Stop guessing at camera settings. This cheatsheet gives you reliable starting points for the most common photography scenarios. Dial in these recommended aperture, shutter speed, and ISO combinations, then fine-tune from there based on your specific lighting and creative vision.
How to Use This Cheatsheet
These settings are starting points, not rigid rules. Every scene is different, and factors like available light, lens choice, and creative intent will require adjustments. Use Aperture Priority mode to control depth of field and let the camera handle shutter speed, or switch to Manual when you need full control. Always check your histogram and adjust as needed.
Quick Reference: Settings by Scenario
Portraits
- Aperture: f/1.8 – f/2.8 (single subject, blurred background) | f/4 – f/5.6 (couples or small groups)
- Shutter speed: 1/125 – 1/250
- ISO: 100 – 400 outdoors | 400 – 1600 indoors
- Focus: Single-point AF on the nearest eye
- Mode: Aperture Priority (Av/A)
- Tip: Use a focal length of 50mm or longer to avoid wide-angle distortion on faces.
Landscapes
- Aperture: f/8 – f/11 (maximum sharpness) | f/16 for extreme front-to-back focus
- Shutter speed: Varies — use a tripod for anything slower than 1/60
- ISO: 100 (keep it as low as possible for clean detail)
- Focus: Manual focus or single AF on a point one-third into the scene
- Mode: Aperture Priority or Manual
- Tip: Shoot during golden hour for the best light and longest shadows.
Sports and Action
- Aperture: f/2.8 – f/4 (fast lens lets in more light for high shutter speeds)
- Shutter speed: 1/500 – 1/2000 (freeze the action)
- ISO: 400 – 3200 (raise as needed to maintain fast shutter speed)
- Focus: Continuous AF (AF-C / AI Servo) with zone or tracking
- Mode: Shutter Priority (Tv/S) or Manual
- Tip: Use burst mode and anticipate the peak moment rather than reacting to it.
Night and Low Light
- Aperture: f/1.4 – f/2.8 (as wide as your lens allows)
- Shutter speed: 1/30 – 1/60 handheld | 1–30 seconds on a tripod
- ISO: 1600 – 6400 handheld | 100 – 800 on a tripod
- Focus: Manual focus (autofocus struggles in darkness)
- Mode: Manual
- Tip: For sharp handheld night shots, lean against a wall or brace the camera on a solid surface.
Macro and Close-Up
- Aperture: f/5.6 – f/11 (depth of field is razor-thin at close distances)
- Shutter speed: 1/250 or faster (tiny movements are magnified)
- ISO: 200 – 800
- Focus: Manual focus with focus peaking, or move the camera rather than the focus ring
- Mode: Manual or Aperture Priority
- Tip: Use a tripod and a remote shutter release to eliminate camera shake.
Street Photography
- Aperture: f/5.6 – f/8 (deep depth of field keeps subjects sharp without precise focusing)
- Shutter speed: 1/250 – 1/500
- ISO: Auto ISO with a cap at 3200 – 6400
- Focus: Zone AF or pre-focus at a set distance
- Mode: Aperture Priority with Auto ISO
- Tip: A 35mm or 50mm lens is the classic street photography choice — wide enough for context, tight enough for intimacy.
Wildlife
- Aperture: f/4 – f/5.6 (wide open for maximum light and subject separation)
- Shutter speed: 1/500 – 1/2000 (animals move fast and unpredictably)
- ISO: 400 – 3200
- Focus: Continuous AF with animal/bird eye tracking if available
- Mode: Shutter Priority or Manual
- Tip: A 200–600mm or 100–400mm telephoto lens is essential. Shoot from a stable position and use a monopod if possible.
Golden Hour Portraits
- Aperture: f/1.8 – f/2.8 (creates gorgeous warm bokeh)
- Shutter speed: 1/200 – 1/500
- ISO: 100 – 400
- Focus: Single-point AF on the nearest eye
- Mode: Aperture Priority
- White balance: Set to Daylight or Cloudy to preserve the warm tones — Auto white balance will neutralize the golden color.
Astrophotography (Stars and Milky Way)
- Aperture: f/1.4 – f/2.8 (as wide as possible)
- Shutter speed: 10 – 25 seconds (use the 500 Rule: 500 ÷ focal length = max seconds before stars trail)
- ISO: 1600 – 6400
- Focus: Manual focus on a bright star or distant light using live view zoom
- Mode: Manual
- Tip: Use a sturdy tripod and a 2-second delay or remote shutter to avoid vibration.
Quick Exposure Adjustment Reminders
- Image too dark? Open the aperture wider (smaller f-number), slow the shutter speed, or raise the ISO.
- Image too bright? Close the aperture (larger f-number), speed up the shutter, or lower the ISO.
- Subject blurry from motion? Increase shutter speed. Compensate by opening aperture or raising ISO.
- Background too busy? Use a wider aperture for shallower depth of field.
- Too much noise? Lower ISO. Compensate by opening aperture or slowing shutter speed.
Continue Learning
These starting settings will get you in the right range for any situation. To understand the why behind each recommendation, explore these in-depth guides:
- Understanding Exposure
- Aperture Explained
- Shutter Speed Explained
- ISO Explained
- Metering Modes
- Focus Modes Explained
- The Exposure Triangle
Related Reading
- The Exposure Triangle Explained — Understand why these settings work so you can adapt them to any situation
- Metering Modes Explained — Learn how your camera reads light and when to override it
- Focus Modes Explained — Pair the right focus mode with the right camera settings for sharp results