Program AE Mode?

theraven · Oct 31, 2012

Google is useless! Can someone give me a brief overview into this setting on the Sony A200 please?

Kolia · Oct 31, 2012

Professional mode !

Seriously, it's the mode where the camera takes care of the exposure and adjust the speed and aperture on its own.

theraven · Oct 31, 2012

Kolia said:
Professional mode !

Seriously, it's the mode where the camera takes care of the exposure and adjust the speed and aperture on its own.

Wow, really? I'm gonna go out tonight and take tons of perfect pictures and be a millionaire tomorrow!

Kolia · Oct 31, 2012

Don't forget me when you do become a. millionaire !

theraven · Oct 31, 2012

Kolia said:
Don't forget me when you do become a. millionaire !

Lol,

In all seriousness though, I've been reading about it and I think it may help me in my exposure issues at night, am i right in thinking that it will calculate the exposure, then you can adjust your fstop to create the desired depth of field, then it will calculate the correct shutter speed to compensate and keep the exposure correct?

Kolia · Oct 31, 2012

I don't know the specifics of the a200.

Usually it scans the image you are about to take and try to figure out what is your subject. Landscape, portrait, multiple people, night shoot etc. using this it selects an an aperture, speed, iso combination that should work.

I know that on my camera I can overrule the speed or aperture. But that is basically using aperture or speed priority so I go to those modes instead.

You should be able to add/remove exposure with the compensation buttons.

Kolia · Oct 31, 2012

You might want to shoot in Aperture priority and set your ISO to a level of noise you like instead.

unpopular · Oct 31, 2012

I am not 100% sure about program mode, but it actually seems pretty useful for some people. If I am understanding it right, what it's doing is saying "for x amount of light, you can get all these exposures" meaning, as you dial through the options, at one end you'll get the maximum shutter speed/minimum aperture and at the other you get maximum aperture/minimum shutter, wile maintaining the same exposure value for the given meter reading.

While Program Mode isn't for me, mostly because you can't teach a middle-aged dog new tricks - I think it does get a bad wrap.

theraven · Oct 31, 2012

I do usually use aperture priority, but I must admit, I do struggle with it in very dark areas, now I've sussed my infinity focus on my lens, the next thing is the exposure.

Example.

The other day I looked up and thought oooh pretty clouds all lit up by the moon. Then I took the shot it was either not focused enough because of DOF or the shutter speed was too long and made the clouds move more than I wanted.

I'm looking to this as a teaching tool, to show me what settings I can get away with in certain scenarios...

gsgary · Oct 31, 2012

I wouldn't use program at night, in fact i would never use program mode

theraven · Oct 31, 2012

gsgary said:
I wouldn't use program at night, in fact i would never use program mode

Any reasons?

Kolia · Oct 31, 2012

We'll, as far a movement blur goes (yours or your subjects) higher shutter speed is what you need.

DoF shouldn't be an issue when shooting clouds because you would be in the hyper focal range of your lens.

If the exposure isn't what you expect, try using spot metering. Aim at the subject that need proper exposure and lock the exposure reading using the AEL button. The owner manual explains that.

unpopular · Oct 31, 2012

You can aim your spot meter anywhere, provided that you provide enough exposure to compensate the reading. One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking at exposure is the conclusion that "proper exposure" exists.

there is no such thing as proper exposure

Instead of looking at exposure as a matching game, lining up zeros and triangles, consider instead the metered tone on a scale, with each step represented by one stop.

Zone System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

However, simply pointing your meter at the place where you want it to be "properly exposed" won't do the trick, unless your model is indian or hispanic, is green grass or a deep blue afternoon sky. Pointing the meter at a light subject will cause the subject to under expose, pointing it at a dark subject will cause it to over expose. But you can compensate for this by adjusting exposure accordingly.

gsgary · Oct 31, 2012

theraven said:
Kolia said:

Professional mode !

Seriously, it's the mode where the camera takes care of the exposure and adjust the speed and aperture on its own.

Click to expand...

Wow, really? I'm gonna go out tonight and take tons of perfect pictures and be a millionaire tomorrow!