I'm lost

Ps1821 · Jan 25, 2013

I have just started getting into film photography. But I'm a little confused about shutter speeds. I just bought an old canon ft ql. I just need a jump start. Any info you have for me would be much appreciated!

ME Super · Jan 25, 2013

How are you confused? More detail about how you are confused would be helpful, but maybe the following will help get you started.

I wrote a couple short articles about the relationships between shutter speed and aperture. You can find them at https://fotodad.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/math-and-photography/ and https://fotodad.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/strange-number-sequence-in-photography/. The first one gives you a quick overview on the relationship between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. The second one goes more into apertures and why they follow a seemingly odd sequence.

kbrede · Jan 25, 2013

Which part is confusing you? The slower the shutter speed the more light is let in. The faster the shutter speed the less light is let in. Faster shutter speeds can freeze motion, slower speeds allow bluring of motion.

tkamiya · Jan 25, 2013

Here's a link to an online source of the manual for your camera. Page 12 and later explain shutter speed settings.

http://www.cameramanuals.org/canon_pdf/canon_ft_ql.pdf

tony lockerbie · Jan 26, 2013

Once was lost, and now you are found...welcome to Apug.

Jeff Kubach · Jan 26, 2013

It may sound confusing at first but you will get the hang of it. Check out your local library. BTW welcome to APUG.

Jeff

summicron1 · Jan 26, 2013

canon ftql is one of the great cameras. does the meter work? Make sure it has a battery, read through the manual linked above, find some basic books on photography at the library and wander through those so you can get a feel for how high and low speeds and wide or narrow lens openings work together.

Then put a roll of film in it and screw up -- i guarantee this, but if you pay attention to what you're doing at the time you will figure it out by the 3rd roll and you're on you way.

EASmithV · Jan 26, 2013

just remember, 1 shutter speed lower is equivalent to equivalent to 1 lens f-stop smaller

1 shutter speed = 1 aperture, with regards to light hitting the film

For broad daylight photo taking, set your shutter speed to the speed of the film you're using (or as close to it as you can) and set the lens setting to 16 and you're good to go. clouds or a little darker, set it to f8 or f11

fotch · Jan 26, 2013

Hello Ps1821 and welcome to APUG. You are no longer lost now that your here, perhaps confused, but not lost.

Chan Tran · Jan 26, 2013

I am afraid Ps1821 is really lost as we see no further post.

MartinCrabtree · Jan 26, 2013

I dunno. Maybe he's out wasting film. Good for him.

pentaxuser · Jan 26, 2013

Chan Tran said:
I am afraid Ps1821 is really lost as we see no further post.

I like your quip. Dry humour but not nasty. However his post is not yet 24 hours old so maybe we have to give a little leeway. It's the one post on say, Jan 1 then 99 helpful replies over the next few days and occasional posts over many subsequent months or even years with no further OP response that gets to me

I have a feeling that there must be more to the OP's question than meets the eye as the shutter speed dial tells it all

pentaxuser

airgunr · Jan 26, 2013

I would suggest looking up and getting a copy of John Hegecoe's, "The Manual of Photography". It's a great book to keep in you library. It covers all aspects of manual photography in short easy to understand sections with great graphics to help visualize the concepts. They are pretty cheap.

Ps1821 · Jan 28, 2013

Sorry still figuring out the web site. This has been helpful! I guess it is just a learning curve! I just need to get some books on photography.

mopar_guy · Jan 28, 2013

Usually if a camera is marked "60", it really means 1/60 second. Or 250 would mean 1/250 second.

Renato Tonelli · Jan 28, 2013

Ps1821 said:
Sorry still figuring out the web site. This has been helpful! I guess it is just a learning curve! I just need to get some books on photography.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-White-P...d=1359387166&sr=1-3&keywords=henry+horenstein

Henry Horenstein's "Black & White Photography - A Basic Manual" is excellent - easy to read and apply.

winger · Jan 28, 2013

Start with Part 1 (at the bottom of the page) - http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/category/basic-photography/what-the-heck/ The way she writes it, it's easy to understand.

pbromaghin · Jan 28, 2013

Most libraries have gotten rid of their film related photography books. You would do well to check out your local thrift shop (Goodwill, etc.) or used book store.

marenmcgowan · Jan 28, 2013

Read books, but don't spend too much time on book knowledge...get out there and shoot pictures!

shoot a roll, process it and look at the results...and, learn how to look at your negs to evaluate your results! Enjoy!!

tkamiya · Jan 28, 2013

This may be a rare case where somebody is brand new to any SLR camera, film or otherwise..... and totally clueless, not even knowing where to start. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone was there at one time.

If this is the case, it may be the best to find someone, an old timer maybe, to show him how to use it. It can be daunting to read about aperture, shutter speed, etc, etc, etc and try to apply it to the camera in hand. It's SO easy if someone can show him in person.

I have no idea where in the world he lives but if he is in Central Florida, I'd be glad to do the "old timer" thing for him. I'm sure there are plenty of APUGers that can do the same.

Ps1821 · Jan 29, 2013

Yeah tkamiya your probably right! And it is pretty daunting! So I guess I'll look around! And thanks for the offer but I live in Utah! Thank you all I have been learning a lot!

MattKing · Jan 29, 2013

Ps1821 said:
Yeah tkamiya your probably right! And it is pretty daunting! So I guess I'll look around! And thanks for the offer but I live in Utah! Thank you all I have been learning a lot!

I'd suggest JBrunner as an "oldtimer", but it might get me into trouble.

Do you make your own bread?

Ps1821 · Jan 29, 2013

Are you asking me if I make my own bread?

mark · Jan 29, 2013

Brunner likes bread, I like bread, hell who does not like bread. Kind of like Bacon. Yum bacon.

Lots of folks in Utah just depends on where you are. I'm right on the southern border, Brunner is in SLC, and I am sure there are a bunch inbetween that can help.

MattKing · Jan 29, 2013

Ps1821 said:
Are you asking me if I make my own bread?

I'm teasing a bit - JBrunner has a thread running right now about bread making.

I'm lost

Ps1821

ME Super

kbrede

tkamiya

tony lockerbie

Jeff Kubach

summicron1

EASmithV

fotch

Chan Tran

MartinCrabtree

pentaxuser

airgunr

Ps1821

mopar_guy

Renato Tonelli

winger

pbromaghin

marenmcgowan

tkamiya

Ps1821

MattKing

Moderator

Ps1821

mark

MattKing

Moderator

I'm lost

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