I've been noticing lately that a lot of pros use Aperture priority mode when shooting outdoors. I'm not a blind followers of pros without any reason, and that's why I began to investigate why they shoot A mode most of the time.

It's obvious. It saves them time. Instead of having to figure out the exposure from three settings, using A mode allows them to use only two. (One if ISO is set to auto.).

However, I began using full manual mode despite the repeated failure to get the exposure right in the first few shots because I thought I was learning. "Over time, guessing the camera settings depending on the lighting condition becomes a second nature," I read somewhere.

But the other day I noticed, it's not happening. The light is so different and versatile that at the same place at the same time but in different days, the lighting changes. So does the camera settings. So ultimately, I'm relying on the camera's light meter to determine whether the shot is well exposed or not. I try to keep the lightmeter in the middle on the first shot, look at the back LCD, and then tweak shutter speed or ISO if required.

Lately it's bugging me, am I wasting my time? Indoors, I can't shoot in any auto because I use a Yongnuo manual flash and the camera seems to not know that the flash exists. So it exposes for the ambient light bumping up ISO to the highest or slowing down the shutter speed. So in indoors, I always shoot manual. Keep shutter speed between 80-100 and ISO within 400, and I change the aperture according to the flash (distance of the subject, flash power, etc).

But outdoors, that problem is non-existent. So I'm wondering, is there any reason why I should continue shooting in full manual and not semi-automatic?


Also, do you guys use auto ISO? I shoot manual ISO but I'm wondering if that's another area where I'm wasting my time. I'm just looking for your opinion -- professional or personal, between shooting full manual and semi-automatic.

I've been noticing lately that a lot of pros use Aperture priority mode when shooting outdoors. I'm not a blind followers of pros without any reason, and that's why I began to investigate why they shoot A mode most of the time.

It's obvious. It saves them time. Instead of having to figure out the exposure from three settings, using A mode allows them to use only two. (One if ISO is set to auto.).

However, I began using full manual mode despite the repeated failure to get the exposure right in the first few shots because I thought I was learning. "Over time, guessing the camera settings depending on the lighting condition becomes a second nature," I read somewhere.

But the other day I noticed, it's not happening. The light is so different and versatile that at the same place at the same time but in different days, the lighting changes. So does the camera settings. So ultimately, I'm relying on the camera's light meter to determine whether the shot is well exposed or not. I try to keep the lightmeter in the middle on the first shot, look at the back LCD, and then tweak shutter speed or ISO if required.

Lately it's bugging me, am I wasting my time? Indoors, I can't shoot in any auto because I use a Yongnuo manual flash and the camera seems to not know that the flash exists. So it exposes for the ambient light bumping up ISO to the highest or slowing down the shutter speed. So in indoors, I always shoot manual. Keep shutter speed between 80-100 and ISO within 400, and I change the aperture according to the flash (distance of the subject, flash power, etc).

But outdoors, that problem is non-existent. So I'm wondering, is there any reason why I should continue shooting in full manual and not semi-automatic?


Also, do you guys use auto ISO? I shoot manual ISO but I'm wondering if that's another area where I'm wasting my time. I'm just looking for your opinion -- professional or personal, between shooting full manual and semi-automatic.

I've been noticing lately that a lot of pros use Aperture priority mode when shooting outdoors. I'm not a blind followers of pros without any reason, and that's why I began to investigate why they shoot A mode most of the time.

It's obvious. It saves them time. Instead of having to figure out the exposure from three settings, using A mode allows them to use only two. (One if ISO is set to auto.).

However, I began using full manual mode despite the repeated failure to get the exposure right in the first few shots because I thought I was learning. "Over time, guessing the camera settings depending on the lighting condition becomes a second nature," I read somewhere.

But the other day I noticed, it's not happening. The light is so different and versatile that at the same place at the same time but in different days, the lighting changes. So does the camera settings. So ultimately, I'm relying on the camera's light meter to determine whether the shot is well exposed or not. I try to keep the lightmeter in the middle on the first shot, look at the back LCD, and then tweak shutter speed or ISO if required.

Lately it's bugging me, am I wasting my time? Indoors, I can't shoot in any auto because I use a Yongnuo manual flash and the camera seems to not know that the flash exists. So it exposes for the ambient light bumping up ISO to the highest or slowing down the shutter speed. So in indoors, I always shoot manual. Keep shutter speed between 80-100 and ISO within 400, and I change the aperture according to the flash (distance of the subject, flash power, etc).

But outdoors, that problem is non-existent. So I'm wondering, is there any reason why I should continue shooting in full manual and not semi-automatic?


Also, do you guys use auto ISO? I shoot manual ISO but I'm wondering if that's another area where I'm wasting my time. I'm just looking for your opinion -- professional or personal, between shooting full manual and semi-automatic.

There is no need to shoot in manual mode unless you have a specific reason to do so. That might be because you want to use a specific shutter speed or a fixed and known aperture or a high or low ISO. Shooting in manual mode for no specific reason is pointless (some here may disagree) so with a good camera I would suggest you choose aperture priority mode (say f8) with a fixed ISO between 200 and 400 ASA. That would cover most "normal" shooting conditions. In low light, bright light, backlight subjects, fast moving subjects then that is different and you will need to shoot in manual mode to allow you to pick a 2nd setting for your camera (the shutter speed or ISO as well). Or you change to shutter priority mode. Manual is normally a last choice when there is no other way to get the shot because the camera is being fooled in some way, or you want a very specific result from it.

Modern digital cameras are superb. In addition to having three modalities to meter the exposure they also have a color histogram. The rear LCD is not the best indicator to check the exposure.
I mostly shoot Aperture Priority selecting the aperture I need for depth of field. I use EC (exposure compensation) when necessary and I seldom look at the histogram.
I do use Manual Mode at times if confronted with a subject or lighting condition that requires more control. I do not rely on matrix metering but I rely on center weighted and spot meter for the exposure. I have used both modalities for a long time and I feel confident with them.
If you know metering and how to compensate the exposure I see nothing more practical than shooting Aperture Priority.

There is also no reason to use Av mode either unless you have a specific reason for doing so since you can achieve equally good shots in full manual. I believe its really about which mode you are most comfortable using. For me, its manual mode which gives me greater control. Once you are experienced using manual mode its just about as fast as using Aperture priority, IMHO, but with somewhat greater control. There is certainly nothing wrong with Av mode. I use it 10-15% of the time, but enjoy and prefer using manual mode. The bottom line, there is no right answer.