F30 Preferred Setting

Michael68 · 18th September 2006

Hi all,
Just like to check what is the best setting to use for indoor shots? I used the natural light mode for convenience and as discussed previously, most of the shots were set to ISO 3200. On full size view, it looks like pastel painting. Not sure how I can identify the vertical banding as most people had mentioned before.
What is the setting for indoor shopping centres? Tried natural light, and natural light with flash but the results were quite disappointing, especially when the subject is a kid trying to run about....

kross · 18th September 2006

Originally Posted by Michael68

Hi all,
Just like to check what is the best setting to use for indoor shots? I used the natural light mode for convenience and as discussed previously, most of the shots were set to ISO 3200. On full size view, it looks like pastel painting. Not sure how I can identify the vertical banding as most people had mentioned before.
What is the setting for indoor shopping centres? Tried natural light, and natural light with flash but the results were quite disappointing, especially when the subject is a kid trying to run about....

i use Aperture priority for indoor shoots.... just adjust the iso and f stop according to lighting condition...

surge · 19th September 2006

i leave mine at manaul mode. at then just set the rest accordingly

cy_j · 22nd September 2006

I use shutter priority using 1/30 for wide and 1/100 for tele shots. The ISO I change to accomodate proper exposure, topping out at 800.

Drudkh · 22nd September 2006

Some of the time I'll set to aperture priority, f/8 and -1/3 to -1

Michael68 · 22nd September 2006

Thanks for all the tips.

1) Just wondering for natural light shoot, do you just leave it to auto or still the same ie either aperture or shutter priority and adjust accordingly? As mentioned previously before, the camera will set to ISO 3200 or 1600 most of the time to "play safe" and the results are quite disappointing.

2) Any experience with natural light with flash where it takes 2 frames and merged into 1? I got erratic results: Some shots end up with flash where the subject and background are clearly exposed, while some ended up totally in natural light mode (ie out of the 2 frames, it selects the one without flash being fired) and is very grainy. Is this faulty or there is something I should do?

Thanks again!

tomcat · 22nd September 2006

Originally Posted by Michael68

2) Any experience with natural light with flash where it takes 2 frames and merged into 1? I got erratic results: Some shots end up with flash where the subject and background are clearly exposed, while some ended up totally in natural light mode (ie out of the 2 frames, it selects the one without flash being fired) and is very grainy. Is this faulty or there is something I should do?

Thanks again!

It does not take 2 shots and merge them into one. After you press the shutter button, what it does is to take 2 shots in quick sucession - the first without flash and the second with flash. So you and your subject must not move too quickly when using this mode or else you could ruin the second shot. Both shots would be saved onto the memory card. Sometimes, the flash one will come out better and other times the natural one will look better. So you have the option to choose which to save and which to delete away.

Michael68 · 22nd September 2006

Thanks Steve! I did not know that. But problem is I am not given a choice to save...the camera does it automatically and when I look at the 10 shots or so, it seems to be random. But you are right, some shots the subject was moving quickly and what was saved was the natural light mode. For others where they remained still, the shot with flash was saved....

tomcat · 22nd September 2006

Originally Posted by Michael68

Thanks Steve! I did not know that. But problem is I am not given a choice to save...the camera does it automatically and when I look at the 10 shots or so, it seems to be random. But you are right, some shots the subject was moving quickly and what was saved was the natural light mode. For others where they remained still, the shot with flash was saved....

You are not given the option to save at the time of taking the photo. Both images will be saved automatically into the xD card. You can choose which to keep and which to delete when you review the photos later on.

Also you should not have this mode to take subjects that could move out of the frame very quickly before or during the time the second shot (with flash) takes place. Otherwise, it would appear random to you what you were actually shooting if you only review the images later on after 10-20 shots have been taken. This mode should be used for example to take photos of a subject, say, your girl friend, who will stay still until both successive shots have been fired.

surge · 22nd September 2006

Originally Posted by Michael68

Thanks for all the tips.

1) Just wondering for natural light shoot, do you just leave it to auto or still the same ie either aperture or shutter priority and adjust accordingly? As mentioned previously before, the camera will set to ISO 3200 or 1600 most of the time to "play safe" and the results are quite disappointing.

2) Any experience with natural light with flash where it takes 2 frames and merged into 1? I got erratic results: Some shots end up with flash where the subject and background are clearly exposed, while some ended up totally in natural light mode (ie out of the 2 frames, it selects the one without flash being fired) and is very grainy. Is this faulty or there is something I should do?

Thanks again!

i leave mine in manual(auto iso 1600) cos in natural mode, it always use the 3200 which is not really that acceptable compared to 1600. only set flash on/off accordingly

Isaiahfortythirtyone · 23rd September 2006

i usualyl use Aperture priority. daytime ISO 100-200 max 400. nighttime ISO400-800, max 1600.

i permanently leave it at -1/3 or -2/3 EV cos the F30 has a problem with handling highlights.

RSKeisuke · 23rd September 2006

i'm still a little confused with the -1/3 or +1/3EV settings... - is to get brighter image or darker?
most shots on my F30 turn out under-exposed. colour quite dull too.. WB issue?

most of the time, i refrain from using the flash along with the lowest ISO possible. I tried using chrome setting but the colour turned out too strong for my liking..

