remember the name, but I think it was Center-Weighted Meter, and it had no problem focusing after that.

I still haven't fully understood what metering is or what it does, but I've also been too lazy to research it lately lol.

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

LunaZ · 04-12-2013, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huck

Just wanted to let you guys know I'm pretty sure I figured out the problem I was having (for the most part). My camera has three different options for metering, and I had it set on Matrix Meter, I set it on the next one Dow which I can't remember the name, but I think it was Center-Weighted Meter, and it had no problem focusing after that.

I still haven't fully understood what metering is or what it does, but I've also been too lazy to research it lately lol.

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

In a nutshell, "metering" is measuring how much light is available in the shot you're seeing through the view finder, which then determines how you should set your shutter speed, aperture and ISO relative to each other to achieve a proper exposure.
The different metering modes tell the camera where to measure the light to guide you to correct exposure. For example you might want to consider the whole frame or just one single spot in the view finder. In the case of of center-weighted metering modes, you're giving priority to the center area of the view finder while still taking the outer edges into consideration.

Huck · 04-12-2013, 08:46 AM

This is why you're awesome. Thanks for the explanation!

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

m4a1mustang · 04-12-2013, 09:19 AM

From a recent cruise. I ended up liking this one a lot.

onzedge · 04-12-2013, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

From a recent cruise. I ended up liking this one a lot.

LunaZ · 04-12-2013, 09:32 AM

Yay for natural lens flares.

Cmike2780 · 04-12-2013, 10:55 AM

So a couple of months ago I decided to switch from my D90 to a D7000. I was so excited to finally have nice weather out a few days ago so I took my niece to the Bronx Zoo. I took over 300 shots and was about to post a few of them here for you guys, but then.....womp, womp :/

After reviewing the pics on the computer, I was really disappointed. I don't know how I missed this, but the damn thing is back focusing on every shot. It's way, way off and pretty terrible at anything below f/8 on my 35mm lens. Just as bad with the 50mm f/1.8 and the 105mm f/2.8. I kind of noticed it when I first got it, but I honestly thought is was all in my head or user error. It's partially my fault for only looking at the lcd instead of downloading to the computer.

After doing some searching, I found out this isn't all that uncommon. Mine seems to be way out of calibration though and I still can't get it to be reasonably accurate with the AF fine tuning (still oof pushed -20). Thankfully, Nikon's HQ in Melville is about 20 minutes from me.

m4a1mustang · 04-12-2013, 03:06 PM

If I had a nickle for every time I thought my shots came out great only to find out they were ********... man I'd be rich.

onzedge · 04-12-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

If I had a nickle for every time I thought my shots came out great only to find out they were ********... man I'd be rich.

You and me both.

LunaZ · 04-12-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

If I had a nickle for every time I thought my shots came out great only to find out they were ********... man I'd be rich.

See, I don't have this problem.

( Click to show/hide )

m4a1mustang · 04-12-2013, 03:57 PM

ZMan8 · 04-12-2013, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

If I had a nickle for every time I thought my shots came out great only to find out they were ********... man I'd be rich.

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

You and me both.

me 3

Huck · 04-12-2013, 09:56 PM

Maybe 95% of my shots look horrible lol. I chalk it up to beginner error.

Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff

blackcherry20 · 04-12-2013, 11:36 PM

image.jpg

blackcherry20 · 04-13-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaZ

In a nutshell, "metering" is measuring how much light is available in the shot you're seeing through the view finder, which then determines how you should set your shutter speed, aperture and ISO relative to each other to achieve a proper exposure.
The different metering modes tell the camera where to measure the light to guide you to correct exposure. For example you might want to consider the whole frame or just one single spot in the view finder. In the case of of center-weighted metering modes, you're giving priority to the center area of the view finder while still taking the outer edges into consideration.

just dawned on me. Many of my shots over exposed. I was thinking i should be center weighted off the Z because it is so dark?!

04-12-2013, 08:46 AM	#1698 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 42 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	This is why you're awesome. Thanks for the explanation! Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

04-12-2013, 09:19 AM	#1699 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	From a recent cruise. I ended up liking this one a lot. onzedge, Cmike2780 and blackcherry20 like this. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

04-12-2013, 09:32 AM	#1701 (permalink)
LunaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vagabond Posts: 6,704 Drives: Project: a white one Rep Power: 512	Yay for natural lens flares. blackcherry20 likes this. __________________ 2009 370Z Sport/Touring/Navigation \| see my journal for mods facebook: Be my friend... or not.

04-12-2013, 10:55 AM	#1702 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	So a couple of months ago I decided to switch from my D90 to a D7000. I was so excited to finally have nice weather out a few days ago so I took my niece to the Bronx Zoo. I took over 300 shots and was about to post a few of them here for you guys, but then.....womp, womp :/ After reviewing the pics on the computer, I was really disappointed. I don't know how I missed this, but the damn thing is back focusing on every shot. It's way, way off and pretty terrible at anything below f/8 on my 35mm lens. Just as bad with the 50mm f/1.8 and the 105mm f/2.8. I kind of noticed it when I first got it, but I honestly thought is was all in my head or user error. It's partially my fault for only looking at the lcd instead of downloading to the computer. After doing some searching, I found out this isn't all that uncommon. Mine seems to be way out of calibration though and I still can't get it to be reasonably accurate with the AF fine tuning (still oof pushed -20). Thankfully, Nikon's HQ in Melville is about 20 minutes from me. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

04-12-2013, 03:06 PM	#1703 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	If I had a nickle for every time I thought my shots came out great only to find out they were ******... man I'd be rich. Cmike2780 likes this. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!**

04-12-2013, 03:57 PM	#1706 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	__________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

04-12-2013, 09:56 PM	#1708 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 42 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	Maybe 95% of my shots look horrible lol. I chalk it up to beginner error. Sent from my iPizzle using magic and new-fangled science stuff __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

04-12-2013, 11:36 PM	#1709 (permalink)
blackcherry20 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 22,749 Drives: ‘17 badazz Z51 Rep Power: 240459	image.jpg __________________ Grand Sport Corvette Arctic White

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DSLR advice	Red__Zed	Photography	48	08-29-2013 10:04 PM
AUDIO : Bose w/o Nav Upgrades Discussions	Mr_Z	Audio & Video	14	06-24-2013 02:06 AM
Fluid Swap Discussions	'10Anamoly	Engine & Drivetrain	8	05-18-2012 10:33 AM
Best Lens for Nikon DSLR?	tmjohansen	Photography	5	01-25-2011 05:54 PM
Winter Prep + New DSLR	toxik	Nissan 370Z Photos / Spyshots / Video / Media Gallery	8	11-27-2010 06:16 PM