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Watch 15 DSLR Camera Settings You Must Know by Heart on YouTube

Knowing your camera & its settings is an imperative part of photography. If you can't use it properly you will struggle getting the image you want to create.  You also need to know how your camera exposure works along with your flash exposure & camera histogram.  Here is the list, check out the video for more info.

Primary Camera Knowledge

  • Program modes: aperture priority, shutter priority, manual
  • Change aperture, shutter, iso
  • Focus, manual, continuous, single
  • Focus points: auto area af, dynamic area af, single
  • Exposure mode: matrix, center weighted, spot
  • Formating memory cards
  • White balance

Secondary Camera Knowledge

  • Date, time
  • Flash modes
  • Bracketing
  • Shooting speed

Other Camera Knowledge, set and forget

  • RAW, bit depth
  • Use all focus points
  • Autofp
  • Multi Selector center button
    (set zoom in with center button button: Custom Setting F1 >> Multi Selector Center Button >> playback mode >> zoom on /off >> magnification)
  • Image comment & Copyright info
  • Image review off
  • Picture control off
  • D lighting off
  • Color space sRGB
  • Auto ISO off
Sunflowers at the Bellagio

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Comments  

 
0 # tom526 2012-01-12 13:15
I know them all, and the only one that I rule-break is the Auto ISO off. I turn it on sometimes when I'm not using flash and it's lower light conditions.
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0 # Remco v/d Sanden 2012-01-12 13:24
As usual a great video full with good tips.

But I was just wondering about something. In this video you say Not to use Auto ISO. I understand the reason of your choice why not to use it. The usual control, learning, knowing what you are doing etc. Perfect. But on the other hand I do not understand it. In the "old" days ISO was dictated by the film used for the most part. But as we all know the Pro line from Nikon, D700, D3, D3s has incredible high ISO performance. You can program the camera to use say ISO 200 up to ISO 3200 ( or what you like ) And we all know the performance on these ISO levels is great. So why would you advise against one of the (sometimes)very helpful features these new techniques have to offer? Instead of turning knobs to set ISO and calculate the outcome, you can get the shot immediately.
What do you all think about that. Why not use the (great) modern technologies at hand, or would you still do it all manually?
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+1 # Gregory Cazillo 2012-01-12 13:27
I prefer to see everyone shooting & set their camera manually. That way you know for sure how the image is being created.
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+2 # Remco v/d Sanden 2012-01-12 14:10
I understand your way of thinking, and follow and promote that statement. But I do however enjoy the modern techniques that can make your job a lot easier.

I know how the image is created, but when shooting a wedding most of us, at that moment, don't care how it's made, as long as the end result is up to par.

I see it a little as say shooting with Autofocus, and the old school style manual focus. Yes, in manual you got total control, and create the image, but since the introduction of good AF systems how often do we use MF in normal workflow?
Shouldn't we be glad that Nikon has such a good programmable Auto ISO system that actually works and in certain circumstances makes your life as a photographer much easier, 1 less thing to screw up or forget when shooting under less than ideal circumstances?
Indeed you need to know what is does, why, how and when, but IMHO it might be a welcome addition to many photographers under certain circumstances.
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0 # Barnett 2012-01-15 17:45
I would say it depends on the certain individual. If they think that shooting in Auto ISO is going to make their life easier then they have the choice to choose whether they want to use it. But to me I prefer shooting it all in manual because it gives me the feeling that I know I am in control of everything and I know the outcome will be like how I want it. Where as in Auto mode, technology has a tendency of failing so it doesn't mean it is going to be 100% effective at all times. So to me going manual is the safest & the way to go if you wanna be sure that the outcome is in your hands and not in the hands of technology.
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0 # Fady 2012-01-12 16:32
Great. As usual . Auto ISO must must turn off :)
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0 # Peter 2012-01-13 03:36
Really great video as usual.
But what i would like to see is a video with an explanation of all the focus settings. Like continuous, single and so on
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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2012-01-13 08:49
http://cazillo.com/articles/37-photography/126-how-to-use-autofocus-in-your-dslr.html
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0 # Bob 2012-01-13 21:33
Congrats on the weight loss, you look a lot healthier man.
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0 # Donald F. 2012-08-30 15:13
I always use manual on everything but when it comes to wildlife photography, sometime I will use Auto ISO for moving animals like from 100 to 640 ISO. I dont use auto ISO fully, I always keep ISO at 100. But again for wildlife, Auto ISO is useful because animals don't stay still enough, they will fly or run faster before you hit the shutter button after correctly setting the ISO.
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0 # Richard Strahin 2012-09-23 00:32
The best tutorials that I have found. Very helpful and I thank you for sharing the knowledge.
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0 # kevmac 2013-01-18 21:51
Newbie question: Do white balance settings have a permanent effect in RAW mode? Or is it similar to D-Lighting and Picture Control settings where the in-camera processing is only performed against JPEGS?
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0 # Donald F. 2013-01-19 23:26
Just remember. RAW files are uncooked. It doesn't matter what white balance, and any program setting you uses. It is nothing to it unless you are using name brand camera company's provided software. But again When using Camera Raw.... You can change anything because it doesn't really effect RAW, and never was permanent. It will be permanent if shooting JPEG.
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0 # Nelson 2013-02-07 21:39
Correction... Nikon lenses go on backwards!!! LOL... I use Canon!!! Thanks for all the great vids!!! =)
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0 # Richard Strahin 2013-02-07 22:46
I really enjoy the tips and tricks. Just need to be reminded now and then.
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0 # Søren Byebierggaard 2013-08-05 17:10
Hello, thanks for a great show. I have a big problem I have been fighting with for a long time. Blanced flash. I have ac Conon 650d, canon 430ex ii speedlight and a Sigma 70 - 210 ex do os... If I want to take a picture e.g.a portrait with a sky in the background. I am in manual mode I set the apeture to f2.8, shutter speed to e.g. 1/620 so the background should be ok, I check with a test shout. The metering is set to evaluativ mode. Focus point The flash is set high speed and ETTL. First shutter. Then I exspect the flash to fill the face, but the result is for me suprising the background is still too brigth. I have also tried to set the the flash in manuel, but I can't get it rigth, it is very confusing. The worst is that I have tried to be systematic and I can't figur i out. Please help. BR søren Byebierggaard
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