What modes do you shoot in?

ecphotoman

I've been doing photography for about 3 years now, and still don't know what mode to use most often. That is to say when to use what modes.
What modes do you use for what situations? I find my self using manual all the time, is that dumb of me...I have lost a few shots trying to set up a shot in manual lol.

Nikolai

ecphotoman wrote: »

I've been doing photography for about 3 years now, and still don't know what mode to use most often. That is to say when to use what modes.
What modes do you use for what situations? I find my self using manual all the time, is that dumb of me...I have lost a few shots trying to set up a shot in manual lol.

Unless you're shooting studio or nighscenes, or some other situations where the light doesn't change, shooting manual doesn't give you any advantage and quite often leads to bad shots or missed (due to the extra time you took to set the settings right) opportunities. Shoot in A. Manual is only good for static lighting and some tricky situations (when you typically have time to set it right).

Moving Pictures

In general:

Sports (the bulk of my work): shutter priority
Newsy portraits: aperture priority
Strobe-assisted stuff: manual.

pathfinder

I think a pro should know more than just one way to skin a cat.

A real pro will be comfortable shooting in Manual mode, and Av or Tv, and even full on Auto program as needed.

It really depends on what you are shooting, how much control you have of the situation, and what you need the images for.

I do agree with Nik, that if the light is stable, unvarying, I prefer Manual mode, as I feel the exposure is more consistent from frame to frame.

But there are times Av is much more useful, especially if the light is changing while you look through the viewfinder. Think wildlife, some sports, anytime your subjects are moving in and out of light and shadow.

Tv is what some sport shooters favor very highly. Some shoot Av, and some use manual at times. No single right answer, only what works for you.

And some street shooters like Program mode also. Michael Reichman uses Program for street shooting, at least that is what he has said on his website at times.

The key is knowing which to use, and when.

I have used them all from time to time, usually Manual or Av, but sometimes Tv or Program.

If you know why you are choosing to use a particular mode, there is no need to explain it to anyone else.

Let your images do the talking for you.

perroneford

pathfinder did a great job explaining it. I've really come to embrace using the program modes after shooting manual a LOT during my film days and formative years. The combination of HIGHLY effective zone metering in today's cameras combined with the aperture and shutter priority modes makes it a lot easier to get good shots when you really need to be focusing on other things. When I am shooting fast moving sports, I am composing and focusing in sub-second time frames. I don't have time to worry about exposure settings. When I am doing outdoor portraits, I have a bit more time and take a bit more care, but I prefer aperture mode there. I don't shoot in "P" mode because I like to have a bit more control than that.

Art Scott

As Pathy said, it really depends on the situation...I love manual mode and manual lenses but i will use all the other modes and AF lenses also...I will say I spend more time in aperture priority than any other mode with manual coming in second , shutter priority in 3rd and last comes program mode and that one makes my skin crawl ... ... I just hate not having control but then I always shoot in RAW mode ... ... well actually Raw + jpg... ... ... but never ever just jpg .

Richard

Av almost always. Controlling the depth of field is important to me, but I also have to deal with rapidly changing light and full manual would slow me down too much. The exceptions are Tv when I am trying to get a blurred background on a panning shot and manual when I'm using flash. I never use auto-ISO, which is fairly lame on a 50D.

ecphotoman

Thanks for all the replies guys. I guess sometimes I'm afraid to come out of manual because I think ill get laughed out of town for using auto or the program modes.

I just got a 550D to replace my sony A330. The 550D has something I've never seen before called CA-creative auto.

It does an auto exposure, but lets me set the DoF and the shutter speed...what do you guys think of that one?

Richard

ecphotoman wrote: »

It does an auto exposure, but lets me set the DoF and the shutter speed...what do you guys think of that one?

Hmm...never used it so I looked it up on the net. I don't really see that it's any easier than manual and it seems to hide the details. They're not that difficult, really: ISO, shutter speed, aperture, plus distance to your focal point--that's pretty much it. You have been shooting in manual mode already, so you probably understand all that. Why not try one of the semi-automatic modes like Av or Tv? They're easier than what you are doing now. Use Av when you need to control depth of field or Tv if you're shooting something that's moving and you need some minimum shutter speed to freeze the action without blur. Just go out and experiment--it's only ones and zeros.

Art Scott

it really does not cost anything to experiment ... ... ... the only real cost is time ... ... go play aND HAVE FUN learning ... ...

Nikolai

Richard wrote: »

Just go out and experiment--it's only ones and zeros.

"There are only 10 types of people: those who understand binary, and those who don't"

pathfinder

1+1 = 10

Jamesbjenkins

ecphotoman wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies guys. I guess sometimes I'm afraid to come out of manual because I think ill get laughed out of town for using auto or the program modes.

I just got a 550D to replace my sony A330. The 550D has something I've never seen before called CA-creative auto.

It does an auto exposure, but lets me set the DoF and the shutter speed...what do you guys think of that one?

I stopped caring what snobby "pros" say about my shooting mode. I shoot whatever mode gets me the best shot for the situation.

Any shooter worth listening to won't give you crap about your mode.

pathfinder

Pros use Av and Tv from time to time, I guarantee it!

Nikolai

pathfinder wrote: »

Pros use Av and Tv from time to time, I guarantee it!

Thet use whatever gives them result. The most important mode is in the brain, not in the camera.

kdlanejr

M and Av. Don't seem to have need for Tv or P.