Photography Stack Exchange
Photography Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
81
votes
16 answers

What advantages does manual mode have over aperture priority mode?

I'm wondering what are the most compelling reasons to switch to manual mode on my DSLR. I mostly just use aperture priority mode so I have good control over the depth of field combined with an awareness of the shutter speed that goes with it. My…
Hamish Downer
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6 answers

How do I generate high quality prints with an ink jet printer?

Creating high-quality photo prints using an ink jet printer is no trivial matter. Depending on the tonal range and color depth desired and the expected viewing platform, how you approach printing may differ. The choices you make when printing also…
jrista
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16 answers

Is it lenses which make your photographs, not camera bodies?

I read somewhere on this site itself that you should spend more on your lenses and less on your camera bodies. Is it a myth or a fact that mostly it is the lenses which make your photographs not the camera bodies? If it is true, then on what basis?
Aquarius_Girl
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76
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23 answers

What kind of photography is still better done with film cameras?

Are there any kind of photography left today which digital cameras are still in the disadvantage to film cameras?
txwikinger
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76
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20 answers

How do I set the proper exposure for nighttime moon photos?

All my attempts to get a good shot of the full moon with my DSLR result in an overexposed circle on a black background. I've tried using a tripod, remote shutter release, low ISO, and long exposure, but nothing has worked so far. What combination…
BigEndian
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76
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15 answers

How does one focus for landscape photos in very dark conditions?

Tonight I tried my best to take some night landscapes in the darkest of dark conditions. Hoping for an epic composition of the Milky Way and a landmark. Of course, none of my glass could auto focus with nothing more than dots in the sky to lock on.…
Canon Gangsta
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74
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7 answers

How is ISO implemented in digital cameras?

If I change the ISO settings on my camera, obviously the gain of the system is increased, amplifying the signal from the sensor. What's not clear to me is where the amplification takes place. I see several possibilities: In the sensor, by…
Evan Krall
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73
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11 answers

Are there any downsides to using a good-quality UV filter?

Are there any real downsides to using a UV filter? I know that a poor quality UV filter can effect image quality ... but, assuming I use a good quality UV filter, will that actually be an issue? Is there any other reason not to use one?
David G
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72
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7 answers

What am I photographing INSIDE my camera?

I've been experimenting with low light photography. I've photographed something weird inside my camera and don't really know what it is. This is the image initially taken... Seems inoccuious enough. After some processing though, I found the…
Paul Uszak
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72
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16 answers

Is there a free program to (batch) change photo file's date to match EXIF?

I want to specify a directory and have the software find all the photos in the directory and its sub-directories, and if they contain EXIF date/time, it sets their filesystem timestamp to match the EXIF.
Mawg says reinstate Monica
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70
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9 answers

What is the 'Golden Ratio' and why is it better than the 'Rule of Thirds?'

Somebody recently told me that I will be able to compose more pleasing pictures if I use the Golden Ratio instead of the Rule of Thirds, and that the Rule of Thirds was an inferior way to compose photographs. What is the Golden Ratio, how can I…
Jay Lance Photography
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70
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6 answers

Why are wide-angle lenses so much more expensive?

What is it about wide-angle lenses that makes them so much more expensive than an equivalent-quality tele or prime lens? Take the Canon EF-S 10-22mm USM, for example. RRP is nearly £1,000! Are they very much more difficult/expensive to make? I'd…
Neil Barnwell
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70
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12 answers

Is there a noticeable difference between 1.8 and 1.4 prime lenses?

I have been shopping around for a prime lens for my Nikon D50. I noticed that the 1.8 is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the 1.4 AF-S. What will I gain for that cost difference? Is it really noticeable?
jessegavin
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70
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14 answers

When is black and white likely to enhance an image?

I recently had a play with converting some images to black and white to see how that changed the image. Some baby photos came out particularly well, while others I tried seemed less interesting when in black and white. I'm wondering what causes…
Hamish Downer
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70
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14 answers

Is there any significant difference between Nikon and Canon?

I'm considering purchasing a DSLR for the first time here in the next couple of months. The two "big boys" seem to be Canon and Nikon. I've looked at both companies, and I can't really see significant differences between the two. Are there…
Billy ONeal
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