Changing shutter and f together in M mode (Nikon)

[wwong]

I use Nikon D700, from time to time I need to change either shutter speed or f under manual mode to get different looks of a shot. Instead of changing both independently, is there a way to change them synchronously while keeping the exposure constant? Long ago, I saw a Hasselblad MF lens shutter and aperture rings, once set, can turn together.

[srwatters]

Rather than using M mode, you can use either shutter priority (S) or aperture priority (A) with the correct exposure compensation that gives you the correct setting to match. Only issue is, unlink pure manual, the meter will be involved. I don't know of any way to lock the two values together while changing one. That's why it's called manual mode :-)

[auddii]

A photographer I work with showed me a trick for keeping your exposure the same. If you have to drop the speed of your shutter (slower, which lets in more light) by one stop, you can raise your aperture (higher number, which lets in less light) one stop, and the exposure will stay the same.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by auddii

A photographer I work with showed me a trick for keeping your exposure the same. If you have to drop the speed of your shutter (slower, which lets in more light) by one stop, you can raise your aperture (higher number, which lets in less light) one stop, and the exposure will stay the same.

Back in the day...
As wwong mentioned, various leaf shutter cameras offered an EV scale which matched light meters of the day. Rather than set shutter or aperture, you set an EV number read off of the light meter. You could then choose any combination of aperture & shutter (moving in opposite directions of course). As long as the EV number remained the same, the exposures were equal.

See how the aperture and shutter values are arranged in opposite directions:



The scientific explanation:

Exposure value - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have never seen a camera with a focal plane shutter that could use the EV scale.

[shiladityab]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Rather than using M mode, you can use either shutter priority (S) or aperture priority (A) with the correct exposure compensation that gives you the correct setting to match. Only issue is, unlink pure manual, the meter will be involved. I don't know of any way to lock the two values together while changing one. That's why it's called manual mode :-)

...unless one is using a separate light meter, even in M mode the in-built
meter would be active, won't it?

also what OPis asking for sounds like the 'Program Auto' or 'Auto Shift' or some combination there off as available in Canon (at least in 10D.)

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by shiladityab

...unless one is using a separate light meter, even in M mode the in-built
meter would be active, won't it?

also what OPis asking for sounds like the 'Program Auto' or 'Auto Shift' or some combination there off as available in Canon (at least in 10D.)

The meter is active in "M" mode, but unless you're using auto ISO, it isn't involved in changing the exposure. That's the responsibility of the loose nut behind the camera

I will often times make a few test shots in aperture priority mode, note the settings the camera used, then switch to manual mode modifying those settings to suit my needs. An external meter could also help with that, but if you don't have spot metering or are just plain lazy and don't want to walk over to your subject, it seems to work just fine!

[shiladityab]

Scott, thanks for the clarification. I have not used the M mode in my DSLR, but used it often in my film SLR. There I used to set my focus, and get a combination of shutter speed and f-stop to put the little thingy at the bottom of the viewfinder to match up to zero. Later on (after joining TPF) realized that I was just following what the camera meter was telling me to do :) Gotten slightly better now (dialing in -0.3EV always.) but still have a long way to go.

[Outlander]

Originally Posted by auddii

A photographer I work with showed me a trick for keeping your exposure the same. If you have to drop the speed of your shutter (slower, which lets in more light) by one stop, you can raise your aperture (higher number, which lets in less light) one stop, and the exposure will stay the same.

ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture = the Holy Trinity of photography.
If a photographer doesn't understand this relationship they should not be shooting in manual.
shutter speed effects the appearance of motion.
Aperture affects the DOF.
ISO affects the sensor noise.

Shutter speed and Aperture affect the amount of light to the sensor.
ISO affects the sensitivity of the sensor.

You can manipulate them all to get the proper exposure but must be aware that changing one will also affect the appearance of the image..

[venchka]

Originally Posted by auddii

A photographer I work with showed me a trick for keeping your exposure the same. If you have to drop the speed of your shutter (slower, which lets in more light) by one stop, you can raise your aperture (higher number, which lets in less light) one stop, and the exposure will stay the same.

That isn't a trick. It is how photography has worked since adjustable shutters and apertures came into being.

[auddii]

Originally Posted by venchka

That isn't a trick. It is how photography has worked since adjustable shutters and apertures came into being.

But it seems so much cooler if you pretend it's prestidigitation!

[wwong]

Thanks all. Guess no trick around, but to turn dials up and down.

[Ahh!]

I just count off the clicks in one direction, and then the other.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by auddii

But it seems so much cooler if you pretend it's prestidigitation!

Yes. Of course.

With electronic manipulation of shutter & aperture, a linked EV scale should be a piece of cake. I guess the problem is 99.9% of the programmers and 99% of the users never heard of EV.

[wwong]

Originally Posted by Ahh!

I just count off the clicks in one direction, and then the other.

I am good for 1 stop change. Non "round" f/ numbers always get me and there is a lot of clicks at 1/3 step from 2.8 to 22 (extreme).

Originally Posted by venchka

With electronic manipulation of shutter & aperture, a linked EV scale should be a piece of cake. I guess the problem is 99.9% of the programmers and 99% of the users never heard of EV.

Exactly what I am thinking! The Fn button can be programmed to make shutter or f/ change by 1-stop at a time (default is 1/3).

Why not create another entry called "EV lock", when hold/push, dial turn will change both s and f/ in, say, 1/2 or 1 EV.

Nikon, are you listening?

[venchka]

Originally Posted by wwong

I am good for 1 stop change. Non "round" f/ numbers always get me and there is a lot of clicks at 1/3 step from 2.8 to 22 (extreme).



Exactly what I am thinking! The Fn button can be programmed to make shutter or f/ change by 1-stop at a time (default is 1/3).

Why not create another entry called "EV lock", when hold/push, dial turn will change both s and f/ in, say, 1/2 or 1 EV.

Nikon, are you listening?

Probably not. Canon is also deaf to this.

EDIT: Workaround. Set the camera to either Aperture or Shutter priority. Change one and the other follows in the opposite direction to maintain the same exposure.