Fully Manual Or Aperture Priority

LarissaPhotography · Oct 29, 2009

Until recently, I didn't realize that there are professionals using aperture priority. For me, I like the control, so I'm a fully manual guy. Do any of you other pro's use aperture priority?

musicaleCA · Oct 29, 2009

*coughs* There are lots, and lots, and lots of pros that use Av.

Brian L · Oct 30, 2009

Your giving our secrets away man hush! :lol:

I use manual more then I do av.

battletone · Oct 30, 2009

This one of those things that I still don't quite understand...

If using the exposure suggestion from the cameras meter and exposing to the center (0, or the "correct" exposure), then using Av shouldn't make any difference from using manual...expect that in changing light conditions in Manual you will be constantly having to scroll the adjustment wheel. But on a controlled setting, I can see the Manual being a better option, because once you get the exposure you want, you can take multiple exposures with uniformity.

So basically....my over thinking beginner thought is that outside of a [somewhat] controlled setting and/or intentionally over/under exposing....Manual doesn't really make sense.

Feel free to correct me where I am wrong...I honestly would like to know how/if my logic is flawed on this. That said...I tend to shoot in M just cause I think it makes me learn more.

Dominantly · Oct 30, 2009

I shoot A the majority if the time unless I am trying to control a very unique situation.
I will shoot S if I M dealing with something I am trying to capture something with good speed.

musicaleCA · Oct 30, 2009

battletone: M is useful in any scenario where the meter is fooled and you need consistent exposures. This can happen often in sports photography.

NiKOnSLR · Oct 30, 2009

I use mostly A and S.

PhotoXopher · Oct 30, 2009

The 'I like full control' argument is a little weak. Even in aperture priority you can dial in exposure compensation.

There are times manual is needed, but not nearly as often as you might think - or want to believe.

I ran a poll here recently to find out this very thing... I was amazed at the results. If I recall correctly it was about 70% that used aperture priority followed by about 25% manual and 5% shutter.

Overread · Oct 30, 2009

battletone you are right - when the camera meter is working and giving you the exposures you want - or simply needs a little correction (eg during daytime light I often find I like to underexpose a little to save highlights) then using aperture priority is far quicker than using manual mode and great for being on the go - walking and such.

Of course studio conditions, times when flash is the dominant light source and other examples, like at night, then full manual is often the way you need to go because what the camera gives you is not what you want. Take flash as the dominat light source - the camera meter looks at the current light in the scene, whilst hte flash is attached and on the camera can't meter for the flashlight as its not present until you take the shot( at which point its too late to change the settings) so one has to slip into manual mode if the flash light is dominant (ie its providing most of the lighting as oppposed to just filling in a few shadows).

ALWAYS use the mode that will get you the best shot possile in the situation your in - if for you that is auto mode then use it - if its manual then use that - if its aperture or shutter priority then use those.
The settings will still give the exact same result - f5.6, ISO 200, 1/320sec is the same in aperture priority mode or manual mode.

oxcart · Oct 30, 2009

NiKOnSLR said:
I use mostly A and S.

+1.

Buckster · Oct 30, 2009

I'm probably in "A" 90% of the time or more, simply because I usually want to be in control of aperture more than anything, and don't mind as much where shutter falls to make that happen. Then I can dial in the light with EV steps if need be without taking the camera from my eye.

Next, "M", and that's mostly for studio shots with multiple off-camera strobes. I'm still interested in controlling aperture the most, but the camera meter won't compensate correctly for all the strobes in "A" so I take full control.

Finally, "T", on the rare occasions that I want to use motion to pan a subject or capture waterfalls or something like that.

joemc · Oct 30, 2009

I shoot on aperture priority 90% of the time too.....But I use exposure compensation like it's second nature.... That button will wear out first....lol.... I also use the ISO button a million times a shoot to control SS.

Cheers, joe

Rmac · Oct 30, 2009

I'm probably the minority here, I shoot in manual most of the time. Because, way back when I picked a camera for the fist time it was the only option, just got used to it I guess.

Mac,

ann · Oct 30, 2009

like mac, i use manual mode 99.9 percent of the time. I have been doing that for over 60 years and it is just second nature.

Along with the use of manual metering, i rarely use the suggested recommendation, correcting a bit depending on the light and my creative vision. It all becomes automatic as i have been doing this for so long.

When i get a new camera body i have to take some time to test it's metering system to determine what type of "tweaks" i will need to make.

I am not against aperture or shutter priority mode, as in some cases it can be very helpful as can be pure auto mode. For me, it is knowing when i need to use which function.