PennsyPride94 posted:OGR Webmaster posted:The f-stop is a function of the lens, not the camera body.
I don't pay attention to any of the automatic functions because I always use my cameras (video and still) in full manual mode. I control the f-stop, shutter speed and focus and I know it will be right. I have been burned too many times in the past with so-called "automatic" functions. I learned my lesson and only use manual mode now. A pro photographer rarely uses auto mode for anything.
How do you typically test your settings going from location to location when you are chasing for example? Do you shoot just a quick test shot and then review it on the camera?
To me it seems very tricky to get it right before the train shows up since you could get changing light patterns/weather patterns going from area to area.
If there is time (and almost always there is) I take a test shot, look at the histogram, and adjust if needed using the exposure compensation button. Many Nikons have "blinking highlights" on the LCD to show if you are blowing out highlights. I suggest using that method if you have it. You darken exposure until the highlights quit blinking. Otherwise, look for clipping on the right side of the LCD histogram.
Advanced info:
The histogram on all cameras shows only JPEG exposure. You can actually shoot a little further to the right so highlights appear a bit clipped if shooting NEF (or RAW.) Nikon sensors have more dynamic range than shows on the histogram, and you can recover highlights in Photoshop. Why do that? By pulling the exposure to the right, you are reducing noise in the shadows and gaining more shadow detail.
Kent in SD