Isaiahfortythirtyone · 23rd September 2006

ur F30 shots are underexposed? taht's new. the F11's and F30's that ive used and owned overexpose like crazy. the highlights are always blown in bright daylight. the -1/3 etc is to tell the camera that: "your exposure is wrong. let me set my own exposure." sothe camera will be forced to reduce it's calculations by 1/3 stop.

i also set the LCD to -3 brightness. i find that more accurately reflects the exposure of the actual pics taken.

RSKeisuke · 23rd September 2006

Originally Posted by Isaiahfortythirtyone

ur F30 shots are underexposed? taht's new. the F11's and F30's that ive used and owned overexpose like crazy. the highlights are always blown in bright daylight. the -1/3 etc is to tell the camera that: "your exposure is wrong. let me set my own exposure." sothe camera will be forced to reduce it's calculations by 1/3 stop.

i also set the LCD to -3 brightness. i find that more accurately reflects the exposure of the actual pics taken.

if that's the case, think it may be a case of my badly calibrated monitor (CRT). Any idea how to calibrate it nicely? I haven't printed any of my F30 shots at the lab.. maybe i should do so to confirm that..

Isaiahfortythirtyone · 23rd September 2006

i usually just use adobe gamma. it's good enough. i get a calibration file from Grace digital and the calibration hard copy print out. compare the soft copy and hard copy and make sure they look the same.

18th September 2006	#1
Michael68 Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 217	F30 Preferred Setting Hi all, Just like to check what is the best setting to use for indoor shots? I used the natural light mode for convenience and as discussed previously, most of the shots were set to ISO 3200. On full size view, it looks like pastel painting. Not sure how I can identify the vertical banding as most people had mentioned before. What is the setting for indoor shopping centres? Tried natural light, and natural light with flash but the results were quite disappointing, especially when the subject is a kid trying to run about.... __________________ "....it is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness...."

19th September 2006	#3
surge Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: north Posts: 1,247	Re: F30 Preferred Setting i leave mine at manaul mode. at then just set the rest accordingly

22nd September 2006	#4
cy_j Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Newton Posts: 727	Re: F30 Preferred Setting I use shutter priority using 1/30 for wide and 1/100 for tele shots. The ISO I change to accomodate proper exposure, topping out at 800.

22nd September 2006	#5
Drudkh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,019	Re: F30 Preferred Setting Some of the time I'll set to aperture priority, f/8 and -1/3 to -1

22nd September 2006	#6
Michael68 Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 217	Re: F30 Preferred Setting Thanks for all the tips. 1) Just wondering for natural light shoot, do you just leave it to auto or still the same ie either aperture or shutter priority and adjust accordingly? As mentioned previously before, the camera will set to ISO 3200 or 1600 most of the time to "play safe" and the results are quite disappointing. 2) Any experience with natural light with flash where it takes 2 frames and merged into 1? I got erratic results: Some shots end up with flash where the subject and background are clearly exposed, while some ended up totally in natural light mode (ie out of the 2 frames, it selects the one without flash being fired) and is very grainy. Is this faulty or there is something I should do? Thanks again! __________________ "....it is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness...."

22nd September 2006	#8
Michael68 Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 217	Re: F30 Preferred Setting Thanks Steve! I did not know that. But problem is I am not given a choice to save...the camera does it automatically and when I look at the 10 shots or so, it seems to be random. But you are right, some shots the subject was moving quickly and what was saved was the natural light mode. For others where they remained still, the shot with flash was saved.... __________________ "....it is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness...."

23rd September 2006	#11
Isaiahfortythirtyone Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Clementi Posts: 2,470	Re: F30 Preferred Setting i usualyl use Aperture priority. daytime ISO 100-200 max 400. nighttime ISO400-800, max 1600. i permanently leave it at -1/3 or -2/3 EV cos the F30 has a problem with handling highlights.

23rd September 2006	#12
RSKeisuke Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Punggol, Singapore Posts: 61	Re: F30 Preferred Setting i'm still a little confused with the -1/3 or +1/3EV settings... - is to get brighter image or darker? most shots on my F30 turn out under-exposed. colour quite dull too.. WB issue? most of the time, i refrain from using the flash along with the lowest ISO possible. I tried using chrome setting but the colour turned out too strong for my liking..

23rd September 2006	#13
Isaiahfortythirtyone Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Clementi Posts: 2,470	Re: F30 Preferred Setting ur F30 shots are underexposed? taht's new. the F11's and F30's that ive used and owned overexpose like crazy. the highlights are always blown in bright daylight. the -1/3 etc is to tell the camera that: "your exposure is wrong. let me set my own exposure." sothe camera will be forced to reduce it's calculations by 1/3 stop. i also set the LCD to -3 brightness. i find that more accurately reflects the exposure of the actual pics taken.

23rd September 2006	#15
Isaiahfortythirtyone Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Clementi Posts: 2,470	Re: F30 Preferred Setting i usually just use adobe gamma. it's good enough. i get a calibration file from Grace digital and the calibration hard copy print out. compare the soft copy and hard copy and make sure they look the same.