wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Manual 90% of the time, I set the aperture and the shutter speed what I want!

Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

Ditto, and well stated!

Dick Z. Loc: Downers Grove IL

That's exactly what I do. Never had a problem, unless I'm in a hurry and forget something.

Tom47 Loc: Gettysburg, PA

I shoot manual 99% of the time. Once in a great while I may shoot shutter priority.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

Shooting in different modes using the same settings on the same capture will never render less or more sharpness. Manual gives you more control over all elements of your capture, especially where there is high dynamic range. Each mode has its place and function. Learn them all and when to use.

h1h1d4mje

I shoot in A to control depth of field, but when shooting animals or on wind I shoot shutter speed.

anotherview Loc: California

The sharper result may happen because in Aperture Priority mode, the camera metering system picked a higher Shutter Speed than usual, thus reducing the effect of camera and subject movement on the image.

You did not mention the ISO setting. If set to Auto, the ISO the metering system picks may contribute to allowing a faster Shutter Speed and hence a sharper image.

Finally, you did not mention the Aperture setting in AP mode, but if you set the Aperture to the "sweet spot" of the lens where it produces the sharpest image, then this fact may account for the sharper image.

Depending on conditions and my intention for an image, I will shoot either in AP mode or in Manual mode, for more control. In AP mode, I will do a test shot to make sure the SS goes high enough to minimize the effect of camera and subject movement.

My camera, the Canon EOS 6D, generates low-noise images even at higher ISO settings, so I can pay less attention to it as a factor in Exposure, but still I will account for it if too high, and then make a necessary adjustment.

And so on.

I suggest you study and practice the Exposure Triangle.

Good luck.

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

Mostly aperatue, but I vary it, depending on the subject.

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Ditto with the modes but having tried RAW + JPG I went back to RAW only as Windows Explorer and Faststone Image viewer will display RAW pictures Ok (except Faststone has a much better display than Explorer) and Lightroom displays RAW as well as allowing easy cataloging and sorting.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

What "Mode" do I use????

There is really only two that I use... And RAW as I want ALL that the camera can deliver in the captured shot to Post Edit to Make a Print from.

MANUAL = ((Because I know what I am doing))

And....

APITUERE Priority = ((When I am not sure))

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Mostly aperture, sometimes manual and rarely shutter or auto.

More importantly, I set auto ISO with a constraint of 100 to 400, meaning it'll adjust as needed within that range but I have to manually set it higher when need be.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

Usually Aperture, some full Auto, occasionally Shutter priority. Lately have been recording RAW only as I have found I have very little use for jpeg images until after they have been processed.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

I think what mode to use is much like what color clothing should I wear. Here is a short video that helps explain what mode to use under what circumstances.
http://youtu.be/zlnQX66Dv7A?list=UUB_kHWYQcoJjepTkO96BxCQ

I shoot mostly manual, but when in a bit of a hurry, use shutter or aperture priorities. Rarely any other mode for me is necessary.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Correct that the mode doesn't, but a setting that the camera could pick does. Consider that most, if not all lenses are not as sharp wide open, nor stopped all the way down due to refraction. Shooting in aperture and stopping down a bit will improve sharpness. Moreover, most lenses have a discernable "sweet spot" that is usually 1/4 or so of the way to max stopped down. Shooting modes are ignorant of this, so an informed shooter using aperture priority has the edge in sharpness.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

When the light is steady and consistent, I use Manual mode to lock in the exposure values I want.

When I have to use an auto exposure mode due to the lighting conditions, I use Av most of the time. That's because I generally want control over the aperture and depth of field. With moving subjects I keep close eye on the shutter speed and make adjustments when needed.

But, when I need an AE mode and don't care about the aperture.... or simply want to lock in a specific shutter speed, I won't hesitate to use Tv.

Occasionally I'll use Program... typically when I have quickly gone from one type of lighting to another (such as (in shade or indoors, then out into full sun), don't have time to calculate exposures or just need a few quick shots. This also preserves the settings I had been using in the other mode, so I can go back to the previous shooting condition quickly and easily.

I never use Auto ISO... that just throws another wild card in the mix. I have been trying to figure out a time I'd use it and find it helpful... but it's just another auto exposure mode, but different in that it doesn't have Exposure Compensation, plus it can be engaged at the same time as other auto exposure modes (auto/auto?).

I shoot RAW the vast majority of the time. I might shoot JPEG or RAW+JPEG if working on a very short deadline, but can't recall the last time I had to do that.