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Chimping

M

Madwand1

Diamond Member
In case you don't know, "chimping" describes the act of looking at digital images on your camera immediately after taking them -- perhaps in hopes of getting a "good" one, in which case, you might go "ooh ooh ooh", hence the term.

Now, "serious" photographers have nooo need for chimping. That's the mark of a noob who doesn't know exposure and focusing, innit? This sort of confidence or simple habit from the film days perhaps can be so ingrained that you can take hundreds of pictures without checking them -- which means leaving the "surprise!" until you do so, just as in the good ol' film days!

Are you a chimp, or do you feel lucky?
 
I could really care less of what people think of me when I'm taking photos.

As long as I get the shot, it doesn't matter if I chimp or not.
 
If you have a tool designed to do a job, why not use it when you're doing that job? If I have the ability to make sure I get a shot right in a few attempts, why not do it instead of taking hundreds of pictures without checking and just hope I get lucky?

Research has shown that chimps know how to use basic tools that make their lives easier, so if using an excellent tool that helps me make sure my pictures turn out the way I want them means that I'm a chimp, then all I have to say is "ooh, ooh, ooh!" 😉
 
"Chimping" is just a funny, concise term -- I don't think that anyone should take negative attitudes towards it seriously. It's actually a great way to improve your pictures, especially for beginners, and also to catch mistakes which anyone can make.

It's easy to snap away, not noticing the flaws. Looking, carefully, and adjusting the shot can be harder, but can also get better results. Most techniques are developed by trying shots and then trying to improve them -- chimping lets you accelerate this, in the field.

Even better is to get a full sized display -- e.g. by having a laptop tethered to the camera. That's typically too much for the field, but possible in a fixed indoor location.

To me, this was something of a "wake up call" to do more chimping.
 
That term's always bugged me. 🙂

In varying light conditions, I usually peer at the LCD after a shot to see what the histogram is indicating. Don't usually ooh and aah at it, though. 😛
 
Originally posted by: Madwand1
Now, "serious" photographers have nooo need for chimping. That's the mark of a noob who doesn't know exposure and focusing, innit? This sort of confidence or simple habit from the film days perhaps can be so ingrained that you can take hundreds of pictures without checking them -- which means leaving the "surprise!" until you do so, just as in the good ol' film days!

Are you a chimp, or do you feel lucky?
Click to expand...

That's noob statement.
 
I check my histogram many times during the course of a shoot - especially in changing lighting situations. I see no issue with it.
 
i always check. I'm not shooting film. I have a digital camera for a reason. The equipment used is to help capture what the photographer sees. Now, an experienced photographer might be able to eyeball exposure from experience.. but you know what? I'm not a pro.
 
i don't even bother looking through the viewfinder. i just pick an iso, shutter speed, and aperture and... *click* absolutely perfect every time.
i really don't know what the viewfinder craze is all about. who needs it? i did fine without one when i was using my pinhole camera.
 
Originally posted by: Madwand1
In case you don't know, "chimping" describes the act of looking at digital images on your camera immediately after taking them -- perhaps in hopes of getting a "good" one, in which case, you might go "ooh ooh ooh", hence the term.

Now, "serious" photographers have nooo need for chimping. That's the mark of a noob who doesn't know exposure and focusing, innit? This sort of confidence or simple habit from the film days perhaps can be so ingrained that you can take hundreds of pictures without checking them -- which means leaving the "surprise!" until you do so, just as in the good ol' film days!

Are you a chimp, or do you feel lucky?
Click to expand...

Bullsquat. Obviously something some ex-noobs call noobs to put themselves above the others. In the good ol' days, we would bang out 3-5 frames if we thought it was important. I still do with a digital. And I can verify that I got a shot before I move on. Reshoots cost money and are sometimes impossible. Everyone has my permission to chimp away. 😉
 
Originally posted by: OdiN
I check my histogram many times during the course of a shoot - especially in changing lighting situations. I see no issue with it.
Click to expand...

Same here. I try not to look through photos though on the camera...the LCD never provides an accurate representation of what the RAW files will look like on my computer.


Also, there's no reason to be self-righteous about not wanting to look at the LCD while shooting ducks. :laugh:
 
Originally posted by: angry hampster
Originally posted by: OdiN
I check my histogram many times during the course of a shoot - especially in changing lighting situations. I see no issue with it.
Click to expand...

Same here. I try not to look through photos though on the camera...the LCD never provides an accurate representation of what the RAW files will look like on my computer.


Also, there's no reason to be self-righteous about not wanting to look at the LCD while shooting ducks. :laugh:
Click to expand...

You're a POTN member, aren't you.
 
I've found that sometimes even when I do chimp I still end up messing stuff up... I need a camera with a better histogram, like one that shows all the color channels rather than just the combined. 🙁

And I must say, its fun to show friends and have them ooh and ahh at shots. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Alyx
I've found that sometimes even when I do chimp I still end up messing stuff up... I need a camera with a better histogram, like one that shows all the color channels rather than just the combined. 🙁

And I must say, its fun to show friends and have them ooh and ahh at shots. 😉
Click to expand...

On your Rebel XT, when you press Info. button more than once, doesn't it show RGB histogram?
 
I use my LCD all the time cuz I'd be blind without it. Crazy confusing "aperture" and "shudder speed" crap. And iso. HTH do you pronounce that? "ih-soe"? Stoopid. I just want a damn camera that can take pictures for me. Screw this face detection crap. I want "awesome picture detection." Like frickin' gyroscopes and GPS and crap in the camera so that it can point itself towards a good picture.
 
I use a D40 with very old manual focus Nikon lenses. That means no metering capabilities at all. The histogram is the only way I can tell my exposures are correct. I pretty much check it on every shot.
 
Originally posted by: bondboy
I use a D40 with very old manual focus Nikon lenses.
Click to expand...
that's pretty cool. just the other day, i was thinking about how much i miss having an aperture ring.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I use my LCD all the time cuz I'd be blind without it. Crazy confusing "aperture" and "shudder speed" crap. And iso. HTH do you pronounce that? "ih-soe"? Stoopid. I just want a damn camera that can take pictures for me. Screw this face detection crap. I want "awesome picture detection." Like frickin' gyroscopes and GPS and crap in the camera so that it can point itself towards a good picture.
Click to expand...

I just spell it out. I-S-O
 
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