Topic: Thinking Outside of the (Green) Box

[Tim]

Original article:  http://www.themagicinpixels.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=33
Discuss it here.

[Roger]

I would change the title here to say something other than just green.  Green is a Canon thing.  Sony calls theirs AUTO, Nikon is AUTO with a camera underneath.  If they are just skimming, they might not get the meaning behind the green box.

Which comes to this:  Can you name the currently being sold as there isn't a replacement for it "professional" camera that has a green box/auto mode?  Note that professional also follows price as well.

Personally I'm perplexed that it was built with it considering the price.

[Craig]

another great article.
I would like to add that using the P mode is an easy first step from using auto. In P mode you will usually always get the right exposure, but it will allow you to start using the more advanced features of your camera, like Tim said.

[Grumpwurst]

Maybe the professional cameras have the "Green Box" built in to them as well because even the pros have spouses who they may just want to hand the camera and say, "Take a picture".  They can throw it into Auto and let them fire away.

[Roger]

Yes Ray you're right (see Phil Greenspun's review of the 5D), but why only one?

[Grumpwurst]

but why only one?

To corner the I-have-a-spouse-who-cannot-use-a-camera-market?

[Roger]

a ha!  Nail ---> head

Just like the direct print button!

[Grumpwurst]

As I said on the discussion about P&S compared to dSLR.

I wish we could reprogram the "program" modes on our dials so I can a few of my favorite frequently used settings preserved and can get to them quickly with the turn of a dial.

[Tim]

i believe some cameras have a 'favorites' setting that allows for this...  if i remember correctly, its  a setting under the menu, not a true 'mode' but that is clearly semantics.

[Grumpwurst]

Yeah, I think my camera has that.  But once you have to start digging through the menu to switch "favorites" it really makes it too much work to make it worthwhile.  That is why I had so many screwed up pics with my Canon Powershot because you had to change the settings via the menu

[Roger]

I was wrong, the XSi doesn't have it.  But the 40D has it, and  I'm pretty sure the A700 has it.  And it will include shooting modes.

[jcvalenti]

Nice article, Tim.

I have to admit - I'm stubborn.  I probably shoot 75% of the time in full manual mode.  And I spend a lot of time kicking myself in the rear that I didn't use Aperture priorty, since I'm always just a little off on the settings.

90% of my creative decisions are made by choosing Aperture setting first - whether based on selecting depth of field that I want, or judging the light and deciding I need a wider setting to allow more light.  I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to shoot more often in Av mode for the next few months to see how I like the results.

[PolynesianMedic]

Tim I know this is a little old, but I finally had a chance to read this thoroughly.  My only question that I can come up with is what determines what ISO you use?  Is there an easy way to remember what setting to use?  I am no longer using the basic settings on my camera and am trying to learn this as quickly as I can so that I can fine tune my knowledge and get some nice shots over the summer.

[Craig]

[PolynesianMedic]

Thanks Craig, that really helps