Camera Settings by Subject
Pick your subject and the light situation – shutter speed, aperture, ISO, autofocus and drive mode are recommended instantly. Use these as a starting point, not a fixed recipe.
1 — Choose subject
2 — Choose light condition
Shutter Speed
Aperture
ISO
Autofocus
Drive Mode
Camera Mode
These values are starting points
Camera settings depend on too many variables for any tool to get exactly right: focal length, image stabilisation, sensor performance, your personal ISO tolerance, the depth of field you want. The recommendations here are proven starting points – from there you test and adjust.
Shutter speed first
For moving subjects, shutter speed is the most important element. Too slow – the subject blurs. Too fast – you run out of light. Rule of thumb: shutter speed should be at least the reciprocal of your focal length (1/50 mm-equivalent for static subjects). For action, go shorter.
AI Servo or One-Shot?
One-Shot / AF-S (single AF): focuses once and locks. Ideal for static subjects – precise and quiet. AI Servo / AF-C (continuous AF): continuously re-tracks the subject. Essential for anything that moves – sport, animals and children. Modern cameras also offer subject tracking and eye detection: always enable these when available.
ISO: rather higher than blurry
ISO noise usually looks better than motion blur or an underexposed image. Modern cameras produce very clean results up to ISO 3200, many up to ISO 6400. Noise can be significantly reduced in Lightroom or Camera Raw – blur cannot.
Special case: panning
Panning is a technique of its own: you follow the subject with the camera and use a longer shutter speed (1/30–1/125 s). The subject stays relatively sharp while the background streaks into motion lines, creating a strong sense of speed. It takes practice – but a successful panning shot conveys movement like nothing a frozen image can.
Planning a shoot and want to talk through the settings in advance? Write to me – I photograph weddings, maternity, families, couples, portraits, events and more in Lucerne and across Switzerland.
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