settings for full body shots? minolta A1

[captn_j]

Hi all i got this nice camera but my skill is not up to par yet... what settings (shutter, apperture, color etc)should i use for full body shots ( I am a coach and want to get shots of potential players for my team as well as to track their physical progress so the shots prob will be topless) florescent lighting and prob no flash (no need right?) currently i get pretty poor contrast on my shots... any suggestions? thanks

regds
Jonathan

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by captn_j Hi all i got this nice camera but my skill is not up to par yet... what settings (shutter, apperture, color etc)should i use for full body shots ( I am a coach and want to get shots of potential players for my team as well as to track their physical progress so the shots prob will be topless) florescent lighting and prob no flash (no need right?) currently i get pretty poor contrast on my shots... any suggestions? thanks regds Jonathan

depends on the lighting if its indoor. For me, I'm no expert, so I'll either go for the Portrait mode (woman head), P mode or S mode (set to 1/250, again depends on lighting), if a bit too dim, I'll push up the +/- to +0.3 or +0.7.

[UY79]

Florescent lighting is one of the worst for photography because it's flickering. Shooting indoors usually requires flash, use it if you have to.

I don't own an A1, so you will have to wait for advices from A1 owners for the colour and camera settings.

OT:
Just got it today? At The Esplanade?

Cheers!

[pshing]

besides the above methods, may be you can try this.

use program mode, then aim the person's face at the center.
Press AEL for spot metering (the face).
Continue to hold, then move your A1 around to do the composition.
Press the shutter after you get a good compostion.
Release the AEL.

as the person's color of dressing may affect the metering, metering the face normally would give you a senseable exposal setting. 80% accurate in my experience.

But the best is to use M mode, the look at the view finder with historgram. Use our brain to read the histrogram and the color on LCD/viewfinder would give you the best color. Most of the time i use M mode because i am really lazy to set the +/- EV...

[Flare]

well, if you ask me i'll try to avoid using the built in flash for this as the full frontal flash will provides a flat image, which would not be flattering for the athelatic bodies of your players, if you access to a flash unit, try a ceiling bounce, the top down light will create a more natural shadows which will bring out the 3D-ness.

I would use a tripod, and i think the auto mode will be sufficient and i will perhaps pump up the exposure a little depending on the condition of the room... perhpas 0.7 - 1 ev. since u are using digital, feel free to try and the lcd/evf does provide a direct and immediate feedback of the exposure changes.

[tmc17479]

Originally Posted by UY79 Florescent lighting is one of the worst for photography because it's flickering. Shooting indoors usually requires flash, use it if you have to. I don't own an A1, so you will have to wait for advices from A1 owners for the colour and camera settings. OT: Just got it today? At The Esplanade? Cheers!

Haha you must have seen me and the buyer at the Esplanade

[UY79]

Originally Posted by tmc17479 Haha you must have seen me and the buyer at the Esplanade

My guess was right!

How to miss the 2 of you doing business in such a place.

Cheers!

[captn_j]

Originally Posted by tmc17479 Haha you must have seen me and the buyer at the Esplanade

haha no no i got it aobut 2 months ago... but i did buy TMC's battery grip unit

[L-MoLe]

hee~ actually I'm the one who bought over the cam

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by UY79 My guess was right! How to miss the 2 of you doing business in such a place. Cheers!

lucky they are not dealing something illegal..