some questions for experiance photography!

[Saleh]

ok guys i have some question i need the answers !

if u want to take some shots which mode did u choice ? Manual or Auto OR P,S ?

right now most my pictures all with manuals my problem i need to take some shots then i would know the pest apreture and shutter speed , is this happen to u guys ?

[herc182]

Not sure what your question is. I mainly use Aperture priority (A). You pick the aperture you want (i.e. what depth of field you desire) then the camera will pick the appropriate shutter speed to a correct exposure.
I have also started using the fully manual mode (M) where you pick aperture and shutter speed. You judge the exposure based on the exposure meter in the viewfinder (a horizontal line with numbers from -2 to +2). This combined with spot metering offers me the most fexibility (but more time to take the shot).
Aperture priority is faster to change and good for 80% of my shots.

Hooe that helps.

[Rooz]

i use aperture priorty most of the time and use manual mode when i use flash.

getting your expsosure right in manual mode isn't too hard as long as you follow your exposure meter which is in the center of your viewfinder.

[David Metsky]

It takes a little time to learn how best to you manual controls. Some situations demand it, others require the speed of some of the automatic modes. I tend to you TV or AV as needed, often P, occasionally M, scene modes if applicable, and very rarely Auto.

It all depends on the shot, no two pictures are the same.

[e_dawg]

Usually use A for outdoor / daylight situations, and S for indoor / low light situations. Combined with Auto ISO set to somewhere around 1/the focal length you're using for maximum shutter speed, it's fantastic.

[erichlund]

It takes a little time to learn how best to you manual controls. Some situations demand it, others require the speed of some of the automatic modes. I tend to you TV or AV as needed, often P, occasionally M, scene modes if applicable, and very rarely Auto.

It all depends on the shot, no two pictures are the same.

For those Nikon users not familiar with Canon's odd lettering Tv is Shutter Priority (S) and Av is Aperture Priority (A).;)

[dxrocnxj]

am i the only one who uses shutter priority? :cool:

hahaha

[XaiLo]

I think, I understand what you are asking. Use Auto or P mode (close cousin to Auto) and then check those setting then try them out in manual mode.
and you can tweak from there. If you use a D40 or D80 set your exposure compensation to -0.7

If it's available to you, try and pick up "Understanding Exposure" Revised Edition by Bryan Petterson it's a great introduction into exposure. hth

[hankbeblazin]

i use manual most of the time, when i have time to fiddle with it, but if i dont have time or worried about missing a good shot i use Aperture priority and use speed priority if its something moving fast. just depends on the situation

[jcon]

I shoot manual and in NEF 100% of the time.

[Esoterra]

I use Aperture Mode for general all around shooting, I use Manual mode for ticky light situations, I use Shutter Mode for Sports and photos involving any kind of motion, and I use P mode when I don't care how the image turns out! That about sums it up for me.

[erichlund]

I use Aperture Mode for general all around shooting, I use Manual mode for ticky light situations, I use Shutter Mode for Sports and photos involving any kind of motion, and I use P mode when I don't care how the image turns out! That about sums it up for me.

I used to use P mode a lot. However, now I generally follow the above, with one exception. If I don't care how the photo comes out, I put the camera down. :eek:

[rawpaw18]

S priority for indoor sports (s is for sports mode right:D), A priority for most other shots. Manual mode more and more but not for indoor sports, yet. I can not keep up.

It is written in the Nikonian bylaws, that if you own a 70-200vr, you can never use auto mode.:rolleyes:

[fionndruinne]

It is written in the Nikonian bylaws, that if you own a 70-200vr, you can never use auto mode.

Amen to that.

Saleh, do you pay attention to the exposure meter? You can get a lot out of A and P modes by also making use of the exposure compensation, which in effect only changes shutter speed in these modes. The difference being that P mode chooses aperture for you, while in A you set the aperture. So if, for instance, you want a specific aperture, but it is bright enough/you aren't shooting action so that shutter speed is less important, you can use A, which will pick a shutter speed automatically, but if you don't like the results, you can change the shutter speed in 1/3-EV increments by means of the exposure compensation button. It's a little easier in terms of EV than actual shutter speeds to get the specific result you want.

[Turn]

I usually use P.

