Exposure Log

[Steven Rowley]

Just curious! Do many people keep track of exposure settings when

shooting? Digtial or 35mm. How necessary is it? Is that something

mainly for beginners?

[richard_cochran]

I do, but only when I'm running specific tests in a new or unusual

situation. And in these situations, my "log" sometimes consists of

putting a post-it note with exposure data somewhere on the edge

of the scene where it will show up in the final photo. That way,

I never have trouble matching up my notes with the proper negative.

When I'm running such tests, I usually don't need for the final

images to be beautiful, so I don't mind the post-it note.

<p>

But in ordinary situations that I've seen many times before,

I wouldn't learn anything new from an exposure log, and I don't

normally keep one.

<p>

Keep one when there's a good chance you'll learn something from it.

[george_crawford]

exposure is documented with the metadata of your digital camera shots. Canon file viewer indicates a wealth of data including EV and focal length settings as well as the other user controlled settings.

Most of my exposure values on film shots are strictly by memory now days.

[jean deaux]

Digital cameras store this info in EXIF. For film, I rarely bothered, unless I was testing new film or new gear.<p>

 

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[eric merrill]

Steven:

 

I don't feel a need to keep track. I can guess fairly acurately what aperture I used in my photos. When I'm experimenting, I keep a mental note more of the variance from meter readings than actual exposure information. And in those cases, I'll shoot a sequence starting with less exposure where the middle exposure is the meter reading. Keeps things simple. :)

 

If I felt so inclined, I could download all the info from my camera. The last 100 rolls, if I recall correctly. But I can't imagine how I would use that much raw data.

 

 

Eric