??? D80, 70-300VR, Program mode, small DOF

[Singletracklovr]

Hello,
This camera body and lens are new to me.

I typicaly use P mode when out scouting for wildlife shots.
and switch to A or S modes if I have time to setup the shot.
I prefer these modes over Auto or presets since they offer more custom setting for higher ISO, etc.

In the P (program mode) I was wondering if anyone can tell me why my camera prefers to use f5.6(shallowest DOF) for most zoomed shoots (300mm) and as brightness increases the camera chooses high and higher shutter speeds over reducing the f-stops?

The f-stop will not start decreasing until I exceed 1/2000.

The shooting conditions are outdoors, 11-2am, bright bluebird day. Other camera setting are ISO400, RAWonly, WB 5600.

Do I have something set wrong or not set at all?
In the P mode. Can I set the camera to start stoping down if the SP exceeds 1/500?

Sorry for the long winded question. I know a lot of info is required to answer this question hopefully my ramblings covered them.

-Bob

[jorgemonkey]

In P mode the camera is probably trying to get you the fastest shutter speed possible while you're zoomed out.

Once you make the jump to using A or S modes and get more comfortable changing settings on the fly will become second nature.

[Singletracklovr]

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the reply. Your probably right. A slower shutter speed could result in motion blur at 300 hand held.
I'm sure you know when walking thru the woods wildlife usually doesn't give you much time for camera prep.
I've got to learn to adjust on the fly.
thanks
-Bob

[jorgemonkey]

Depending where I'm shooting, I usually have my camera set to A mode set to around F2.8 or whatever is widest. That allows me to at least get the shot since I know I'll have a good fast shutter speed. Then if time allows I'll adjust it on the fly.

[Singletracklovr]

Hi Scott,
Thanks for the tip. I am going to try A mode, f8 with VR on as my default setting.
Low light is usually not an issue in Colorado except dusk and dawn shots.

In the wildlife shooting I do, more DOF is important to me, since I want the subject as close as possible and I want some if not most of the background in focus to help tell the story of where I'm at.
Bokeh is highly overrated, IMO and one can always creat any level of bokeh in post processing. Ever try to sharpen a shallow DOF in PP? Yuck

thanks again
-Bob

[Singletracklovr]

Just wanted to post a little feedback.
I set my camera to A mode and f8 for my walk about settings. I was very pleased with the results over P mode and the default f5.6 high shutter speed.



Thanks again for the suggestions.

[Frog]

Your photo looks like a painting.

[Singletracklovr]

Your photo looks like a painting.

Heehee, I hope that's a good thing Frog?

I have other picts of this guy uploaded in the photo gallery if anyone is interested.