Manual Mode

Manual Mode

Manual Mode Camera Setting

Manual Mode allows you to change/ adjust the three key exposure settings to perfectly expose and style your image.

  •  Aperture (depth of field)
  • Shutter Speed (motion blur/freeze)
  • ISO (light sensitivity/grain)

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Reminder

    • Aperture: Controls the lens opening, affecting how much light enters and the depth of field (how much of the image is in focus).
      • Wide aperture (small f-number like f/1.8): More light, shallow depth of field (blurry background for portraits).
      • Narrow aperture (large f-number like f/16): Less light, deep depth of field (more of the scene in focus for landscapes).
    • Shutter Speed: Determines how long the sensor is exposed to light, controlling motion blur.
      • Fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000s): Freezes action, less light.
      • Slow shutter speed (e.g., 1/30s): Blurs motion, more light (use with a tripod for handheld).
    • ISO: Adjusts sensor sensitivity to light.
      • Low ISO (e.g., 100): Less sensitive, less grain (ideal in bright light).
      • High ISO (e.g., 1600+): More sensitive, more grain/noise (for low light). 
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How to Photograph in Manual Mode

  • The Dial will be on  M
  • You will be able to control 3 parts of the camera
    • Aperture
    • Shutter Speed
    • ISO

 

Manual Mode in 3 Easy Steps

You will be making 3 decisions when taking photos in Manual Mode.  Everyone can make 3 decisions 🙂

  1. Pick the ISO
  2. Pick the Aperture
  3. Change the shutter speed for correct exposure

Step 1: ISO

 

 Step 2:  Aperture

 

  • To change the Aperture in Manual Mode
    • Click and HOLD the Av  button on the back of your camera
    • Move the dial ontop of the camera as you hold the AV button

  • You will see the F/ change numbers on the back of your camera

 

 Step 3:  You will now be changing your Shutter Speed

  • Press your shutter slightly to focus and take a Take a “light reading”
    • The vertical line or “ticker” underneath the Shutter Speed graph will move according to the light reading

View Finder or Back Screen?

  • To see the ticker/shutter speed you may use
    • Back of the camera screen
    • Inside the bottom of View Finder: Green graph at the bottom of the viewing area in the view finder

How to Change the Shutter Speed / Ticker: 

  • Scroll with the Dial at the top of the camera to the left or right
    • This will change the Shutter Speed and The “ticker” on the graph
      • This will be changing the shutter speed and  how much light gets into the camera
        

******** Remember: You  want to keep your shutter speed as fast while at the same time getting correct exposure ***********************

 

What happens when the Ticker is not in the Middle of the Graph?

OVEREXPOSED/Slower Shutter

  • If the ticker is to the Right of center
    • Photo will be OVEREXPOSED (to much light)
      • Will have a slower shutter speed
        • The more the ticker moves to the Right
          • The more Overexposed (light) the photo will be and Slower the Shutter

           

UNDEREXPOSED/Faster Shutter

  • If the ticker is to the Left of center
    • Photo will be UnderEXPOSED (Less Light)
      • Will have a Faster shutter speed
        • The more the ticker moves to the Left
          • The more Underexposed (darker) the photo will be and Faster Shutter the shutter
     

Correct Exposure

  • If the ticker is in the center
    • Photo will have Correct Exposure

               

 

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Mrs McElfish Personal Tip:

You want to err on the side of underexposing your photo (darker/faster shutter speed) as apposed to erring on the side of overexposing photo (lighter/slower shutter speed)

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