Shooting Modes

For me, it depends on what, where and how I'm shooting.

I'll often shoot in Av mode when I'm shooting different things in different light etc. If I'm shooting something in fairly constant light, or if I'm taking my time and/or experimenting...then I'll usually shoot in manual. When using flash, I'm usually in manual as well.

Really, there is not difference between a shot taken a F8, 1/125 & ISO 100 in manual mode or any of the auto modes. The shooting modes are just different ways to get to the same location.

 

I shoot in the mode that will let me get the shot at the time of shooting.
Be that manual, aperture priority, shutter priority or another mode..

Myself I have observed that those who shoot studio, landscape, archetecture and other slow or static subjects tend to favour manual mode over the more auto modes. They are not pushed against the clock to get the right settings, nor are they in a situation where they cannot change if they choose to. Studio shooters are often in full control of the shooting and lighting, so full camera control often goes with them as well.
Further use of flash for shooting (say in macro work) also forces people to shoot more full manual mode shots.

I also observe that those who shoot sports, wildlife, kids and other fast moving subjects tend to favour the more auto modes (aperture or shutter depending if depth of field or shutter speed are the important part of a shot). Then they don't have time to change settings and thelighting can change in moments (animal runs from shade to open ground in full sunlight) and thus its much easier for them to have the camera change the settings for them - the camera is quicker and can detect light changings more acuratly.

In the end there is no mode you have to shoot in - just use the modes that you find get you the best result in each different situation (experience and practice helps lots)

 

I tend to avoid using shutter priority mode because I feel that aperture priority mode is a better option. For example, when shooting sports, you probably want to use the fastest shutter speed you can...but if you set a speed of 1/500 for example (it might give you an aperture of F2.8, which might be your max aperture). Now if the light changes and gets dimmer...and you are in shutter priority, it will either underexpose the shot or just flash at you and not take the shot at all (or adjust the ISO if you have an auto ISO option).
Also, if it gets brighter, the aperture might go down to F5.6...but you probably aren't concerned with the DOF, and could be using a much faster shutter speed but you are missing out.

However, if you are in Aperture priority mode, you can just set the biggest aperture and know that you will get the fasted shutter speed for the light light (and ISO) that you can.

The point is that the shutter speed has a lot more range (maybe bulb to 1/8000) than the aperture (maybe F2.8-F29)...so it makes sense to avoid running into a limitation of the aperture.

 

I would tend to agree with you Mike, but on dimmer days my experieneces are that sometimes even exposure compensation in aperture priority cannot get shutter speed fast enough for ones needs with action or wildlife - in those cases I think it better to move into shutter priority to fix the shutter speed. One might be able to save an underexposed shot (if not fullsize at least for a websized image) but blur from the subject can't be fixed *unless one is an artist and willing to spend that many hours/days fixing it )