Mar 12
How not to miss the info in the viewfinder?
Filed under: mercebank.com
  • Hello all,

    I keep trying to train myself to look at the info in the viewfinder of my camera, but most of the time i shoot blindly - taking care of the composition and timing, but failing to notice the exposure info. Most of the time this is not a problem, as i shoot in priority modes, but if i leave the camera on Manual or forget to change the ISO - i've got a mess on my hands.

    I only find the attention capacity to notice the viewfinder info in situations where not much is changing within the frame, but if it is a demonstration or if i'm scrambling to get a shot, i completely neglect what the camera is telling me - my eyes don't look that way and my brain just blocks that info out.

    So, my question is, first - do you find yourself struggling with this as well?
    Second - any suggestions on how to overcome this problem? Train myself to look for the info first?

    Common sense suggests using Manual, maybe i'll try that. Although, i suspect that would inherently slow down my shooting, and make me lose shots.

    What do you think?


  • I think the whole "forgot to drop the ISO" problem is pretty common. Everyone seems to do it now and again. I certainly do. What I've tried to do with this is adopt a habit of putting the camera back to my default settings everytime I put the camera down. That includes being on Aperature priority, and ISO 200.
    I do the exact same thing, aperture priority with around f.8 and ISO set to 200 so I know next time I am pulling my camera out of the bag it's ready to shoot.


  • Second - any suggestions on how to overcome this problem?

    Get into a routine for every shot you take and always do the same things in the same order. Depending on you shooting style in could be something like:

    1-Compose your shot
    2-Check the edges of the frame for unwanted objects in your picture
    3-Press the shutter half way
    4-Check the settings in the viewfinder
    5-Adjust settings if required
    6-Check #2 again
    7-Press the shutter

    If you always do it same way, checking the settings before shooting should become second nature.


  • I recommend the Voigtlander Speed meter II

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/355974-REG/Voigtlander_45AD104B_VC_Speed_Meter_II.html



    Thanks for you suggestions and advice, everybody.

    I thought that after a whole year of working for a national newspaper, taking tens of thousands of pictures, i would eventually stop disregarding the viewfinder. And while i do find myself improving in other aspects, such as checking whether or not the background is interefering with my subject, i still have problems with the technical info.I guess more practice is needed.

    Yesterday, as i was getting into my car, with my dog, there was a cat standing on the hood and looking very aggressive. The two had a whole mexican standoff through the windshield. By the time i noticed that the camera was in Manual and the exposure way off, i had taken 20 shots, and they were all ruined.

    usayit - I'm not sure i understand how this device is different from looking at the top lcd on my SLR, can you elaborate? It reminds me of my days of street shooting, where all the settings were preset, and once in a while i would check the top lcd and adjust.

    Thanks again.


  • usayit - I'm not sure i understand how this device is different from looking at the top lcd on my SLR, can you elaborate? It reminds me of my days of street shooting, where all the settings were preset, and once in a while i would check the top lcd and adjust.


    I don't believe all cameras have the readout on the top of the LCD... I was just assuming your s did not... hence my previous post. If you are shooting with a zoom, remember it is only metering the light coming in through the lens which can make for a less accurate "general reading". To compensate, you can zoom wide and take a meter for preset. Or point at the palm of your hand and preset the reading. Just like your days of street shooting, preset the exposure and focus on composition.


    In regards to forgetting about ISO. I do miss the ol'days when ISO was set via a dial on top of the camera. So far, I have only one digital camera that has that feature.... always reminds you to check ISO before shooting.


  • I have the same problem (and more than once, I've forgotten to drop my ISO from insanely high numbers that I had been shooting at the night before). I usually shoot Aperture Priority, so maybe going Manual is the key. I keep thinking of pasting a sign on the back of my camera saying "Check your ISO, stupid!"


  • Been there and done that too. :)

    I think the way around that is to specifically go out and pracitce with JUST that in mind (each pic you take, concentrate on framing, then stop and force yourself to look at the info, then perhaps compose and then take the pic... or chunk it into 2 steps if it is not comfortable from the start), then add composition later once looking at the camera info is 2nd nature. It is easy to get into a flow and not pay attention, but just be careful, that can turn into a bad habit.


  • Actually a few cameras I've used provide a quick reset. Holding the two green buttons on the D200 resets the ISO, whitebalance, quality, and drops it back to Programmed Auto mode.

    CHeck if your camera has this too.


