Day 5: Auto mode when the lights are low...er...no!

One does and learns, the wise men say and I certainly can see their point. As I had pointed out a few days earlier, I have been basically using my Canon EOS 600D DSLR in auto focus mode, letting the camera in effect decide what was good for me. However, after yesterday's talk of ISO and how a higher ISO worked better in relatively low light areas, I decided to try a bit of shooting while Anupama (that's my wife and resident photography wizard) and I were driving down to NOIDA from Delhi.

Now those who know the area will know that there is a large idol of the Hindu god, Lord Shiva, on the opposite side of the Great India Place (GIP) Mall in NOIDA. As luck would have it, our car was stuck in a small traffic jam just about a hundred yards from the idol. We could see the head of the idol quite clearly above the traffic and the city lights. I took out the camera, which was in auto mode, and took a snap. The flash went off pronto and the result was, well, not the greatest. Here, see for yourself (you can click on the image to see a much larger version):

Now, this would clearly not do. So I decided - very bravely - to shift to Program mode (marked by a P on the mode dial) with a higher ISO (800 in this case). I took a deep breath, and snapped - and the result frankly surprised me. There you go: (again, you can click on the image to see a much larger version)

As you can see, the image is much sharper and there are no blurs. All of which teaches me two lessons:

1. When the lights go down, perhaps auto mode is not REALLY the way to go
2. Boy, I do need to look more into this ISO and Program mode thing, especially for shooting at night

And, to use Steve Jobs' immortal expression, one more thing - geez, NOW I know why people are so crazy about DSLR cameras. I have never take a shot of that kind with my Nikon P100, which was a very decent prosumer, but was never capable of things like THIS.

Day 3: Just on auto mode...wow!

If one has never used a DSLR in one's life (and I have not), most pundits recommend that you use the camera just like an ordinary point and shooter to get familiar with it. In short, do not bother with all those buttons and what they do. Just click the "mode" button to auto (often marked in green with the letter A on it) and click away to see just what the camera can do. Basically, in this mode, the camera decides (like a good fella) what suits you best and takes the shot - it horrifies purists who demand control and would rather not depend on the judgement of a machine, but for 'orrible starters like me, it is a start and a good option for getting used to the camera and not getting too dispirited by terrible shots!

For, believe it or not, thanks to its innards - and they are VERY powerful innards, even in an entry-level DSLR, a DSLR can click much better pictures than a point and shooter. Let's put it in cricketing terms - a DSLR is like the complete batsman, who can bat equally comfortably, whether in Test cricket, one day cricket or even in T20 mode. Yes, it is bulkier than those uber sleek Cyber-shot cameras you see, but within that bulk resides enough matter to churn out jaw dropping pics.

Sounds hard to believe? Well, check out that picture of an eagle flying above the Oberoi Hotel in Delhi. Shot by Yours Truly. With a Canon EOS 600D. Nope, no adjusting. On auto focus. Did not even zoom. Click on it to see its larger version and you will even be able to make out the bird's beak and the outline of its feathers.

Yes, it is not perfect, but I have tried taking shots of birds with my previous point and shooters and nothing comes close to this in terms of clarity when you consider the distance from which the shot was taken and the fact that the bird was moving.

Makes you wonder why you need to mess around with all those buttons, eh? Well, more about them in the coming days. As of now, I am exploring in auto mode. And having more fun than I ever had with any camera.