Aperture or shutter: Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon...

Bud Black

Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon G9X which features both choices. For instance, if I want to shoot a subject and have the complete screen in sharp focus, or if I want to aim at a subject and have it in sharp focus but blur.out the foreground and background. This may seem like a basic question, but humor me as I.am but a novice.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Bud Black wrote:

Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon G9X which features both choices. For instance, if I want to shoot a subject and have the complete screen in sharp focus, or if I want to aim at a subject and have it in sharp focus but blur.out the foreground and background. This may seem like a basic question, but humor me as I.am but a novice.

What do you want to do (as per your second sentence)?

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

DOF. Is controlled by f stop.
Motion by shutter speed

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Bud Black wrote:

Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon G9X which features both choices. For instance, if I want to shoot a subject and have the complete screen in sharp focus, or if I want to aim at a subject and have it in sharp focus but blur.out the foreground and background. This may seem like a basic question, but humor me as I.am but a novice.

I prefer to manage the artistic qualities via depth of field, assuming the subject of the image is in sharp focus. The G9X is easier to shoot in aperture priority (w/ AUTO ISO) than in manual. That said: the IS is not very effective below 1/60, at least not in my hands when out hiking. If I can't hold the camera steady enough at 1/60 or slower, I change over to manual and up the speed to 1/100 keeping the same aperture.

You'd have to determine your own artistic intent given any specific image and situation. Do you desire images where an object near the camera is in sharp focus and the background in a blurred out-of-focus? This may work well for a flower, but sometimes a landscape works better with the entire scene in focus behind that near object.

Given the IS in the camera and the rather narrow range covered by the zoom focal length, shutter priority is of limited utility in my style of shooting.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Bud Black wrote:

Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon G9X which features both choices. For instance, if I want to shoot a subject and have the complete screen in sharp focus, or if I want to aim at a subject and have it in sharp focus but blur.out the foreground and background. This may seem like a basic question, but humor me as I.am but a novice.

Neither one is better than the other. Each do different things, choose the one that is best for what you want to accomplish for each picture.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Aperture priority is usually the preferred choice as long as the shutter speed the camera selects is fast enough to freeze motion.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

Bud Black wrote:

Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon G9X which features both choices. For instance, if I want to shoot a subject and have the complete screen in sharp focus, or if I want to aim at a subject and have it in sharp focus but blur.out the foreground and background. This may seem like a basic question, but humor me as I.am but a novice.

If you want to freeze or control motion - Shutter Preferred.
If you want to control Depth of Field - Aperture Preferred.
I usually leave the ISO on auto. My D750 handles high ISO nicely.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

You need to study the exposure triangle and learn how to use each to get what you want. It is like asking which gear is the best for driving my car in.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Consider Depth of field ie blurred background and how large appertures (low numbers) work.

In shutter mode - some cameras let you see the different 'exposure' result of different speeds ie darker or lighter picture . at a particular Fstop.but with different shutter speeds.....Does yours on the led? will that help you get a 'fix' on what combination of f stop and speed you need..to get what you want.

Exposure - if close to being correct is easily altered in post processing....(everyone wants a different exposure so there is never a 'correct' one !) Shutter speed is Difficult to alter later. DOF is much harder to PP later.

So.....A ALWAYS to put the front and back in the right focus
Shutter to get the right light in - may need to up the iso - but if fast enough to hand hold can be done later.

Shutter to 'stop' movement or allow blurry movement.

ISO to make sure that you can hold it steady...

That is the 'rocket science' !

enjoy the journey.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Mac wrote:

Neither one is better than the other. Each do different things, choose the one that is best for what you want to accomplish for each picture.

Best answer in my opinion....

CO

Most lenses are their sharpest when stopped down 2 to 3 stops from maximum. If you use aperture priority, you can make sure the lens in that sweet spot range. Also, you can control the depth of field in aperture priority.

papa Loc: Rio Dell, CA

Bud Black wrote:

Okay, here is one that should be easy for you hogs. What is the difference between choosing aperture or shutter preferred? And which is better? I am using a Canon G9X which features both choices. For instance, if I want to shoot a subject and have the complete screen in sharp focus, or if I want to aim at a subject and have it in sharp focus but blur.out the foreground and background. This may seem like a basic question, but humor me as I.am but a novice.

There are basic principles to be learned about camera functions right there in your owner/user manual. Beyond that how about perusing a book or search the internet for methodical elementary education on you needs?

cthahn

Neither is better. It depends on what you are photographing. You need to take some photography courses and understand the basics of photography.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Talk to Mr Google.... ask about Metering Modes, Choosing Shutter Speed, and DOF vs f stop. You will get definitive answers rather than UHH opining and info in snippets.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Basic photography once again. Shutter speeds control movement and when using flash they control the amount of ambient light that enters the camera. Apertures control depth of field (areas in front and behind the focus point) and when using flash they control the flash exposure. I am quite sure that your interest is movement and depth of field.
You will use shutter speeds to set the camera to shoot blurs or to freeze action. Aperture priority is mainly used to control depth of field or zones in focus. Keep in mind that shutter speeds and apertures work together to make the exposure so changing one will change the other but I do not want to confuse you.
Need to freeze action use a fast shutter speed. Need to blur it use a slow shutter speed. Need sharpness across the photograph use a small lens opening like f16. Need to blur the background use a large lens opening like f2.8 like portrait photographers do.
Hope this help.