Manual vs. Aperture Priority mode

[SCraig]

Tried few times A mode and somehow it doesnt work for me, dont know why but either the shutter gets too slow or ISO too high.
I found I work much better in M mode, my cameras and I like it that way, both of them.

Aperture priority mode doesn't mean that you won't have to open the aperture to get the proper exposure it simply means that the camera won't do it for you. If you are getting shutter speeds that are too low or ISO that is too high then you there isn't enough light to be using the aperture you are trying to use. If you tried to use the same combination of settings in manual mode they wouldn't work there either.

 

[ph0enix]

In Aperture priority you're basically allowing the camera to make decisions for you (aside from the aperture setting). In Manual you choose all the settings. Remember that simply dialing to 0 often does not give you correct exposure. Personally, I find that M is the way to go rather than messing with exposure bias settings. You basically go below or above 0 if you don't agree with what the light meter is telling you.

 

[goodguy]

Tried few times A mode and somehow it doesnt work for me, dont know why but either the shutter gets too slow or ISO too high.
............

I can set a maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed.

Thats posible but some days I can shoot at a minimum of 1/30 and somedays 1/60, depends how tired I am so I find going M is the simplest and easiest way for me to shoot.
Also being a more technically oriented person I love dialing all the correct info (Apature, Shutter and ISO) I love all this figuring out what to do, its not a choire for me-its a pleaserable process and an integral part of my shooting experience.

Yes I know I am weird that way LOL

 

[batmura]

Multiple images combined in a pano will be another one of those times where manual will be a must.

I've never shot panos before. Does this mean one can only do them in M mode? Interesting.

 

[goodguy]

But the 2 things I always leave in Auto is White Balace and Focus.
I didnt get how to work so well with the white balace (so far) and my eye sigt will not allow me to manualy focus.

 

[Joves]

But the 2 things I always leave in Auto is White Balace and Focus.
I didnt get how to work so well with the white balace (so far) and my eye sigt will not allow me to manualy focus.

If you get a focusing screen with a split, and micro prism ring then it is easy. The nice thing about the new cameras that I like is they focus wide open, so you do not get the darkened prism when you stop down. But you get that now with some of the older lenses if you use them, in that case you merely focus then stop down.

I shoot in Manual all the time as ph0enix stated correct exposure is not always in the middle. Sometimes you have to either under or over expose on it. I find at least for the Nikons I have had is that in Aperture they over expose in bright light, and under expose in lower light. I change Aperture, Shutter, and ISO as needed to get the shot. Now granted in Aperture you can use Exposure Compensation to off set problems, but why when you can do that with Manual, and do it faster.
I too started in film in 67" when my grandfather gave me a 120 that he had, along with some of the guides of the day, well actually from the 30s more like to learn from. Mine was a compact that you had to adjust the aperture, focus for distance, and the shutter speed. I learned to take notes to learn where I made mistakes. When all of the auto cameras came around I had clerks always trying to get me to get rid of my Pentax MX for the new auto cams. It never happened. I have nothing against technology but for me it was not what I wanted. Now that I am much older I like having the convenience of AF at times, and I love that I can now change my ISO as I wish, no more waiting for the roll to be done, but I still like to control all of my settings. I do not care how people shoot to tell you the truth, it is their equipment. Also I do not see shooting Manual as some badge of honor either, it is just my preference in shooting, I also do not look at people shooting film as hipsters. Shoot whatever works for you, or whatever the conditions require.

 

[480sparky]

I've never shot panos before. Does this mean one can only do them in M mode? Interesting.

If you don't shoot panos in M (or otherwise 'lock' your exposure settings), the exposure may change from one frame to the next. This may make it difficult, if not impossible, for your stitching software to stitch the images together.

 

[480sparky]

Thats posible but some days I can shoot at a minimum of 1/30 and somedays 1/60, depends how tired I am so I find going M is the simplest and easiest way for me to shoot.
Also being a more technically oriented person I love dialing all the correct info (Apature, Shutter and ISO) I love all this figuring out what to do, its not a choire for me-its a pleaserable process and an integral part of my shooting experience.

Yes I know I am weird that way LOL

That's fine, but if I'm shooting fast action in constantly-changing lighting conditions, I'll default to A-priority with a max. ISO and min. shutter. That way, when the lighting drops, my ISO will increase in order to maintain a higher shutter speed. Once the light increases, the ISO will drop automatically.

 

[imagemaker46]

As I shoot most sporting events indoors where light conditions that are constant I will shoot all manual. If I am shooting outdoors where the light conditions are constantly changing I still shoot all manual and adjust the iso, usually keeping the aperture and shutter speed the same. A lot depends on how drastic the light changes are as well.

It all depends on how comfortable people are with their own cameras. Learning how to set everything themselves is something to work towards, but certainly not something everyone needs or wants to learn. Some people just like to turn the camera on and away they go without thinking about anything, that's the big easy with digital, and there isn't anything wrong with taking pictures this way.

 

[Joves]

I agree. It has always been this way, you had people that never wanted to shoot anything more than a Paraniod, or Instatragic camera. That was their choice and if it worked for them good.

 

[Mully]

I used to buy film in bulk, color test the lot number for shift. At anyone time I would have 4-5 hundred sheets 5x5 and 200 sheets of 8x10 on hand. Did film tests every few days as color atthe lab would change.....lots of extra work .

 

[goodguy]

Thats posible but some days I can shoot at a minimum of 1/30 and somedays 1/60, depends how tired I am so I find going M is the simplest and easiest way for me to shoot.
Also being a more technically oriented person I love dialing all the correct info (Apature, Shutter and ISO) I love all this figuring out what to do, its not a choire for me-its a pleaserable process and an integral part of my shooting experience.

Yes I know I am weird that way LOL

That's fine, but if I'm shooting fast action in constantly-changing lighting conditions, I'll default to A-priority with a max. ISO and min. shutter. That way, when the lighting drops, my ISO will increase in order to maintain a higher shutter speed. Once the light increases, the ISO will drop automatically.

In that case your way of doing thing is the best way.
I dont like sports or fast moving things to shoot so I dont face your problems.
Everybody has their special needs and the solution will vary from one person to another.

 

[EIngerson]

Multiple images combined in a pano will be another one of those times where manual will be a must.

I've never shot panos before. Does this mean one can only do them in M mode? Interesting.

You can do it in other modes, but the metering will be different from frame to frame. Where as manual mode will lock the meter and give you the same exposure for each frame.

There's no better way to understand it than to do it though. Take one in aperture priority and one on manual and you'll se exactly what we're saying. That's how I learn anyway.

 

[weepete]

I used to shoot quite a lot in av and tv modes, right now I'm find I shoot in manual mode more and more. I guess it's because it gives me a little more control in those difficult lighting conditions. Now that I'm reasonably used to it, it doesn't take me much longerto set up and change settings either.

Mind you I may well try shooting in av mode for a bit again and see where it takes me!

 

[EIngerson]

Set your ISO manually, take it off auto. The only thing I let the camera do in Aperture priority is choose the shutter speed.