What should be on a pre-shoot camera checklist?
Asked 7/15/2010
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2 answers
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I often grab my camera and start shooting without checking the settings it was last left on. I’m thinking about keeping a simple checklist in my camera bag so I can reset the camera and confirm I have the right gear before heading out.
Do you reset your camera to known default settings before putting it away? If so, which settings do you check before a shoot? Also, what gear items do you make sure to pack or inspect?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
13
Gear:
- Battery check (this is done the night before to give time to charge).
- Lens check. Since I'm mobile with my gear, I give a little thought to what lenses I should pack with me.
- Flash check. Will I need a fill flash?
- Bag check. Will I want my shoulder bag, or my camera backpack?
- Memory card check. Do I have enough memory cards?
- RS strap. Is my strap secure? Are there any tears in it?
- Lens hood: Do I need my lens hoods?
- Tripod/gorilla pod: Do I need my pods?
Camera settings:
- ISO
- Shooting Mode
For almost all the camera settings, I do these on the fly, depending on the situation. I generally stick to AV, but flip to Manual when necessary. I also have all three custom settings, to quickly switch to less frequently used configurations.
During the actual picture shot itself, I compose, focus lock, recompose if necessary, take one last look around the view finder, exhale and pull the trigger. I quickly glance at the histogram, and go from there.
After making enough mistakes, this has become completely natural, so I don't need to write anything down.
Originally by user170. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user170
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—many photographers use either a mental checklist or reset the camera to known defaults before putting it away.
Common camera checks:
- mode dial set to your usual starting mode
- ISO set to a normal default, often low or auto
- white balance back to auto
- exposure bracketing turned off
- metering / AF settings returned to your normal defaults
- memory card inserted, emptied/downloaded, and formatted if appropriate
Common gear checks:
- battery charged, plus a spare if possible
- lens(es) you expect to need
- flash if you may want fill light
- memory cards
- strap secure and not damaged
- lens hood
- tripod or small support if needed
- choose the right bag for the outing
A good habit is to store the camera in a predictable “ready” state so you don’t accidentally start shooting with unusual settings left over from the last session. Then, adjust on location as needed. If you’re still building the habit, a small printed checklist in the camera bag can help until it becomes routine.
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