Guides

Camera settings cheat sheets

Starting settings, gear and field-tested tips for the situations photographers ask about most.

Night & astro#

Milky Way photographyf/1.4–f/2.8 · 10–25 s · 1600–6400 Star trailsf/2.8–f/4 · 20–30 s per frame · 400–1600 Northern lights (aurora)f/1.4–f/2.8 · 1–8 s · 800–3200 Photographing the moonf/8–f/11 · 1/125–1/250 s · 100–400 Fireworksf/8–f/11 · 2–8 s · 100–200 Meteor showersWidest · 15–25 s · 1600–3200 Lunar eclipsef/5.6–f/8 · 1/250 s (partial) → 1–4 s (totality) · 100 → 1600 Solar eclipse (safely)Manual · f/8 · 1/1000–1/4000 s (filtered) Light paintingf/8 · 10–60 s · 100–200

Urban#

Cityscapes at nightf/8–f/11 · 2–30 s · 100 Car light trailsf/11–f/16 · 10–30 s · 100 Street photographyf/8 · Zone focus 2–5 m · 28–35 mm ArchitectureBase · Hyperfocal · 16–35 mm or tilt-shift Interiors & real estateBracketed · 100–200 · 14–24 mm (FF) Blue hourf/8 · 1–30 s · 100

Landscape & nature#

Landscape photographyf/8–f/11 · As metered · Base (64–200) Sunset photographyf/8–f/11 · As metered · 100 Sunrise photographyf/8–f/11 · 100 · Daylight Silky waterfallsf/8–f/16 · 1/4–2 s · Base Daytime long exposuref/8–f/11 · 30 s – 4 min · Base Seascapesf/8–f/11 · 0.3–1 s (texture) or 30 s+ (mist) · Base Fog and mist+0.7 to +1.3 EV · f/5.6–f/8 · 100–400 Snow scenesf/8 · 1/250 s+ · 100 Autumn coloursPolariser · 100–400 · Cloudy Lightningf/5.6–f/8 · 5–30 s at night / trigger by day · 100–400 RainbowsPolariser · −0.3 EV

People#

Outdoor portraitsf/1.8–f/2.8 · 1/250 s+ · 100–400 Golden hour portraitsf/2–f/2.8 · 1/320–1/1000 s · 100–400 Headshotsf/4–f/5.6 · 1/160 s · 100 Indoor portraits with window lightf/1.8–f/2.8 · ≥1/125 s · 400–1600 Group photos1/200 s+ · Auto · On the middle row Newborn & baby photos1/200 s+ · 400–1600 · Eye AF / single point on eyelashes Kids & family1/500 s+ · f/2.8–f/4 · AF-C, tracking Wedding ceremoniesf/1.8–f/2.8 · 1/200 s (people), 1/100 s (static) · 800–6400 Events & partiesf/2.8–f/4 · 1/60–1/125 s · 800–3200 Concerts & stagef/1.8–f/2.8 · 1/250–1/500 s · 1600–6400

Action#

Outdoor sports1/1000–1/2000 s · f/2.8–f/5.6 · Auto Indoor sportsf/1.8–f/2.8 · 3200–12800 · On Motorsport panning1/60–1/250 s · f/8–f/11 · AF-C Pets (dogs & cats)f/2–f/4 · Animal-eye AF, AF-C · Auto

Wildlife#

Birds in flight1/2500–1/4000 s · f/6.3–f/8 · Auto Perched birdsWide open – f/8 · Auto · Bird-eye AF / single point Wildlife photography1/500–1/2000 s · f/4–f/8 · Animal-eye AF, AF-C Zoo through glass1/500 s · Manual / eye AF · Off

Close-up#

Macro insectsf/8–f/16 · 1/200 s (flash) · 100–400 Flowers & macro plants1/250 s+ · 100–400 · Manual / single point Product photographyf/8–f/11 · 1/125 s (flash) or longer (continuous) · 100 Food photography1/125 s+ · 100–800 · 45° or flat-lay

Special#

Silhouettes−1 to −2 EV · f/8 · On the subject outline Christmas lights & bokeh1/60–1/125 s · 800–3200 · On subject, lights well behind Candlelight1/60–1/125 s · 1600–6400 · 2500–3200 K Underwater & poolf/5.6–f/8 · Auto · Custom / underwater mode Through an airplane windowf/5.6–f/8 · Auto · Infinity / AF Museums & galleries1/60 s+ · 1600–6400 · Off Falling snow at nightf/2.8–f/4 · 800–3200

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources