mvetrano2 Loc: Commack, NY

I use aperture mode 99.9% of the time and the other 0.1% I use shutter priority, I never use manual mode.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I agree, I have a favorite honey spot where I go to shoot eagles in flight, when I began shooting them I used aperture with priority with EV adjustments but eventually switched over to manual simple because I learned that the camera could not consistently expose the birds when the background changed from a blue sky to a wooded forest for example. By finding the proper exposure for the birds in the given light, changes in the background do not effect the exposure of the birds which are the primary subjects of my efforts.

A. T.

If you're writing to me, I fully understand the exposure triangle. I've spent countless hours studying, watching videos, reading books by authors recommended on this forum and many, many practice photos. It's not a matter of understanding, it's an ease and speed matter. I have learned and am extremely comfortable with shooting in manual mode; however, it takes time to make adjustments when lighting is constantly changing and I don't want to jeopardize loosing shots.

BebuLamar

There is no more exposure triangle. Peterson now calls it photographic triangle in the 4th edition of his understanding exposure book.

philo Loc: philo, ca

just because Peterson says so doesn't make it so.

A. T.

Thanks for your post. I have learned from my own photos that my number one priority is to get in focus photos; most everything else is fixable in post processing.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Re the Fuji pretty much the same with me however I have learned to rely on the histogram in the VF (before the shot)- for whatever reason the picture in the VF (both the X-T2 and 3) is always a bit lighter than the finished result. I go back and forth between auto ISO and manually setting it. And the +/- compensation is helpful. With shooting birds and BIF I am more concerned about keeping the shutter speed up than the aperture setting. When I am using the Nikon I most always use auto ISO and set the shutter speed and aperture where I want it to be and check the image afterwards to see if any tweaks are needed.

A. T.

Thanks

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I think that you use different exposure modes in different settings and what you are shooting. I made the earlier comment about using manual exposure for shooting eagles in flight because my subject requires the same exposure in existing light regardless of changes to the background, however for most other things I use AV because I love controlling DOF, maybe if I were shooting a sporting event or a bicycle race I would use TV to insure that I was stopping action while shooting a variety of different subjects, I think that different situations call for different methods.

A. T.

Thanks, I haven't used the histogram in the VF but I have been making exposure adjustments with exposure compensation.

A. T.

Thanks, I agree.

A. T.

Amen........

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

In my opinion, shooting in manual mode is fine.... when it's possible. But it isn't always possible. It will cause you to miss shots or end up with incorrect exposures if you insist on using it in some situations.

Aperture priority auto exposure (AE), shutter priority AE are useful and... when used correctly... can improve your keeper rate and allow you to keep shooting at times when someone who is restricting themselves to "manual only" is still fiddling around with their camera and missing shots.

Today's digital also have manual + auto ISO... which is another useful form of auto exposure alongside aperture priority AE and shutter priority AE. (Some people who tell you they "only shoot manual".... as if that's a good thing... are actually using this AE mode. They're just kidding themselves.)

Key to using any of the AE modes is knowing when and how to Exposure Compensation and AE Lock. Most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras today have both these features built in and available during any AE mode. Some older models with early versions of auto ISO did not implement it well... such as they don't have E.C. available when using M + auto ISO. That makes auto ISO pretty unusable on those cameras.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

I am still a beginner's beginner. I like Aperture for most shots but switch to Shutter in low light.

A. T.

Thanks so much; this is what I was looking for in my original question. I don't care how fast a person is, when you have to make adjustments to two or more areas of your camera compared to one, that's a no brainer.