PhilMurrow
newbie
Reged: 20/06/2008
Posts: 3
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Can anyone help - my D80 in either Auto Mode or Program mode in good lighting chooses shutter speeds and aperture combinations such as F3.5 1/3 , F5 1/13 or F4 1/4.
I get a lot of blurred pictures - Nikon suggest choosing Speed priority but sometimes I just need to be able to take quick candid pictures.
Is this normal , should the camera choose settings which cannot be used without a tripod? or can the D80 not be used for candid "snaps"?
Any help appreciated
Thanks
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9477
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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I would have to say, IMO, no this is not normal. I would not expect either Auto or Program to set a shutter speed that is below the typical "1/focal length" rule - eg for a 50mm lens this would be 1/50, the camera ought to set the shutter speed to 1/60s being the nearest actual setting. Only in poor lighting should the speed drop below this value and only then when the lens aperture cannot be opened any further, often the shutter speed value will flash as a warning.
I presume that by good light you mean outdoors in normal daylight? - though frankly I'd expect massive overexposure if this were the case. The values you quote are typical of those I would expect indoors. What ISO setting are you using and does increasing it improve the set shutter speed. Don't forget that the human eye has a vastly superior EV range to any camera and what looks like good light to you may well not be to the camera...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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PhilMurrow
newbie
Reged: 20/06/2008
Posts: 3
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Thanks Nigel , yes you are correct the problem does seem to occur mostly indoors but with very good lighting such a bright sunlight through a nearby window and the pictures do not seem to be overexposed but very blurry.
Most of my pictures are of our little boy so "candid" is the order of the day.
It is very frustrating when my wife can get better results using a cheap "point & press" camera but I have to fiddle with speed priority settings (film speed set at 100).
I thought that as you say the camera would choose a speed/aperture combo that would eliminate shake if it could - I'm just a novice but couldnt the camera choose a wider aperture and a faster speed and still get the same exposure?
Thanks again
Phil
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IvorETower
Little Buttercup
Reged: 15/11/2006
Posts: 1760
Loc: Camberley, Surrey
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You can adjust the choice of shutter speed and aperture combinations by rotating the dial on the rear of the top-plate. Sounds like you have scrolled it so that it is now biased towards slow shutter speeds. Try looking at the LCD display as you rotate the wheel - You should find that you can adjust the combinations yourself. Also, have you checked other factors, such as exposure compensation, which may affect the "default" choice that the camera is making?
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Too many cameras, too many lenses.......
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9477
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
It is very frustrating when my wife can get better results using a cheap "point & press" camera but I have to fiddle with speed priority settings (film speed set at 100).
I thought that as you say the camera would choose a speed/aperture combo that would eliminate shake if it could - I'm just a novice but couldn't the camera choose a wider aperture and a faster speed and still get the same exposure?
A lot depends on the P&S camera she used. In Fully Automatic a lot of them include automatic ISO alteration as part of the programme. This means that the camera will up the ISO as soon as it thinks things are getting a bit slow. Usually the flash is activated automatically too.
DSLR's, especially the more advanced models, tend to assume that in most cases you are taking considered pictures and working from a degree of experience and so most of the P&S style automation is not applied. More basic models like the D40/60 are likely to have more P&S functionality than the D80. There may be a scene mode available designed for indoor work which might possibly include auto ISO adjustment that you could use. Alternatively it may be best to leave the ISO set at 400 and only set it lower when you need to...
Judging from your original post the lens appears to have gone as wide as it can (f3.5, suggests a kit lens; 18-70 or 18-55 type?). To get a faster aperture requires either a more expensive zoom that can open up to f2.8 or perhaps a 50mm f1.8 (you won't get faster for so little outlay).
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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ermintrude
Hinkypuff
Reged: 30/06/2003
Posts: 12550
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Thanks Nigel , yes you are correct the problem does seem to occur mostly indoors but with very good lighting such a bright sunlight through a nearby window and the pictures do not seem to be overexposed but very blurry.
Most of my pictures are of our little boy so "candid" is the order of the day.
It is very frustrating when my wife can get better results using a cheap "point & press" camera but I have to fiddle with speed priority settings (film speed set at 100).
I thought that as you say the camera would choose a speed/aperture combo that would eliminate shake if it could - I'm just a novice but couldnt the camera choose a wider aperture and a faster speed and still get the same exposure?
Thanks again
Phil
If you're shooting indoors ISO100 is nowhere near adequate, I would expect at least 400 even on a bright day, so I can only guess the camera is choosing the widest aperture possible because its auto mode does not include selecting the appropriate ISO.
Also, I take it the *whole* pic is blurry and it's not just that your little one moving? Candid shots of kids to tend to need very fast shutter speeds.
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ham888
member
Reged: 11/06/2008
Posts: 193
Loc: Worcestreshire
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Hello,
I too have a D80 - and somewhat of a newbie.
This guide helped me
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/index.htm
In P mode you can set the Iso setting to auto - so even though you have a default of Iso100 if the camera needs to change this it can.
Also as others have said in P mode you can spin the rear dial for alternative shutter speed / aperture combo's.
I have found Iso 100 is not suitable for indoors with the lighting you describe.
Also you may have made some strange settings on the camera trying to find a solution - a reset to the 'standard' settings may help, then go from there?
Harry
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Harry
My Flickr
Edited by ham888 (20/06/2008 14:46)
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Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 4338
Loc: Devon, UK.
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"F3.5 1/3 , F5 1/13 or F4 1/4" are NOT exposures I would expect for "good light" conditions - and (as said above) ISO 100 is way to slow for most indoor shots - try ISO 400 or faster - shots may get a bit "noisy" but should be less prone to shakes.
I would second the advice above to get hold of a 50mm f/1.8 (or even f/1.4 if funds allow) since the extra speed of the lens will allow faster speeds, especially if combined with higher sensitivity. If the noise gets too obtrusive, there are plenty of noise reduction programmes available, or a conversion to B&W can make the noise look like film grain which can be effective in some shots.
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MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
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PhilMurrow
newbie
Reged: 20/06/2008
Posts: 3
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Guys - I have never used a forum like this before - the responses have all been fantastic - thank you all - I have learned so much and now have a better understanding about the D80.
Thanks again - wish I could buy you all a pint!
Phil
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