Thoughts on shooting A or S vs M

[cgipson1]

My preference has always been Aperture Priority... but I do whatever it takes to get the image I want...

 

[Trever1t]

To those using Manual only, it must be a challenge in getting consistant exposures in rapidly changing lighting, bravo! I use whatever setting will perform as I need.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

There is nothing "wrong" with shooting in A (aperture priority) or S (shutter priority).

A or S will only give you control over either the Apeture (A) or your shutter speed (S) and the camera will figure the appropriate settings to match; in order to give you a correct exposure. Manual will allow you to sellect both the aperture and the shutter speed, giving you a biy more creative control....

I think the exact words were "A and S are for noobs"

Uh huh... Sorry, but to me it sounds like your friend doeosn't know what he is talking about as much as he thinks.

I normally use one of the three, depending on the situation....

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Overread: Apeture and Shutter

Could someone link me to the correct book. I have seen links before to it, and I have come to the conclusion that I will be ordering it within the next 10 minutes (provided a link lol). On Amazon I see 2 versions

The correct book is your camera manual. Read it. When you arr done... read it again and again and so on.

 

[H4X1MA]

I have heard that a few times but the book that I got with my cam doesn't explain much. I think some cams come with 2 books or something

 

[MTVision]

I have heard that a few times but the book that I got with my cam doesn't explain much. I think some cams come with 2 books or something

Nikons come with a small paper manual. The full manual is on a cd that comes with the nikon d3100. If you don't have the cd anymore it can be downloaded off the Nikon site. It is about 300 pages of information.

 

[MTVision]

Looked it up for you.

http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans...manual---d3100---guide-to-digital-photography

Download it - it will be extremely helpful!

 

[cgipson1]

I agree that most user manuals only show the bare bones of what the camera can do, and are pretty "dry" to read....

What do members think of the David Busch line of camera specific books?

 

[IgsEMT]

Your friend is a ________.
I've only been 15yrs in the business and as many film freaks Manual is how we learned. Today w/digital when I'm shooting a job 99% I'm in M mode bc #1. I need to control my exposure 2. I'm using AT least one additional light besides on camera and 3 creativity.
When I'm out in the park w/ my kids I take my baby cam in M mode with variation - When my son is leaning on the rail I might jump to A, when my daughter is running I might go to S.
What I have found time and time and TIME again is when I am shooting in auto modes my ev values are adjusted in such fashion that it's the same as me shooting manual BUT autos are there for a reason when I don't feel like thinking that's where auto IS.
My wife will more often then not shoot in either A or P modes, depending on situation. BUT she, unlike me who'll adjust shutter speed or aperture even iso when needs be, she will work with EV values and flash power.
As for you... A way to Carnegie hall is practice practice practice see what works for you.
Good luck.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I agree that most user manuals only show the bare bones...

I disagree.... The manuals I've gotten with all of the Canon 35mm and my current 50D are very detailed. And as stated previously... most major manufacturers like Canon and Nikon will have downloads of the manuals available on their web site.

The manual is the only book you really "need". All the relevant information you need will be in it. Practice and experience is the next step.

 

[MTVision]

I disagree.... The manuals I've gotten with all of the Canon 35mm and my current 50D are very detailed. And as stated previously... most major manufacturers like Canon and Nikon will have downloads of the manuals available on their web site.

The manual is the only book you really "need". All the relevant information you need will be in it. Practice and experience is the next step.

I agree with you Bus_rider. Around 300 pages isn't the bare bones! Nikons full manuals come on a CD.

 

[clanthar]

A or S will only give you control over either the Apeture (A) or your shutter speed (S) and the camera will figure the appropriate settings to match; in order to give you a correct exposure. Manual will allow you to sellect both the aperture and the shutter speed, giving you a bit more creative control....

This is not true -- you get no extra creative control from using M. I took my camera out on a walk today. I started taking photos using the camera in P mode, always noting the shutter speed and f/stop the camera would use. I came upon a scene where I determined the camera meter would be wrong and I used the exposure comp control to adjust still leaving the camera set to P. Then I found something I wanted to shoot in which I wanted to use the lens's maximum aperture to reduce DOF. I switched the camera over to A and took the shot.

The only reasons to use M are if you want to be slower and less efficient, you're using an external meter that you prefer over the internal camera meter or you're using flash which you need to meter or control externally.

Joe

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I agree with you Bus_rider.

OMG... I don't hear that often.... Mind repeating it a few times?

I am taking a screenshot to show my wife!

 

[clanthar]

I've been shooting for *cough* thirty *cough* odd years. My cameras have four modes: Manual, Shutter Priority (S/Tv), Aperture Priority (A/Av) and Auto. I use them all when it is appropriate to do so. If I'm travelling and just walking around some place I will leave the camera in 'Auto; so that if I see something that I only have one chance at, I can shoot and be reasonably assured of at least a half-decent picture. If I'm shooting sports/action or something where either stopping or enhancing motion is critical, I use shutter-priority. If depth of field is critical, such as, say, out-door portraits, than aperture priority is my preferred method. If I'm shooting a complex scene with difficult lighting, using studio strobes, etc, than manual. I suspect that your "friend" is someone who just learned the basics of how manual mode works and decided that it's cool and makes him look like an experienced photographer. Anyone who doesn't use all the flexibility afforded by his tools because he thinks that certain methods are beneath him is a fool! Use the mode that best suits the shot you're trying to capture.

I've got about *cough* the same 30 odds years in this as tirediron here and I can vouch for the fact that this ^^ is the answer. Read it again and pay close attention to where he talks about fools.

Joe

Joe

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

...you get no extra creative control...

Well, all I meant was that (M)anual will allow you to change the Aperture and Shutter speed independently.... While when you use A or S you have no control ovrt the other... For exampl... If you set you shutter to 1/125 using shutter prioruty mode... you have no control over the aperture...