Digital Camera Controls

[Mike Farley]

Digital cameras often get criticised due to their complexity and the number of (often small) buttons which they have. Out of the box, most defaults are sensible, although a recent exception has been the snappily named Olympus OM-D E-M5. DPReview felt it necessary to issue this guide to allow new owners to get the best from the camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/9115179666/user-guide-getting-the-most-out-of-the-olympus-e-m5

But after the camera is set up, how many controls do people actually use? A recent trend has been for manufacturers to add quick menus which duplicate functions found in the main menu, as well as buttons which can be customised. Sometimes the quick menu can also be configured, resulting in a camera which is well and truly adapted for its user. When preparing a camera for the first time, I find that there are relatively few controls which I use regularly.

My list is, in rough order of importance:

• Aperture (I mainly shoot in aperture priority)
• Exposure compensation
• ISO
• AF configuration (usually just the centre spot to focus)
• Exposure mode (normally set to evaluative)
• Drive mode (i.e. single shot or continuous)
• Auto exposure bracketing

And that's it. Sometimes I still have to delve into the camera's menu, often to format a memory card where it is probably best that the control is not easily accessed.

One control which I never use is white balance. Along with a lot of people, I find that I usually get the most realistic results when shooting outdoors with WB set to daylight. That way the characteristics of the light are preserved and warm or cool tones are not removed. There is always the option to change it later and although I rarely shoot JPEGs, the most recent Adobe Raw editors can also process these if an adjustment is required.

The good thing is that although it is complex, we do not need to bother too much about a lot of what the camera is doing and we can just get on with what really matters, taking photographs.

So what are other people's experiences?

[Simon Clarkson]

I was very daunted when I first purchased my Pro DSLR.. Initialy I started off with a Canon 400D with the 18-55 kit lens. I was very lazy with this camera and I'd only venture off AUTO and onto (AV) Aperture Priority! Everything else was on auto. I used to think my pictures looked good but looking back now the subject matter is the same but the image quality is horrible.

I sold that Camera and moved onto a Canon 7D. I felt forking out good cash finally meant I should learn how to use the features you mentioned. I got to grips with the 7D and I have produced some nice images!

Then I got the Full Frame bug and bought the 5DMK2... I now only use this camera on MANUAL. I cheat sometimes switching the camera to Auto to see whats speed/F.Stop the camera uses then I go from there..

My learning priorities are

Shutter Speed
Aperture
ISO
Metering Mode

I also HATE flash so I have to struggle in low light. Learning the basics of flash are next on my list.

I always shoot in RAW as it can be sooooo handy recovering a badly taken photograph..

Kind Regards

Simon

[gcluer]

I do some astrophotography so will change ISO a lot but my list is much the same as yours. Also will go into custom functions to set mirror lockup.

Graham

[Mike Farley]

Also will go into custom functions to set mirror lockup.

Graham

There "speaks" a Canon user. Nikon has a control on the camera's body, but Canon makes you access it via the menu. It is one of the items I include in "Favourites" menu as on my 7D it is buried in the custom functions which makes it very difficult to find. Canon really should do better, but at least there is a user configurable option which minimises the inconvenience.

Rant over. Thanks for a good addition to the list, Graham.

[Rose]

I've spent ages going through the controls and setting up my new 5Dm3. Those I have allocated to "My Menu" for quick reference are:

Custom shooting mode (I use these all the time to preset different settings before a shoot)
Battery info
Format card
Tracking sensitivity
Accel/decel tracking
AF point auto switching

The last three are part of the m3's new AF system. Canon have provided 6 different setups which are buried in the menu. Fine if you have time to browse for the right one, but this way you can choose the settings you want much quicker and whilst you're shooting.

[Mike Farley]

Thanks, Rose, another set of frequently used controls for those who have different priorities.

I seldom shoot moving objects, so have not experimented with the focus tuning controls on the 7D. Nor have I bothered with setting up different user configurations as I prefer to make adjustments on the fly. I find that the quick menu takes me to the most frequently used controls when I want to make changes from my default settings. So far, that approach has worked well fo me, apart from those all too frequent occasions when I forget to reset the camera afterwards.

[davidb]

Occasionally I use my Canon 1DX in mirrorless mode.

There is a button on the front of the camera designed especially for this. I sometimes find I'm unable to use the viewfinder to compose my photograph so I press the button and hold the camera above/alongside/under/over the obstruction and use the screen on the back to line up the shot.

This isn't my favourite way of working but it's nice to have the option.

Otherwise my settings are similar to Mike's - AV, Auto ISO, spot focus. My manual is thick and it would probably take years to thoroughly study it. I would prefer to be out photographing my favourite subjects and hope that my settings (both personal and factory-set) give me results that don't need too much manipulation.

[Mike Farley]

I have just been using LiveView for a couple of shoots. Last night I was shooting in dark conditions and LV was useful to focus and compose with the camera on a tripod. This afternoon, the camera was again on the tripod and I wanted to be able to observe the scene so that I could trigger the shutter when there was a bit of activity. It can be a very convenient way of working and also has the advantage that on a DSLR mirror lockup is not required as it is already swung up out of the way. That might be the reason why Canon does not provide a dedicated button, especially now it has implemented on sensor focussing which is much quicker than on the older models.