What Shooting Mode Do You Use ?

[TamiyaGuy]

I usually shoot sports, so I mostly use Aperture Priority. This allows me to get as fast a shutter speed as possible with my settings. Other than that, Program or Shutter Priority. I only use Manual if I'm shooting a "project" and I have time to fiddle about with everything.

 

[Overread17 5]

I mostly stick to aperture priority mode most of the time and trust the camera shutter selection. I have used manual mode when wanting to get a certain effect in a shot where I want a certain speed of shutter and aperture, but I found I was mostly following the cameras built in light meter for settings - which is all the camera uses - so like some others I just stick to aperture mode -- also comes in very useful when walking around and the light changes around me - when the wildlife moves you don't have time to turn a dial

 

[manaheim]

I like how you think. You're going places.

:lmao:

 

[dEARlEADER]

Finally.





I honestly think it's part of the development of the new "serious" photographer:

Stage one: Full auto, bad pictures
Stage two: Rebellion against any automation, belief that full manual is the only choice for "real" or "pro" photographers
Stage three: Realization that the camera is simply a tool to capture images, and that what you get matters more than how you get it

I started in serious photography with a digital SLR. I went through these phases. I now use everything from said digital (usually on aperture priority) to a fully manual 35mm SLR to an old rangefinder from 1963 (okay, that's getting sent back, but you get the point). It doesn't matter what settings you use. It matters what your images look like.

Bingo...

 

[tkaat]

Just curious, but why does it matter what someone else uses?

Like you I was just curious also cause, I feel you don't get a real feeling of using a camera to it's full capabilities when you turn on the camera and just leave it in auto.

I also started this thread to get others to get out of using only one setting. I was not aiming to make others feel bad for using only auto but just for them to understand that it is not the only mode on a camera. Even if they move it only once to say portrait at least they are utilizing other abilities of the camera.


And Thanks everyone for your postings of the last just over 24 hours to my thread much thanks :thumbup:
KEEP IT UP

 

[manaheim]

Bingo...

Redardless, dearleader... anyone who has gone through these (or similar) phases, should well know that whatever phase you are in, very much feels like "Oh, now I understand how I was failing before. This is clearly the correct phase, and all other phases are foolish."

What's more is you should probably realize that after you do that 2-3 times that you will inevtiably learn something else that will deem whatever phase you are in now to someday ALSO be "foolish".

This is where I would expect you to be now... however, your seeming adamant insistance that A/S mode being the "only mode you need", seems to imply you have a few phases to go through yet.

I haven't ever even used A/S modes, really... so... so do I.

EDIT: BTW, to OP... thanks for posting this. I generally use either Program or Manual (on cam, program sets shutter and aperature, but not ISO or focus point). I realize, however, that a lot of my recent frustration with Program mode has had a lot to do with its choice of aperature (generally my camera will err on the side of shallow depth of field, which is often a good idea, but not always... also not always the sweet spot on my lens), therefore I'm probably going to start using Aperature priority for a bit and see how that goes.

The funny thing is I can't really think of a reason why I would want to use shutter priority... but I'm sure someday it will dawn on me and I'll feel like a doof as I do currently for not thinking of this before now.

This is such a bizarre hobby/pastime/skill... it has a very long and slow learning curve, even if you spend just tons and tons of time futzing around with it.

 

[Mike30D]

I have shot over 100 weddings (although, admittedly, I shot them back in the 1980's in fully manual mode since my Hassleblad C500's didn't have no stinkin automatic nonsense).

I honestly don't understand why it is important to shoot manually if you use the camera's light meter. If you are metering with a hand meter, then absolutely it makes sense, but if you are using your camera's meter, who cares who actually sets settings other than the aperture (or shutter speed if you are shooting stuff that is moving).

If your camera light meter is good enough to trust to give you an accurate manual exposure, then it is good enough to set either the aperture or shutter speed to provide appropriate exposures in conjunction with the aperture or shutter speed you are using. The meter is telling you where to set your A or S any way you slice it, you can choose to trust it or not.

IMHO.

With a hand meter, of course, all bets are off.

I'm just saying there are times where you want more light coming in then what the camera tells you. If I need to drag the shutter, stuff like that.

 

[nymtber]

A-aperture mode probably 80% of the time.
S-shutter mode maybe 19% of the time...
and M-manual is about 1% of my shooting...No external flash here, the internal is a bit harsh anyways. I use shutter priority for falls pictures or if i was to do sports or something. Manual would probably be for fireworks, moon/stars pics or night photography...I dont do much of that. I plan on being mostly a nature/landscape photographer, those are my favorite subjects to photo waterfalls, macro, and animals would be my top favorites...

I did use manual from time to time on my Canon EOS A2, it had the wheel at the fingertip and the thumbwheel on the back for EASY shutter and aperture control.

 

[Early]

I tend to use aperture priority and spot metering most of he time.

 

[Dao]

80% Av mode and the rest is M and Tv.

 

[dEARlEADER]

Redardless, dearleader... anyone who has gone through these (or similar) phases, should well know that whatever phase you are in, very much feels like "Oh, now I understand how I was failing before. This is clearly the correct phase, and all other phases are foolish."

What's more is you should probably realize that after you do that 2-3 times that you will inevtiably learn something else that will deem whatever phase you are in now to someday ALSO be "foolish".

