Shooting in Automatic Depth of Field AE.

First, you need to select the Automatic Depth of Field Mode at the camera Mode Dial. You might found your Dial looks different, but I'm sure you can find the A-DEP icon ( In red circle) at the Dial :)

So, what does Automatic Depth of Field Mode do? Let's begin. These are the setting for my camera, but it will be about the same as yours as well. Do not worry ^^

Aperture = Auto

Shutter Speed = Auto

Exposure = Not Available

ISO Speed = Selectable

Picture Style = Selectable

White Balance = Selectable

AF Mode = Selectable

AF Point Selection = Not Available

Drive Mode = Selectable

Metering Mode = Selectable

Built-in Flash = Selectable

The objective of Automatic Depth of Field is to focus all subjects. Actually it sounds like compact camera to me because everything in target will be sharp and clear. The AF point is not selectable because all nine focus point well be in focused in order to capture close and everything clear picture. It works like Program AE but in different way.

A-DEP Mode is slightly similar with Close-Up Mode as well. The Aperture is in high f-number to narrow the depth of field. Therefore, all nine AF Point auto focus and narrow depth of field, it works just like "multi-focus" in compact camera. :)

By the way, since A-DEP Mode will automatically narrow the Depth of Field, the Shutter Speed will decrease in order to get enough Exposure. While you try to shoot a macro photography, slightly moved will cause blur result. Therefore, you are advised to use tripod or increase the ISO speeds.

However, users are allowed to control the picture style, white balance and etc to create special effect. 

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Shooting in Aperture-Priority Mode

First, you need to select the Aperture-Priority Mode at the camera Mode Dial. You might found your Dial looks different, but I'm sure you can find the Av icon ( In red circle) at the Dial :)

So, what does Aperture-Priority Mode do? Let's begin. These are the setting for my camera, but it will be about the same as yours as well. Do not worry ^^

Aperture = Selectable

Shutter Speed = Auto

Exposure = Selectable

ISO Speed = Selectable

Picture Style = Selectable

White Balance = Selectable

AF Mode = Selectable

AF Point Selection = Selectable

Drive Mode = Selectable

Metering Mode = Selectable

Built-in Flash = Selectable

Most of the settings are selectable in Aperture-Priority Mode, it is about the SAME as Exposure-Priority Mode.  I would say there is no more honeymoon for user who choose this Mode. There are many things to aware and you need to try different setting in different situation, Manually :)

The Shutter Speed is in Auto. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the Aperture, Exposure and ISO Speeds for a normal shooting, just ignore the white balance, drive mode and etc at the beginning. If you choose Aperture Mode, I believe you want the subject to stand out more and blur unwanted background in most case. I will show it step by step, in simple way.

1) Set your desire Exposure.

2) Set your desire f-number. Do you still remember the chapter "Controlling the Depth of Field" ? I think I should repeat it again, simple one.

- If you higher the f-number, the Depth of Field will be wider. Therefore, both in front and back of the subject will be focus. 

- If you lower the f-number, the Depth of Field will be narrower. Therefore, only the subject is sharp and clear, most photographers like to create a soft background for portraits.

- I believe it is rare to see the Shutter Speed blinking (In Green Circle ) to show an error because of overexposure or underexposure. If you maximize the f-number and Exposure, the Shutter Speed will be slower, and you probably will get a blur image instead of overexposure ( Unless you shoot to the Sun, It is not recommended to do so without a proper filter ).

- If you minimize the f-number and Exposure, trust me, the Shutter Speed is fast enough for you to play around. :)

3) Set your desire ISO Speeds.

-If you found you can't get a satisfy result because of the dark environment, set the ISO speeds higher in order to increase the Shutter Speed to freeze the motion.

- You are advised to skip directly to Step 10 because the AF Point, AF Mode, Metering Mode, Drive Mode, White Balance, Picture Style and Built-in Flash are about the Same as Exposure-Priority Mode.

4) Set your desire AF Point.
- You can select your desire AF Point in this Mode. Unlike Auto Mode, Portrait Mode, Landscape Mode and etc, you can now choose the point you want to be focused. The Red Square shows the selected AF Point.

5) Try to focus with Manual Focus.
- I strongly recommend the user who choose Aperture-Priority Mode use Manual Focus. All you need to do is push the button from AF to MF.

