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Question: I have a question about aperture settings!?
I just started using av mode and trying to learn apertures with my canon xti and i have a flash i put on my camera!. When i set the subject in the shaded area say under a tree with the sun all around the shaded area what would be a good f/stop for that because if you set the f/stop number small enough for the subject in the shade then the area where the sun is will be to bright!. I use 200 ISO outside when it is sunny!. also, What is a good f/stop when it is sunny!? Thank youWww@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Exposure is the amount of light falling on film or sensor!. It is determined by shutter speed x aperture!. Sensitivity (ISO) is a measure of the amount of light required to record an image on film or sensor; it determines the range of exposure that is available for use!. With a digital camera, you have the luxury of being able to change ISO as well as shutter speed and aperture!.
The "Sunny Sixteen Rule" (Google it to learn more) is a general setting for bright sun!. It is 1/ISO for shutter speed (closest setting) at f16!. It is only a generalization and needs to be tested to see what you want!. I know a well known film photographer who used 1/125 @ f11 for ISO 100 film because that gave him the negative he wants!.
Your particular question!? There is no one answer!. Ask yourself, "What does the photograph want to be!?" (Note the wording!.) Many well known photographers approach the issue this way!. F2 is OK if you want a soft background!. But you may want something different!. If you can adjust the output of the flash, try combining that with different apertures!. With digital it is easy to experiment!.
If you want to learn exposure (and a whole lot more) pick up one of the Ansel Adams books!. Everything he wrote about photography is applicable to digital and you won't get the false information that is in many other books!.
Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com
You need to take a reading of the bright area outside of the shade!. In other words you will set your camera to expose for the bright, sun lit area!. You will then use your flash as a FILL light to put light on your subject in the shade!. You may have to add or even subtract an EV stop or two on the flash unit to get a good balance of subject to overall exposure!. Check your monitor!. If the subject looks much too bright compared to the ambient scene, then set a lower EV value on the flash unit itself!. If the subject is still too dark, just beging adding EV on the flash unit!. In most cases though, you will either add nothing or even reduce EV on the flash!.
Basically again, you set the carmera to expose for the bright background, and use the flash to expose the subject!.
steveWww@QuestionHome@Com
Well, it not that there is a good f-stop for sunny or shady!.!.!.!.!.!.what you want is good exposure and that is a 3 part equation
f-stop + shutter speed + ISO = exposure
good exposure can be archived with many f-stops so long as the other 2 components are adjusted!.
Example - a small f-stop number will allow alot of like, so the shutter speed will be faster
a larger f-stop number will allow less light and will require a longer shutter speed
I shot AV all the time (with the same camera) and here is what I usually do!. I set my ISO, then I set my f-stop so that the shutter speed auto sets to around 125th!.
Keep in mind tho, that your shot with a shaded for ground and bright back ground will always be difficult because both require unique settings that are very different form each other
Hope this helpsWww@QuestionHome@Com
What Steve P said is true!. Your camera determines the expsoure based on the whole scene, not just the subject you are photographing!. If you have a contrasty scene - some very bright, some not so much - your camera's exposure meter averages the scene!.
Trying to remove some of that contrast is always good, perhaps by changing where you stand relative to the subject!. Move so you don't have bright spots!. Technology can't overcome all obstacles!.
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A bright sunny day is about f8 at 1/500 and ISO 100, manual settings!.
A good Fstop for someone under a tree is f2 - you will blur the tree, and the shutter speed will be fast enough to handhold the camera!.
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It all depends on your situation and what you are trying to achieve!. Outside portraits, you probably want a wider aperture!. For landscapes, a very narrow aperture!. Etc!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com