Manual vs Aperture Priority
Dec 31, 2018 23:58:51 #
A. T. wrote:
I'm posting this question to get you guys/gals opi... (show quote)
I use manual very often but I know that it takes some time, about a few seconds, to make the adjustment. That time can be too long for some situations. However, manual is easiest whenever I want an exposure different from what the meter indicates. You can use the EC or in combination with the AE Lock instead but that is more cumbersome for me that simply switching to manual.
Jan 1, 2019 00:10:46 #
Larry Powell
Loc: Columbus OH
I started learning photography in 1970 with Konica Autoreflex cameras. They were the first "automatic" exposure cameras. The user selected the shutter speed and the camera picked the aperture. Konica's advertising was aperture priority resulted in the perfectly exposed blurr. I think Konica had it right and shutter priority is what I use. A slow shutter speed is almost guaranteed to ruin an image. I am not saying that aperture is not important for the desired effect but I would like to hear from others that work aperture priority.
Jan 1, 2019 01:15:12 #
Larry Powell wrote:
I started learning photography in 1970 with Konica... (show quote)
It all depends on what I am trying to achieve.
To show motion or freeze motion it will be shutter priority (think panning shots of motor racing or birds in flight for exampe).
To isolate a subject, by using shallow depth of field, it will be aperture priority or if I want to record a lot of detail in a scene it may still be aperture priority.
Sometimes, subject dependant, a slow shutter speed cam make an image.
Jan 1, 2019 06:17:44 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
A. T. wrote:
I'm posting this question to get you guys/gals opi... (show quote)
Manual can be just as fast as Aperture or Shutter Priority. When the sun is coming over my shoulder and front lighting my birds in flight, I use manual cause the light source is not changing.
If I am out on a partly cloudy day with an in and out sun, and I am changing camera aiming angles (back light, front light, side light) I will use Aperture Priority with a exposure compensation thrown in.
So, for me, it depends on the day and lighting that determines what I will use.
Jan 1, 2019 07:04:40 #
Jan 1, 2019 07:27:53 #
Depends on the situation on what I use. I pretty much use the whole range from P to M. I do a lot of pics out of and off of moving vehicles though. Truck, Car, Bikes.
Jan 1, 2019 07:45:55 #
A. T. wrote:
I'm posting this question to get you guys/gals opi... (show quote)
Wow, I am still learning and have been watching many Videos on U-Tube concerning both Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual mode. Also, like the idea of possibly adding "Auto-ISO" to the mix. But I realized I must Practice more the ideas and suggestions I am viewing. Since I live in Michigan and am now 68 years old, I find it difficult to get motivated to go Outside in the present Winter weather. But I am going to Florida to visit my Children in February & March, so I hope to practice much more in the warmer weather.
Jan 1, 2019 07:51:34 #
A. T. wrote:
I'm posting this question to get you guys/gals opi... (show quote)
I shoot manual for most moving subjects. My lens is sharpest between f6.3 and f9 so if I shoot in shutter priority then the camera usually chooses the lowest aperture of 5.6 giving a soft photo. If I shoot aperture priority the camera gives to slow a shutter speed to hand hold. I guess it all depends on the light and other conditions. I'm still a novice at photography so much more learning to go.
Jan 1, 2019 07:53:42 #
I think many of us use "manual" but allow auto ISO. That way we can decide what aperture/DOF we want and what shutter speed we want or need (like with a 100-400 lens the slowest I want is 1/500) and then allow the ISO to adjust to get the right exposure. If there is time to make more desirable settings, that can be done as needed.
Jan 1, 2019 07:56:23 #
sb wrote:
I think many of us use "manual" but allow auto ISO. That way we can decide what aperture/DOF we want and what shutter speed we want or need (like with a 100-400 lens the slowest I want is 1/500) and then allow the ISO to adjust to get the right exposure. If there is time to make more desirable settings, that can be done as needed.
I also do auto ISO set to 3200 max on my D500.
Jan 1, 2019 07:57:25 #
You have to decide what result you seek. For example, you can go manual for aperture and shutter speed while setting ISO to Auto mode. The camera metering system will then select the ISO for you depending on conditions.
Your concern then would become one of a high ISO resulting in too much noise in the exposure. But you can overcome this undesirable result by setting the maximum ISO to, say, 800 ISO.
If the metering system called for a higher ISO, then you'd notice your exposure falling short. So you'd have to alter one (or more) of the three basic settings of shutter speed, aperture, or ISO.
Experiment with this approach.
Hope this reply helps.
Happy New Year!
Your concern then would become one of a high ISO resulting in too much noise in the exposure. But you can overcome this undesirable result by setting the maximum ISO to, say, 800 ISO.
If the metering system called for a higher ISO, then you'd notice your exposure falling short. So you'd have to alter one (or more) of the three basic settings of shutter speed, aperture, or ISO.
Experiment with this approach.
Hope this reply helps.
Happy New Year!
A. T. wrote:
I'm posting this question to get you guys/gals opi... (show quote)
Jan 1, 2019 08:13:23 #
RichardTaylor wrote:
With my Olympus M4/3 bodies, when used in aperture priority mode, autoi ISO does exactly what I would do when shooting.
Ie: the shutter speed is 1/focal length (in 35mm terms). It do set an upper limit for the auto ISO so it doesn't go crazily high.
Ie: the shutter speed is 1/focal length (in 35mm terms). It do set an upper limit for the auto ISO so it doesn't go crazily high.
Okay, so if I get what you're saying, when you're in aperture priority you set your ISO to auto correct? When I leave manual for any reason, I set ISO to auto which has parameters that I pre-set to minimize upper limit noise. Am I on the right track?
Jan 1, 2019 08:16:11 #
I shoot aperture priority most of the time. Manual if using flash, to control ambient light.
Jan 1, 2019 08:16:22 #
I agree. In a situation that changes quickly, Auto is the best choice, and P is a close second. I usually shoot in aperture priority, so I'm used to that, and I can make changes quickly. I shot all-manual in the 1970s, but that was a different time.
Jan 1, 2019 08:23:30 #
Grahame wrote:
'Manual' can also be "very fast" and give just as quick access to change Aperture or Shutter if you use Auto ISO (but then some may not consider this 'Manual' in the true sense).
It's speed and ease of use is also determined by make and model of camera you have.
It's speed and ease of use is also determined by make and model of camera you have.
The one thing I neglected to say was that I shoot with a D500. My lens assortment is nikkor: 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 16-80mm 2.8-4, 24-70mm 2.8, 70-200 mm 2.8, 18-300mm 3.5-6.3 and Tamron G2 150-600mm.
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