Well, although Auto Focus is very convenient in most of the time, you need to try Manual Focus in order to improve your skill. Also, Manual Focus save more battery than Auto Focus. If you do not have a Battery Grip ( I only use it when I attach the External Flash ), you can use Manual Focus so your battery can last for the whole day.

6) Set the AF Mode.

- I'm sorry to tell you that you are not allowed to use AF Mode if you are using Manual Focus. It is because once you selected Manual Focus, all the AF Mode selection will not works. Switch back to Auto Focus to capture moving objects. :)

7) Try different Drive Mode for continuous action.

- There are 5 different Drive Mode for my camera, which are Single, Low-Speed continuous Shutter, High-Speed Continuous Shutter, 2 seconds Timer and 10 seconds Timer.

The first thing you need to aware is light source. If the environment is too dark, you can forget about the Continuous Shutter because you will not get a sharp and clear picture. Please refer back to chapter "How to Freeze Motion?".

8) Set your desire Metering Mode.

- Please refer back to chapter "How does Metering Mode work?"

9) Set your desire Drive Mode

- Please refer back to chapter "How does Drive Mode work?"

10) Set your desire White Balance and Picture Style.
- As a photographer, remember one important thing.

"Arrive the Destination EARLIER and Try the Best White Balance and Picture Style Setting."

Well, I believe you will need to understand the environment before the wedding dinner or party get started. The light sources are not going to change (unless at outdoors) and probably you can try on different White Balance and Picture Style, look for the best setting so you will not screw your job. :)

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How to Use Close-Up Mode?

First, you need to select the Close-Up Mode at the camera Mode Dial. You might found your Dial looks different, but I'm sure you can find the flower icon ( In red circle) at the Dial :)

So, what does Close-Up Mode do? Let's begin. These are the setting for my camera, but it will be about the same as yours as well. Do not worry ^^

Aperture = Auto

Shutter Speed = Auto

Exposure = Not Available

ISO Speed = Auto

Picture Style = Standard

White Balance = Auto

AF Mode = One Shot

AF Point Selection = Auto

Drive Mode = Single

Metering Mode = Evaluative

Built-in Flash = Auto

Do you remember the chapters "How to Use Portrait Mode" and "Controlling the Depth of Field"? In Close-Up Mode, you can't control the Aperture because it is in Auto. But, the camera is designed to use lower f-number Aperture in order to narrow the depth of field and make the background blur.

There are something similar between Portrait Mode and Close-Up Mode because both of these Modes are using a lower f-number to blur the background. So what is the different between these 2 Modes?

Portrait Mode is designed for tuning the skin's tones in order to have a healthier, lighter and softer result. Of course, Portrait Mode colour control will not only target the subject, it target Everything in the picture. The colour of Portrait Mode will be lighter most of the time, compare with Close-Up Mode. Therefore, I would say the main difference between these 2 Modes is the Colour.

Some model of compact digital camera will automatically switch into Close-Up Mode if you put your camera near to the target, even the target is a human being. The digital camera does not know whether it is a skin or a flower, insect, food and etc. The distance of focus determine the Mode as well. 

By the way, I do prefer to Zoom In to the target instead of getting close to it. It is because some Lens have a minimum distance and if you get too close, you will not able to focus. Also, you might disturb the target (animal, insect, or something holding on someone's hand), I believe that is not a good move. :)

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Controlling the Depth of Field

What is Depth of Field? Depth of Field is the area focus of your camera, which means the distance in front and behind the focused subject. Changing the Aperture will affects the Depth of Field, larger Aperture wider the Depth of Field, and smaller Aperture narrower the Depth of Field.

When you wider the Depth of Field, you will get everything focus in the picture (Not exactly focus but will be very clear as well) . Most of the time we wider the Depth of Field in sceneries such as mountain, waterfall, jungle and etc. the grass in the front and the cloud at the back are all focus. And guess what, compact camera will automatically wider the Depth of Field ( or activate multiple focus function) most of the time, so everything will be focused.

Why do we need to narrow the Depth of Field ? We do not want part of the subjects in the picture get blur, do we?  As you can see, only the subject is focus while the background is blurred. So, it makes the subject stand out more. In some case, due to the environment, you need to blur the background because there are unwanted things such as bag, boxes and cabinet behind the subject.

Of course, you are advised to choose a better background as well :) 

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