Understanding the Manual

Norm...it does not matter what camera you use, the instructions will be the same. I had not read what others said here but I learned how to google "exposure triangle" which is the relationship between the use and changing option of ISO, SS and Aperture. If you choose this method, then you can pick and choose an article that will suit your understanding of terminologies and the like without muddling your mind too much on some technical wording...It was how I learned so I am passing it on to you. We have different ways of learning something, some like me learn by reading text and applying...text on the screen and camera on the tripod sort of thing.

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Originally Posted by topol

Reading my Fuji Finepix SL 300 User Manual I find this:

SHUTTER PRIORITY
If the correct exposure can not be achieved at the selected shutter speed, ap-
erture will be displayed in red when the shutter button is pressed halfway.
Adjust shutter speed until the correct exposure can be achieved.

APERTURE PRIORITY
If the correct exposure can not be achieved at the selected aperture, shutter
speed will be displayed in red when the shutter button is pressed halfway.
Adjust aperture until the correct exposure can be achieved.

My bold - isn't this defeating the objective?

If I want say shallow depth of field, but the camera's saying the exposure is wrong, it doesn't seem right for the Manual to say "adjust the aperture".
Similarly, if the shutter speed is set for say a waterfall, but the exposure is wrong, it seems wrong for the Manual to say "adjust the speed".

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"Not every correct exposure is what you want" and in the case of the waterfall in sunlight some things are not possible without the addition of accessories such as a strong neutral density filter. That is with the restricted options of a P&S or bridge camera.
The manual is giving the basic 'first' option which may not always be possible ...long exposure to blur water in bright sunlight is a perfect example of this with a bridge camera.
Here is an illustration of the possibilities and the impossible for a typical P&S or bridge camera ....
http://i61.tinypic.com/2eqfmz5.gif
and instead of a triangle I divided a circle into three parts :)
http://i59.tinypic.com/316aefq.png http://i60.tinypic.com/dq2lwl.gif
Some of that is beneath your current understanding I know.

The one thing I have leaned from this thread is that there are so many options / variables within the "triangle", that the Manual will be put to one side (but not out of reach). :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by topol

The one thing I have leaned from this thread is that there are so many options / variables within the "triangle", that the Manual will be put to one side (but not out of reach). :)

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I will tell you a secret...a few days ago when my DIL touched my camera and I nearly panicked, I put my settings on P for automatic. The shots looked good..all sharp and fancy dandy good, well apart from the focus of course...but I got the idea that if I put my settings to P first, I can start adjusting from thereon whether it be SS or Aperture. I imitated both on my manual setting, click a shot, then adjust the next shot to either darker or lighter, looking at the EV, then the histogram. I did that almost all day while I was alone. The exercise proved fruitful to me as I understand how P works as a guide, rotate my setting to manual then think as I looked at each shot. Brain hurts a little but it was well worth it. Another level of learning for me. Having learned that, I revert back to full manual shots for my aerial shots coming back her to St. Louis. 'Must be the breakfast in first class...dunno...;)