Optimum Settings for Photograph
By: Date: September 10, 2019 Categories: Photography
  • Choose the Aperture priority mode:
    No need to change all the time the exposure mode. We recommend that you choose the Aperture Priority Auto (or A) and that you stick to it. In this configuration you choose the aperture and the camera selects automatically the appropriate shutter speed. You can play with depth of field while adjusting aperture. As a reminder, small aperture (high f numbers, like f/36) increase depth of field meaning the subjects in the background and in the foreground are in focus. If you want to focus on a specific subject and want the rest to be blurry choose a small number, the smaller the better depending on your equipment.
  • Choose Auto ISO or stay at 400
    ISO sensitivity is the digital equivalent of film speed. The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light is needed to take a photograph. With films, exposure is controlled by aperture and shutter speed settings only because the ISO is already chosen by your film. With Digital cameras you can choose several settings but we suggest that you stick either to Auto or 400 ISO.Auto ISO is the easiest choice, the ISO sensitivity will be automatically adjusted by the camera. It is useful when your lightning conditions change all the time. The quality of camera’s have so much improved that it can be a reasonable choice.400 ISO might be the best solution if you prefer to stay in control. 400 ISO is the film standard and covers nearly 90% of our photographic needs. You won’t the see the quality difference between an image shot at 100 ISO and 400 ISO and you will still be able to play with depth and motion blur.
  • Choose White Balance Auto
    White balance ensures that colors in general and white in particular are unaffected by the color of the light source and that they are rendered as you see them. We recommend that you choose Auto White Balance. It is usually good with most light sources. The color temperature is adjusted from 3,500 to 7,000 K which covers a wide range of possibilities. Fine tuning white balance is often complicated.
  • Choose One focus point
    If you are not a professional specialized in sports or wild life, choose the single point focus or central focus. You might have to change frequently the composition of your image but it will become quickly a reflex. You just need a little practice. Focus on your main subject that you will put in the center of your composition and when the focus is done change your composition while keeping your settings (usually by keeping your finger half way on the shutter-release button).