Camera Presets

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shadowman

a P & S photographer might approach you questions about their own equipment and you might be able to provide them the assistance they need.

---

That's a really good point that never occurred to me.

Hi Christina,

Put me down as a person that;
a) shoots RAW 95% of the time, therefore ...
b) doesn't see the need for Scene modes
c) has his default Picture Control customised to tone down images for more accurate highlight overload/histogram indications
d) doesn't trust Active D-Lighting
e) uses ACR (=LR) to process RAW, so all settings except the colour temperature are ignored*

* That said; in LR, you may find that under Camera Calibration (tab?), Camera Profile, Name, you can access the five Picture Control styles and 'have a play' to see the differences on one image - then set it back to Adobe Standard, for consistency :)

Basically, I find the results by this method very confusing, since (looking at the image), it is clearly affecting contrast, saturation (and no doubt many other image settings) in a way that is invisible on the Basic tab (in ACR) or Develop module (LR) and this will just lead to confusion - i.e. it moves the effective zero points about so you don't know where you're starting from when making your own adjustments.

Cheers,

You're way too organized, Dave. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

You're way too organized, Dave. :D

---

I keep it simple - because I'm stu... :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

Nikon's documentation: "The Active D-Lighting option in the shooting menu adjusts exposure before shooting to affect the dynamic range..."

For the record, I shoot only RAW (not RAW + JPEG and not only JPEG) and I have experimented with both Active D-Lighting and HDR. Nikon recommends using matrix (evaluative) metering for both.

---

So it does sound like Active-D affects exposure as opposed to only applying tonal adjustments to JPEGs (sort of like exposure compensation). So, metering would likely be affected if Active-D is engaged.

BTW, many of JPEG-only options are available in Sony also even if you have set RAW or RAW+JPEG, it is just that only JPEG files are written out (no RAW) when the feature involves in-camera processing such as stacking or sweep panorama. DRO, however, is available option only when JPEG-only setting is selected (HDR is available with RAW or RAW+JPEG but as noted above, only JPEG files are written out).

But, if you shoot RAW, there really isn't a point to using Active-D, more so if it affects exposure.

Hi Dave,

Thank you. Truly appreciated.

I have my camera set just like yours and have yet to try D-lighting so I will not worry about it. I have yet to explore other than the basic options in LR so I will check out the picture control styles and profiles etc... I guess I just started wondering about the presets and all the fancy stuff on my camera that I have not had time to explore or know anything about because I am thinking of trying landscapes and fall colours.

I did have one individual send me a PM thanking me for asking this question, so I am not the only one in the world who doesn't know what presets do, just the only one who dares to ask dumb questions... :)

All that said I still can't figure out how to get to the pre-sets, so I will continue as I'm doing and try those options in LR... Time to start developing my own vision for my images...

Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave Humphries

Hi Christina,

Put me down as a person that;
a) shoots RAW 95% of the time, therefore ...
b) doesn't see the need for Scene modes
c) has his default Picture Control customised to tone down images for more accurate highlight overload/histogram indications
d) doesn't trust Active D-Lighting
e) uses ACR (=LR) to process RAW, so all settings except the colour temperature are ignored*

* That said; in LR, you may find that under Camera Calibration (tab?), Camera Profile, Name, you can access the five Picture Control styles and 'have a play' to see the differences on one image - then set it back to Adobe Standard, for consistency :)

Basically, I find the results by this method very confusing, since (looking at the image), it is clearly affecting contrast, saturation (and no doubt many other image settings) in a way that is invisible on the Basic tab (in ACR) or Develop module (LR) and this will just lead to confusion - i.e. it moves the effective zero points about so you don't know where you're starting from when making your own adjustments.

Cheers,

---

Why not try the landscape scene mode? I remember trying it out when I first started playing with my D90. It did not take me too long to realize I could set my aperture to f 11 by myself in A mode. I think in the landscape scene mode, the camera prioritizes a deep dof over shutter speed (sports mode) or a wide dof (portrait mode).The problem for me was that, in the landscape scene mode, my D90 took over focusing with a multi-point af and I just do not like that. There is no automatic hyperfocal focusing. The ability to set a hyperfocal focusing point was something I had to figure out using af-s single point or manual focus. So, I found the scene modes helpful but only for a short, very introductory period of time. After that, they offer little value.

