Help me understand!

Andybtsn · 8 May 2013 at 19:01

Hi guys,

I've just bought a Nikon 5100, I'm an photography noob tbh but I'm willing to learn. There are plenty of features so I need too!

Anyway, one thing that I don't understand, I thought acquiring this snazzy camera I could stick it on Auto and take some snap shots of my little one (daughter

) but by the time I have pressed the shutter button whilst said little one is smiling at me I have a picture of the back of her head!

I take it's the shutter speed that's incorrect?

Help me

Andy

hyperst · 8 May 2013 at 19:32

Have you got it on a self timer mode?

About the only thing that could cause it, how long is the delay?

You could try the ''Sport mode'' or ''Children mode''

Andybtsn · 8 May 2013 at 19:37

I tried Children Mode, no improvement.

Where would I find the self timer mode?

Thanks

Raymond Lin · 8 May 2013 at 19:58

I am taking you are inside your home?

I am guessing you are using the kit lens?

Then turn the ISO up to 1600

Put the Camera in Aperture priority mode, turn it to the smallest number you can

Shoot and report back.

King Damager · 8 May 2013 at 20:03

May be worth picking a copy of 'Understanding Exposure'

The basics should have you covered.

Raymond's solution should help though, although personally I'd set the max auto iso to about 1600, and then do shutter priority and stick it on about 1/200

kd

Andybtsn · 8 May 2013 at 20:27

Thanks for the replies. Daughter has gone to bed now so don't have any moving targets to test it on!

Can shutter priority be called something else? I can't find a setting. Sorry for being noobish.

hyperst · 8 May 2013 at 20:33

It's the letter ''S'' on the dial for shutter priority, to be fair, auto should work fine, did the inbuilt flash pop up? it should have done really.

Are you sure you are using the DIAL correctly?

theheyes · 8 May 2013 at 20:40

To me this sounds like not achieving a focus lock before fully depressing the shutter release that's causing a delay.

Andybtsn · 8 May 2013 at 20:45

Considering the replies I am starting to feel like the customers I speak to at work

I press the button slightly to achieve the focus lock (turns green) and then fully press.

I'm a bit miffed that Auto just doesn't get me the quick shutter results I want tbh.

Mp4 · 8 May 2013 at 20:47

Here are some videos via Adorama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlSuInza16E || Shooting in Manual Mode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axt9zLxdE8s || Metering Modes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQw28-3LEU4 || Exposure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0vXD16_lA || Understanding Stops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrsF0Xba2KY || Metering and Exposure Compensation

Raymond Lin · 8 May 2013 at 20:47

did the flash pop up?

Andybtsn · 8 May 2013 at 20:52

Yes, Raymond.

Thanks Mp4.

Mp4 · 8 May 2013 at 20:58

No worries, they are VERY easy vids to watch and understand and can't go wrong with what raymond has said

hyperst · 8 May 2013 at 21:00

Andybtsn said:
Considering the replies I am starting to feel like the customers I speak to at work

I press the button slightly to achieve the focus lock (turns green) and then fully press.

I'm a bit miffed that Auto just doesn't get me the quick shutter results I want tbh.

Ahh, it's the focusing that seems to be throwing it out, there is an option for full time focus in the menu, it will continue to focus as long as you half press the shutter release button, I think it works best on single point focus, worth having a play in the menu, if you are unsure of a highlighted setting in the menu you can press the button that has the ''?'' on it/near it and it will give a small explanation of the setting you are highlighting.

hyperst · 8 May 2013 at 21:01

Andybtsn said:
Yes, Raymond.

Thanks Mp4.

Also if the flash pop's up it will have to charge, maybe that was where the delay came from?

To get around that you could leave the flash up a few seconds before taking a shot.

Andybtsn · 9 May 2013 at 09:02

Well after watching various videos last night I think I was expecting too much in low light conditions (indoors). Ill try some shots tonight in the garden.

Andybtsn · 10 May 2013 at 18:14

Well after playing about with the camera in the garden tonight I'm still unhappy with the results, yes I can tell the quality difference coming from my last camera but still the lack of shutter speed is really grating on me.

Kids smiling at you are pretty rare at times so when I get the chance to snap a shot there is still a second delay, am I expecting too much? Normally professional shots are pretty much immediate to what you see in the viewfinder to when you press the shutter release.

I have read up on various things but I'm sure what I'm wanting I could achieve from just the auto setting. I have been using Shutter and Aperture priority settings and making sure the shutter speed is extremely quick.

King Damager · 10 May 2013 at 18:21

What do you classify as extremely quick?

I have no idea what the build in flash is like, but I can go down to 1/4000s with an off camera flash.

If you're having issues, just make the shutter speed less (i.e. 1/1000).

Is it actually the shutter speed you're having issues with or focussing speed? Because these are two different issues :S

kd

Raymond Lin · 10 May 2013 at 18:28

Forget the auto, it is not that clever.

Try P model instead.

Andybtsn · 10 May 2013 at 18:29

Well I'd be focused on the target, she'd smile, I'd take the shot only for the picture to come out showing the side of her head or something similar.

Raymond, didn't try P, only auto, S and A, I was getting disheartened with the whole thing!

I'll play around more tomorrow in the daytime to see if I can figure out if I'm doing something obviously wrong.