My Favorite Camera Settings

I’m trying to figure out which new lens to ask Santa for this Christmas, so I took a look at what lenses and settings I’ve been using since getting my DSLR in July. Here are the results for the 300 or so published photos from the 2800 taken.

Focal length Focal lengths are concentrated at 50 mm for my prime lens and 55 mm with the kit lens, often for macro work. The remaining third are wider landscapes with the kit lens zoomed out.

Aperture Aperture has spikes at f5.6 as the fastest stop on my 55mm kit lens, f8 as a lazy aperture-priority landscape setting, and various lower f-stops from indoors and low-light prime usage. I did notice some softness in the Belize landscapes at f8 and should really spin the dial higher or just use the automatic landscape mode.

ISO ISO is perhaps the least interesting; I try to stay at 100, but frequently need 400 indoors or in lower light, and sometimes go higher to avoid using the flash.

This analysis somewhat supports one choice of a wider prime lens like a Sigma 30mm f1.4 or Canon 28mm f1.8. I’d get some wider indoor shots and sharper landscapes, while solving the current problem of my 50mm feeling too “long” due to the camera’s smaller sensor making it more of an 80mm.

On the other hand, the time I spend with the kit lens zoom maxed at 55mm also supports getting a longer zoom lens with image stabilization like the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. It’d be heavy, but offer more wildlife, macro, and general outdoor flexibility. Of course, new lenses will do me little good if I contintue spending my time crunching metadata statistics instead of actually shooting ;)

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