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I have a Canon 450D, when I want more information on what setting I used to take a photo, I can hit the display button and see that I took that particular picture in Auto Mode or TV Mode etc. Once I have downloaded the picture to my computer, Windows 7 and the Windows Library I cannot tell what mode I have shot the picture in, this gives part of the the information but, as far as I can see, not about the mode. When I download the pictures I usually wipe the SD Card because I need to use the space on it.

I am trying to learn what worked and what didn't, so I am just wondering am I missing something? Otherwise, after every photo I take, I'm going to have to write down what mode I took it in at the time.

mattdm
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Tracey B
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2 Answers2

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You can use an exif reader (like exiftool) to find out this information. For instance, I am checking a picture of mine and I can see

Exposure Time: 1/250

F Number: 8.0

Exposure Program: Program AE

ISO: 200

Program AE is Aperture priority. A quick google search (for "exposure program exif") offers the following values (taken from this link):

  • 0 = Not defined
  • 1 = Manual
  • 2 = Normal program
  • 3 = Aperture priority
  • 4 = Shutter priority
  • 5 = Creative program (biased toward depth of field)
  • 6 = Action program (biased toward fast shutter speed)
  • 7 = Portrait mode (for closeup photos with the background out of focus)
  • 8 = Landscape mode (for landscape photos with the background in focus)

But note that to know what worked and what didn't work you don't strictly need the name of the mode. What is really important is the combination (the so called exposure triangle, or better tricycle, as @mattdm clearly explains) of ISO, shutter speed and aperture (and exposure compensation...).

The various camera mode only help you in setting these values: but in the end is up to you to say "look, I really would have liked to expose more for this part of the photo, and under expose this other part...".

What you will observe is that some mode are more helpful in some situations and other in others (e.g. if you are trying to freeze action, shutter priority is much more useful than aperture priority). But it is the final combination of values which really matters to you.

Community
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Francesco
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    Thank you Francesco for your reply. I thought as I am trying to decifer and retain so much information, that it was a good starting point. However I understand clearly what you are saying, I will also have a look at @mattdm"better tricycle" and hopefully things will start to make sense. Thank you again. – Tracey B Sep 22 '12 at 08:17
  • Glad to help :-) – Francesco Sep 22 '12 at 08:36
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You can load program Zoombrowser, I use this one

Jan
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