[Esoterra]

I used to use P mode a lot. However, now I generally follow the above, with one exception. If I don't care how the photo comes out, I put the camera down. :eek:

Oh, I forgot to add... I never shoot in P Mode!:D

[XaiLo]

Hell-a-rious... lol where's the little guy with the little kicking feet. :D

[Saleh]

thanks all guys i'll use A mode :)

[yewsef]

I shoot in RAW now and shoot in A mode (few times I use Shutter Speed priority or full Manual, if I needed some weird effects). I don't know what benefits do you get shooting in Manual? because I usually adjust my exposure ALL the time in RAW. Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't Manual Mode trivial if you're going to heavily adjust your RAW file in the RAW editor anyway? (I know some photos need faster or slower shutter speeds, this when I have to use Manual or Shutter Priority. But in general, you can adjust your exposure in PP).

[achuang]

Shooting in manual helps to get consistent exposures, and is even more useful when using flash. Adjusting exposure in RAW is one of the benefits of RAW and it can be done without too much loss in quality, but a properly exposed shot straight out of the camera will have less noise and most likely will be sharper than a heavily adjusted RAW image. Adjusting in RAW can only retrieve a limited amount of detail in both the highlights and the shadows. Bringing up shadows increases noise, and reducing highlights doesn't always work as they may be blown and may not have any detail left in them.

[erichlund]

I shoot in RAW now and shoot in A mode (few times I use Shutter Speed priority or full Manual, if I needed some weird effects). I don't know what benefits do you get shooting in Manual? because I usually adjust my exposure ALL the time in RAW. Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't Manual Mode trivial if you're going to heavily adjust your RAW file in the RAW editor anyway? (I know some photos need faster or slower shutter speeds, this when I have to use Manual or Shutter Priority. But in general, you can adjust your exposure in PP).

We say shoot a lot when we talk about taking a picture. Well, it's probably not a great metaphor in the great world view of things, but in one way it is. When you press the shutter (pull the trigger, if you will), the shot has been taken. You have set the exposure for once and for all.

When you post process, it's like making a print film. Printing has some latitude to be under or overexposed, and you can adjust the time the paper is exposed to get a slightly different result. However, you will never get as good a result from postprocess adjustments as you get from getting the exposure right in the first place.

The reason for this is that when you get the exposure right, it's correct in the hardware, so you have maximized the signal to noise ratio for the shot, so minimized noise. When you get it wrong, then fix it in post processing, your signal to noise ratio is lower, and post processing adjustments will tend to show more noise.

As to shooting manual, the reason to shoot manual is that the camera's meter is not perfect in every situation. It can be fooled by the conditions. You can do the same thing as shooting manual by using exposure compensation in one of the other modes. In manual you set the shutter and aperture so that it matches the meter, then you adjust shutter or aperture, based on your judgement about what the meter might have gotten wrong. In manual, you don't use exposure compensation, you compensate directly with shutter speed or aperture.

[e_dawg]

when you get the exposure right, it's correct in the hardware, so you have maximized the signal to noise ratio for the shot, so minimized noise. When you get it wrong, then fix it in post processing, your signal to noise ratio is lower, and post processing adjustments will tend to show more noise.

Indeed. It's always a balance between preserving the highlights and getting enough exposure for the shadows so they're not swamped with noise when you post-process. I love the S5 Pro because it gives you the DR and exposure latitude to minimize having to sacrifice one for the other or compromising.


As to shooting manual, the reason to shoot manual is that the camera's meter is not perfect in every situation.

Another reason is because you want precise control over both shutter speed and aperture at the same time.

[yewsef]

Alright, now I understand that Manual is never trivial. But for me, because of lack of experience, I almost always adjust my photos heavily to get the exposure and colors I want. It always get a little over/under exposed and needs other adjustments. I guess I need more practice. :o

[wh0128]

I rarely ever use Aperture or Shutter priority modes. Only when I need to take the shot immediately like in football or sports photography. If I have the time to dwiddle around in Manual Mode will I do it for sure.

[Rooz]

Alright, now I understand that Manual is never trivial. But for me, because of lack of experience, I almost always adjust my photos heavily to get the exposure and colors I want. It always get a little over/under exposed and needs other adjustments. I guess I need more practice. :o

i suppose it depends what you shoot and under what conditions. when using a flash it's almost essential to go manual to get it all right. when you have tricky lighting or severe contrasting colours in the frame, manual is again very useful. shooting the moon for example is impossible in Ap. the only way to achieve a correct exposure is using Manual mode.

but in most normal conditions Ap will produce the exact same exposure.