I think to enjoy the benefits of active d lighting, you need to either use Nikon software or shoot jpegs. Active d lighting will adjust exposure but Adobe will not be able to read the other factors involved. So, using Elements, I keep it off. I believe the in camera HDR on the D7100 works only with jpegs. It might be fun to play with but I would much rather have the native latitude in a raw file. I can do a one file HDR or bracket and do a multi-image HDR shooting raw. Many enjoy using HDR in landscapes but I, personally, do not find it to be a necessary aspect of landscape photography. A choice and a good topic for experimentation for sure.

So, explore these areas if you wish but only for as long as you find yourself getting value. I look forward to seeing your results.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Christina S

Hi Dave,

Thank you. Truly appreciated.

I have my camera set just like yours and have yet to try D-lighting so I will not worry about it. I have yet to explore other than the basic options in LR so I will check out the picture control styles and profiles etc... I guess I just started wondering about the presets and all the fancy stuff on my camera that I have not had time to explore or know anything about because I am thinking of trying landscapes and fall colours.

I did have one individual send me a PM thanking me for asking this question, so I am not the only one in the world who doesn't know what presets do, just the only one who dares to ask dumb questions... :)

All that said I still can't figure out how to get to the pre-sets, so I will continue as I'm doing and try those options in LR... Time to start developing my own vision for my images...

Thank you.

---

The Picture Control is located under the Shooting Menu. Older cameras might have it located under the Custom Settting Menu.

Hi John,

It is not the picture controls I can't find or set, it is the Scenes. ie. landscape, portrait, blossoms, fall colours. My Manual states that I should rotate the dial to the Scene mode (done) and then press the info button to choose from a variety of scenes. Page 41 Nikon 7100. When I press the info button I bring up a menu to assign buttons on my camera, no scenes available.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shadowman

The Picture Control is located under the Shooting Menu. Older cameras might have it located under the Custom Settting Menu.

---

Here is another reason that I personally like to shoot in RAW. While cameras increase in image quality, the capability of post processing programs (as well as my skill in using them) also increase over the years.

Recently, I have been resurrecting some old (2010 Era) images that I shot in RAW with a Canon 30D camera and reprocessed them using NIK software. In some (actually most) cases; the results are superior to my original post processing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Christina S

Hi John,

It is not the picture controls I can't find or set, it is the Scenes. ie. landscape, portrait, blossoms, fall colours. My Manual states that I should rotate the dial to the Scene mode (done) and then press the info button to choose from a variety of scenes. Page 41 Nikon 7100. When I press the info button I bring up a menu to assign buttons on my camera, no scenes available.

---

Nikon must change the function keys on each new model released. On the D5200 you spin the Command Dial to scroll through selections.

It's okay. I've been shooting raw for a while now and the only reason I wanted to try the pre-sets was to see what they actually do to photos, as I was thinking I would learn something about processing and certain camera settings that I may not have tried out yet, by checking out the presets for scenes.

Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shadowman

Nikon must change the function keys on each new model released. On the D5200 you spin the Command Dial to scroll through selections.

---

Hi John,

Just to let you know that I found them! One has to hold the info button down and rotate the command dial at the same time... Truly appreciated.

Christina

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shadowman

Nikon must change the function keys on each new model released. On the D5200 you spin the Command Dial to scroll through selections.

---

Just a note to say that after trying the scene modes, blossom and landscape on colourful fall trees that I don't think they are very useful, unless one has absolutely no time to think, is a complete beginner.

For some reason I thought my fancy new camera would do all kinds of things in the scene mode that I didn't know about. What I didn't know was that you can't adjust for clipping, or focus or anything. Although the scene mode made my colours more vibrant that is about it.

What I did find more useful was to look at the exif data for a fall photo that I liked a lot (Kevin's recent fall foliage pic) and set my camera to that shutter speed and aperture, and adjust my camera settings from there.