M/S/A/P modes - when to use which?

fmw · Mar 11, 2017

When I want a normal exposure of a normally lit subject I use P mode. It allows me to step through the various combinations of settings that result in the same exposure. When I want an abnormal exposure or when I'm dealing with a subject lit in such a way that I won't get what I want, I use manual. An example would be a snow scene which would underexpose with P mode. I'm a believer in incident light readings so I use them for some tough metering situations. Then I plug the results into camera in the manual mode.

Reflected light readings like the ones your camera makes, are affected by both the intensity of the lighting and the reflectivity of the subject. Incident readings eliminate the reflectivity.

No specific suggestions because it isn't a specific activity. I never got used to using the exposure compensation facility so I never use it. It is easy and fast enough for me to expose manually. In time you will be able to sense the correct exposure settings to get what you want without hardly thinking about it. It just takes time. Quite a bit of time. For now just spend the time to learn from your exposures, particularly those that didn't result in your intended outcome.

Solarflare · Mar 11, 2017

Cant speak for others:

M - very rarely. When I have the time to fully fine tune and optimize. This is however a very useful mode for studio work when you have external meters.

A - almost always. Control over the depth of field, rely on Auto ISO and Aperture priority for the shutter speed.

S - very rarely, for sports or whenever else I need a specific shutter speed

P - never ever. No idea why I would ever need that one. This is basically the same as Auto - the camera does all kinds of funky stuff and not what I want it to do.

fmw · Mar 12, 2017

Solarflare said:
P - never ever. No idea why I would ever need that one. This is basically the same as Auto - the camera does all kinds of funky stuff and not what I want it to do.

No it is like an adjustable auto. You turn the wheel to step through the various A/S options that result in the same exposure. It is more like a combination of the A and S modes which I never use.