Are there any guides that suggest camera settings for different photo situations?
Asked 7/22/2011
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2 answers
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I’m learning photography with a Nikon D90, an 18–55mm lens, and a 55–200mm f/4–5.6 lens. I’m looking for a beginner-friendly resource that explains how to approach common shooting scenarios—for example, portraits with mountains in the background—and suggests which lens to use, along with a starting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It would also be helpful if the resource showed side-by-side examples of the same scene with one setting changed, such as different apertures or ISO values, so I can better understand what each setting does.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
4
While it's not a website, the closest thing is probably Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Volumes. They take a scene or something you want to show and step you through the settings, the hows, and the whys step-by-step. They're very easy to follow and understand. (There are digital versions too).
Additionally, with some planning, feel free to ask on here! We'd gladly offer up advice on what to do with specific scenes.
Originally by user1917. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1917
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There isn’t really a perfect “Clippy for photography,” but beginner-friendly recipe-style guides do exist. The community recommendations point especially to Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography books, which explain common scenes in practical language and suggest settings step by step.
That said, the most effective way to learn is to combine guides with hands-on practice. Try photographing the same subject repeatedly while changing just one setting at a time:
- shoot wide open, then at f/11, then f/22
- repeat from different distances
- compare the results afterward
This helps you see how aperture affects depth of field, and how shutter speed and ISO change the image. Reading examples is useful, but testing the settings yourself will teach you faster because you’ll see exactly how your D90 and lenses behave.
So the best path is: use a practical tutorial/book for starting points, then experiment with your own camera using side-by-side comparisons of one setting at a time.
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