EXIF- Is it important to you and why?

[iCe]

Chris's thread and Don's response reminded me of a question that I have wanted to ask for some time.

I post on another site occasionally and one of the requirements of posting an image there is to post the EXIF or at least iso, shutter speed, f stop, lens, and camera. I've never understood the value in that. To me it is what it is and what my settings are when I take a particular image has no real value for someone that may want to shoot the same subject later.

So I'm wondering- if you like to see the EXIF what do you do with it? What value does it add to the post. I'm not picking on you. I just want to know...

[Tom]

It definitely has some value in learning. When you are trying to figure out the balance between exposure/noise/DOF, knowing the f/x and ISO certainly help a lot.

If I am giving a critique, it can help me to go back to what the photographer was thinking and say "well, you need to open it up a little so you can use a higher shutter." or whatever.

It kinda cracks me up when I am doing studio shots and someone asks the exif. Kinda doesn't matter unless you know the light power and distance. Just assume 1/160 f/9 100.

[ChristopherCoy]

Personally... if and when I look at exif, its usually for a specific reason. A prime example is shots using OCF. Cody and Mike taught me how to use OCF to darken out the ambient, and highlight the wedding couple during the first dance, so that you dont see Uncle Harry in the BG taking shots. Because I haven't mastered OCF yet, I'll often look at exif to see what aperture/fstop combo the photog used so that I can get an idea of where I need to be to accomplish the same results.

[iCe]

Interesting. I can't remember ever using EXIF but I can see how it might help.

Chris- sometimes the technique that you described is done in photoshop so EXIF won't be much help in that case. I don't do much people stuff so my primary use for flash is for macro photography. The dark background look isn't much desired in macro. In those rare moments of people / flash work I just meter the background and set the flash about 2/3 - 1-1/3 stop over, chimp, and shoot till I like it. That becomes the setting unless the bg ambient light changes. Obviously that's a "preplanned" thing not spur of the moment.

[donlfaulkner]

EXIF is a learning tool for me. It helps to know what settings the photographer used so I can compare what I did and better understand what I did wrong or (on those rare occasions) right.

By the way (I have never been good with acronymns), what is OCF? Off Camera Focus?

[dlanter]

For me EXIF is a semi-important learning tool. For example, I don't do very much landscape shooting so my knowledge is weak in that area. In your 'Bridges' post I would have guessed that you needed to shoot that at f11 or smaller to keep everything in focus front to back. But the EXIF told me that you accomplished that at f8.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by iCe

Chris- sometimes the technique that you described is done in photoshop so EXIF won't be much help in that case.

True. That was just an example though. I've learned a lot of other things as well.

[iCe]

Originally Posted by dlanter

For me EXIF is a semi-important learning tool. For example, I don't do very much landscape shooting so my knowledge is weak in that area. In your 'Bridges' post I would have guessed that you needed to shoot that at f11 or smaller to keep everything in focus front to back. But the EXIF told me that you accomplished that at f8.

I've been on an F8 and be there kick lately Dan. It works pretty well for landscape work. Check out the DOF of a 24mm lens. Lens selection matters.

Subject distance 300 ft

Depth of field
Near limit 7.67 ft
Far limit Infinity
Total Infinite

In front of subject 292.3 ft
Behind subject Infinite

Hyperfocal distance 7.95 ft
Circle of confusion 0.03 mm

Keep everything else the same and change to a 200mm lens

Subject distance 300 ft

Depth of field
Near limit 193.9 ft
Far limit 662.9 ft
Total 469 ft

In front of subject 106.1 ft (23%)
Behind subject 362.9 ft (77%)

Hyperfocal distance 547.5 ft
Circle of confusion 0.03 mm

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by iCe

I've been on an F8 and be there kick lately Dan....

How do you actually 'enjoy' photography with that much mathematics, numbers, and equations? I'd drive myself bat S**T crazy if I had to calculate all of that before I took a photo....

[Lexie]

Learning tool for me also. Not to shoot the same subject at a different time, but just, "How did they do that?" to compare with how I did on a similar subject. Well, what Don said.............To see what I did wrong/right. Also use it to teach others that want to know......."How did they do that?"

[dlanter]

The lens selection is the main reason I checked the EXIF of that photo. My widest lens is also a 24mm, but of course I'm sure your full frame makes a difference as compared to my crop body.

[iCe]

How do you actually 'enjoy' photography with that much mathematics, numbers, and equations? I'd drive myself bat S**T crazy if I had to calculate all of that before I took a photo....

I don't even think about it anymore other than to set the f stop @ f8 and adjust shutter as needed for good exposure (adjust ISO if I need to). I know that the 24mm lens will give me near infinite DOF and I go from there. These days I shoot with primes more than anything else. I change lenses for composition if needed but I don't do that very often. After a while you kind of "know" what lens will work for whatever.

Originally Posted by dlanter

The lens selection is the main reason I checked the EXIF of that photo. My widest lens is also a 24mm, but of course I'm sure your full frame makes a difference as compared to my crop body.

What seems like a long time ago Russell Graves convinced me to switch to manual settings. I never looked back once I switched. Shooting manual is a good "learning tool".

FF makes a little difference but not much. I use both FF and crop body camera's.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by iCe

What seems like a long time ago Russell Graves convinced me to switch to manual settings. I never looked back once I switched. Shooting manual is a good "learning tool".

I've never shot anything but manual. In fact, I find it cumbersome to shoot in Aperture, or Shutter priority, although I'm getting a little better with it. I have to stop and think in those two modes, more than I do in manual.

[iCe]

In my film days I was an AV shooter. I don't think I would do very well with any of the auto modes anymore... if I ever did

[Hanky]

Originally Posted by donlfaulkner

EXIF is a learning tool for me. It helps to know what settings the photographer used so I can compare what I did and better understand what I did wrong or (on those rare occasions) right.

By the way (I have never been good with acronymns), what is OCF? Off Camera Focus?

I'm guessing "on camera fix" care to enlighten us Pet master?