What mode do you use most?

[sabbath999]

I've only used the exposure lock a couple of times on my D40 but, if I remember right, the default setting has you holding it down the whole time but then you can change it in the menus to stay locked without holding the button. I am pretty sure none of my analog slrs (N70, FG20, F3HP & Miranda Sensorex) allow you to just press the button without holding it, though I could be wrong about the N70. I haven't checked for exposure lock on any of my P&S cameras and I'm not even sure any of them have that feature .

I don't know about the N70, but my N75 is that way.

I guarantee that Miranda Sensorex doesn't have an auto exposure button... I used to have one of those, they are TANKS (but really kind of cool... those cameras had some amazing features like the easy interchange viewfinders).

 

[potownrob]

You're probably right...next time I muster the strength to lift that thing up I'll check to see, but you're probably right. I never looked for it since it's fully manual anyway.

 

[Battou]

What no examples?

All Manual. I have on my primary and my backup camera shutterspeed priority and no AF compatibility. I don't use shutterspeed priority, I am doing just fine with out it. In fact I think it would actually have deliterious results as my meter is off due to the battery.

Manual lenses on a manual camera body
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140463 - Captive
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142063 - Wild
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=138995 - Wild
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128426 - Wild
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140427 - Captive
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140892 - Captive (I forgot to reprocess this one...oops)

 

[Plymer]

I found that in the first couple weeks of owning my 450D I was shooting in most Aperture Priority, but now that I've read a few books (Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson being the most important/useful one), I shoot predominantly in Manual. I haven't been in a situation yet that would have been easier to shoot in a semi-auto mode like Av or Tv. Like was mentioned before - meter the scene first, find yourself a good exposure combination for the situation between ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture size and then just shoot. A good example of this is when I went out to shoot some skateboarders at the skatepark near my house.

Bright sunny day, shot ISO 100, 1/640th and f/3.2 with my 50mm f/1.8. Gave me action-stopping shutter speed with a decent DoF and the exposure was consistent across all the shots I took.

http://flickr.com/photos/plymer/2967476513/
http://flickr.com/photos/plymer/2968322594/
http://flickr.com/photos/plymer/2967475641/
http://flickr.com/photos/plymer/2967475389/

I realize this isn't exactly related to "wildlife" but it's still a good thing to learn about, IMO.

Manual, once you learn to quickly meter a scene, is awesome. Of course, it has it's limitations and obviously if you don't have time or the need to get a 'perfect' exposure using a semi-auto mode is definitely a great option to have!

 

[a_spaceman]

All the cool kids shoot manual only.

Me? I am not a cool kid, it seems like a silly waste of time to me... either you trust your camera meter, or get a new freaking camera (or at least a handheld meter) IMHO... (not counting shooting multi flashes in the strobist fashion ... then manual is the only way to go).

I shoot Aperture Priority about 90 percent of the time, and Shutter Priority the other 10 percent.

i don't see controlling your shoot and setting it to your needs as a silly waste of time. some may be happy with trusting their cameras and how the calculate the "ideal" or standard parameters, some other may have a view on how they want the photo to look like and need to be able to control the focus, the exposure etc.
i can't see why you are being so sarcastic. simply, to each one his own. in photography there's not a right or wrong and that's why i like it.

 

[soul.glo]

1 vote here for manual!