This is where I would expect you to be now... however, your seeming adamant insistance that A/S mode being the "only mode you need", seems to imply you have a few phases to go through yet.

I haven't ever even used A/S modes, really... so... so do I.

huh?

if you scroll up to my original answer you will see I replied P S A M meaning I shoot in all of the modes so I'm not sure what other phases I can go through unless I fall on my head and decide to go through a Fully Automatic phase.

I mostly use Aperture Priority and Program modes. I'll use manual for specialty shots like waterfalls, night shots, long exposures etc but otherwise there is no use to add extra steps.

The point of my posts to this thread is to dispell the notion that Manual mode is somehow superior to the other modes. There is no superior mode.

If you shoot manual only, you:

(a) Are posturing like a sheep because this is what the flock is doing

(b) Enjoy adding extra steps to the final result with no difference in image quality

or

(c) Only shoot a specific style (ie off camera flash, or delayed shutter) where use of Manual mode is may actually be helpful

 

[manaheim]

well.... because you could be useless at photography and say that you use manual only and it instantly makes you coooler....

it boils down like this

i could use aperture priority and decide to use F9 and let the camera pick the shutter speed for me.. and that would be kinda cool...

or

i could use manual and decide to use F9 and fumble with the meter to get the same shutter speed.... and that makes me REALLY COOL.....

I'm referring to your sarcastic comments above ^^^ which basically make fun of people who think that their mode is the right one for them.

huh?

if you scroll up to my original answer you will see I replied P S A M meaning I shoot in all of the modes so I'm not sure what other phases I can go through unless I fall on my head and decide to go through a Fully Automatic phase.

I mostly use Aperture Priority and Program modes. I'll use manual for specialty shots like waterfalls, night shots, long exposures etc but otherwise there is no use to add extra steps.

The point of my posts to this thread is to dispell the notion that Manual mode is somehow superior to the other modes. There is no superior mode.

If you shoot manual only, you:

(a) Are posturing like a sheep because this is what the flock is doing

(b) Enjoy adding extra steps to the final result with no difference in image quality

or

(c) Only shoot a specific style (ie off camera flash, or delayed shutter) where use of Manual mode is may actually be helpful

^^^ and again... "Posturing like a sheep"... "the flock"... etc.

Plus there are occasionally technical reasons why Aperature or Shutter priority would expose the shot improperly, so there actually are reasons to shoot in Manual, and the frequency of that varies per person and per situation.

See my sig. That phrase there about hammers isn't really about "using the most uber technology all the time", nor is it about "use the easiest method you can get your hands on". It is entirely about using the right tool for the right job, and understanding that if there is a tool that is commonly available, there is likely a very good reason for that... like, for example, it is commonly needed in certain situations.

Would you make fun of a guy banging in a nail with a hammer?

 

[kellylindseyphotography]

I don't understand why ANYONE would bash someone for using full manual on their camera/???? I am SOO confused by this. I use FULL MANUAL each and everytime I shoot a picture and I"ll tell you why (and its not cuz I'm a sheep)

I have shot in AV and TV modes prior and it doesn't get the picture right. I only have to meter one time in any given situation and then I don't even LOOK at my meter, I look at my histogram, and I manually change my settings. Often, it is WAYYY over or under (depending the situation) than what AV or TV would try to give me. ANd *I* am right. Not av or tv. Why in god's name would I trusts an inanimate object to be able to define a complex lighting situation FOR ME???

It takes me less time, less headache, and consistant exposure. It's second nature. I want to control my exposure, and not "trust" that my camera will just DO it for me. I resent the implication that anyone who uses manual is a sheep. Good thing your spouting poison here on TPF and not on a more serious natured bored because you would be chewed up and spit out.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Even if they move it only once to say portrait at least they are utilizing other abilities of the camera.

As a general point, I'd suggest that the range of abilities embedded in the camera are minor in comparison to the abilities of the photographer using it. Using different modes because they're there is not likely to improve the end result, if the characteristics of that mode are not understood - that goes as much for [to quote another of our correspondents] "green idiot mode" as manual.

 

[reg]

I don't understand why ANYONE would bash someone for using full manual on their camera/???? I am SOO confused by this. I use FULL MANUAL each and everytime I shoot a picture and I"ll tell you why (and its not cuz I'm a sheep)

I have shot in AV and TV modes prior and it doesn't get the picture right. I only have to meter one time in any given situation and then I don't even LOOK at my meter, I look at my histogram, and I manually change my settings. Often, it is WAYYY over or under (depending the situation) than what AV or TV would try to give me. ANd *I* am right. Not av or tv. Why in god's name would I trusts an inanimate object to be able to define a complex lighting situation FOR ME???

It takes me less time, less headache, and consistant exposure. It's second nature. I want to control my exposure, and not "trust" that my camera will just DO it for me. I resent the implication that anyone who uses manual is a sheep. Good thing your spouting poison here on TPF and not on a more serious natured bored because you would be chewed up and spit out.

Wow you should really get some sort of prescription for that..

Plus there are occasionally technical reasons why Aperature or Shutter priority would expose the shot improperly, so there actually are reasons to shoot in Manual, and the frequency of that varies per person and per situation.

And to both of you:
It's called "exposure compensation".