  • What mode are you shooting in? I generally only look at the info in the viewfinder if I have a concern (is this fast enough to avoid motion blur? What's the aperture at again?), but that's because I shoot aperture priority almost exclusively when I'm shooting on the fly. That way, I know exactly what my aperture is set at and therefore have a fairly good idea of what my shutter speed will be. If I wonder, I can check, but I usually don't need to. If you're shooting in automatic or program automatic and you're thinking to check the settings, it's probably time to move on to a semi-automatic mode, and if you're already semi-auto it shouldn't take too much thought to have a good idea of what settings you're at. I guess to answer your question, I don't usually find this to be an issue, but I've been using my DSLR for a while and I'm very comfortable with it. Some of it just takes time.


  • It is so common, in fact, that I'm surprised the manufacturers don't have the camera reset itself when it is powered down.
    Now that would make me angry. I like to have my settings where they are at many times, unless they warrant changing.
    I totally agree with Overread. I dont even have to think of looking at my settings. I have learned to see them as I shoot and, with the digitals I have lerned to tweak the aperture and, shutter speed at the same time when in manual. It took alot of practice but, now it is second nature.


  • I think the only real answer is to shoot more!
    You missing or messing up shots due to incorrect settings is going to push you more to look at them more - and further the more you shoot the quicker you will be with checking settings, chaning settings and knowing what settings to be onto get the right shot.
    Experience in the field is - annoyingly - the best teacher of much of photography - and don't think the traditional shooters are any better - they still make mistakes like you will - the only difference is when you pay for each shot you tend to wake up and learn faster ;)

    A tip is to go out for the day and mentally limit yourself to a series of shots - say 30 - and only shoot 30, no matter what you see. You will find yourself thinking a lot more before you press the shutter than when you think you have 100s/1000s of shots to go


  • Hello all,

    I keep trying to train myself to look at the info in the viewfinder of my camera, but most of the time i shoot blindly - taking care of the composition and timing, but failing to notice the exposure info.


    How about do what a lot of rangefinder-at-the-hip shooters do...

    Get a hotshoe mount meter. It allows you to glance at exposures while the camera is hanging around your neck in between shots. You "preset" the exposure adjusting it every-once-in-a-while. When an opportunity for a shot arises, you are already set the go and you can focus on composition or shoot blindly. Basically, I am recommending that you get the exposure determined way ahead of time so you don't have to worry about it.

    I recommend the Voigtlander Speed meter II

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/355974-REG/Voigtlander_45AD104B_VC_Speed_Meter_II.html


    OH yes... I do struggle with it especially now when I don't get enough time to practice.


  • I think the whole "forgot to drop the ISO" problem is pretty common. Everyone seems to do it now and again. I certainly do. What I've tried to do with this is adopt a habit of putting the camera back to my default settings everytime I put the camera down. That includes being on Aperature priority, and ISO 200.



    It is so common, in fact, that I'm surprised the manufacturers don't have the camera reset itself when it is powered down.


  • I agree with overread.


  • I think the whole "forgot to drop the ISO" problem is pretty common. Everyone seems to do it now and again. I certainly do. What I've tried to do with this is adopt a habit of putting the camera back to my default settings everytime I put the camera down. That includes being on Aperature priority, and ISO 200.

    As far as looking at the settings, I know what you're talking about... I found I just had to train myself to do it. Always make a point to look down before you take the shot, even if you are in a priority or program mode. It takes a while, but the fact is your shots will benefit, because even in some of the priority modes you need to know what your camera thinks is ideal... and sometimes it may not be (such as in the case of too long of a shutter time).


  • I don't even notice that the viewfinder info is there unless I make a conscious effort to look at it. I wish it did show the ISO in there - I would check it a lot more. My camera (350D) doesn't actually show the ISO anywhere without turning the LCD on - which sucks because my LCD is broken.

    I do check the viewfinder info if I'm changing aperture or shutter speed without taking my eye away - just to verify what it's set to.


  • I haven't looked at the viewfinder info in ages. Typically though I try to set my camera back to ISO200 Aperture priority when I finish shooting.

    I tend to ignore all the exposure info. After a while I found that I could get a feel for how the camera would take a scene, and even before taking a shot bump up or down the exposure compensation. As another mentioned I only really check the settings if I'm worried (say it's getting dark and I know the camera must be somewhere near the dreaded 1/focal length shutterspeed rule of thumb for handheld shots).







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    rose @ March 12, 2010 edit