Canon EF - Manual (Page 48)

BASIC OPERATION
desired number clicks into place next to the white
index mark. An in-between setting should not be
used. When changing shutter speeds, there is no need
to remove your eye from the eyepiece, because the
selected shutter speed is automatically indicated on
the large scale in the viewfinder. With a total of 17
click-stop settings to choose from, the question you
might ask is: "How do I select the right shutter
speed?" First of all, you must select a shutter speed
which keeps the meter needle somewhere within the
white portion of the aperture scale. If you take a
picture when the needle is touching either of the red
warning marks (underexposure at the bottom of the
scale and overexposure at the top), then your
photograph will be improperly exposed. Depending
on the brightness of the scene, the film's ASA, and
your photographic intentions, you can use the
following general guidelines to help you select an
appropriate shutter speed when using the standard
50mm lens: When you are shooting outdoors in the
open or want to freeze action, choose fast shutter
speeds (1/125 — 1/1000 sec.). When photographing
in the shade or indoors without a flash, then select
slower speeds (1/30 or 1/60 sec.). To take pictures at
night (without a flash), use slow shutter speeds (30
— 1/15 sec.), with the camera mounted on a tripod.
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