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What is the best mode to shoot on


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52 replies to this topic

#21
Davem45

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This so depends on what your shooting I have to agree there is no correct mode just play with the modes to work out which you want to use



#22
Mark Win

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I enjoy my Sports mode and manual mode.. I do of course still use Auto



#23
Kenneth Terry

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Try to learn your camera as much as you can reading your manual. There are plenty of video's and free ones on youtube to learn photography



#24
Ignacior

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Ive been doing nothing but manual for about 7 months now. Really lets you get to know your camera.



#25
charles76

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I almost always use manual mode on my cameras. Yes, I'm a control freak, I know.

#26
alternative minds

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manual and aperture for me too



#27
burdadi

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for me i'm always shooting in manual mode!



#28
onewiththecamera

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I always tell my students in class to start with going to program mode (the P on the dial). This is basically like auto except it will not pop the flash. It is a good starting point. Then probably the most useful mode is aperture priority (the A on the dial) because that controls your depth of field. IMHO manual mode is primarily for times that the camera cannot properly calculate exposure. You can find more tips on onewiththecamera.com as well. Also keep asking questions here too!!!



#29
Jaculinb4

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Find an online course to teach you the basics of each mode, then you can decide which is best for the type of shooting you'll be doing.  With the online course I took, I received feedback and critique from the instructor on photo assignments.  It really helped to have someone to look at my photos, and to ask questions if I didn't understand the assignment.



#30
jason

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try  taking  the same photo  using a variety  of different settings, compare the results , as well as reading the manual.



#31
garthir

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A few years ago when I bought my first DSLR I was determined to not use auto. Once in awhile I do, but usually shooting wildlife and scenery I shoot in aperture mode. It's all about the depth of field and whether or not I want background blurred or sharp. I suggest it's a good place to start.

#32
maryhelmer

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Thanks so much everyone : )



#33
B Grace

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I'm late to the discussion but my default turn-the-camera-off routine is to return the mode dial to Program.  90% of what I shoot can be had with Program and I like the ability to spin the command dial to get the aperture-shutter speed combo I want.  I find the P-star symbol for user-command Program mode to be nice but it's not intuitive which way you have the value from default so I often just turn the camera off to get back to its Program mode selected values.

 

I switch to Aperture when I want a hard-set F-value, say a sweet spot aperture for a lens while shooting landscapes.  I switch to Manual when I want to experiment with exposure compensation without needing to press and hold the exposure comp button, and when I want to lock down the exposure settings such as for multiple shot panoramics.



#34
Russ

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General stuff I use aperture priority and tweak with the +-EV setting. I still use auto-ISO with this as well.

 

Sport I use manual with auto-ISO, keeping an eye on what ISO it's choosing and adjusting shutter speed as required.



#35
DCB

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On my D40 I used Program most of the time....it did an amazing job.

 

I find on my D7100 the program mode is not as nice...still learning. It does some much!

 

I have a few YouTube photographers I follow...

 

Here is a good one.

 

http://www.youtube.c...redPolin/videos

 

Peace



#36
Afterimage

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Aperture Mode is the one I'm most commonly in. I like controlling DOF and working with-in a particular lens's "sweet spot" for sharpness.



#37
greatscott94

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Only ever shot manual, for the same reason I use only single point auto focus, I want to tell the camera what to do and not have the camera tell me what to do.

 

That of course is just my preference, I'm a believer that my way isn't necessarily the right way. Do what works for you, at the end of the day it's about results, if A or P give you the desired results then have at it.

 

I do recommend that photographers at least learn how to shoot in manual as it'll help you better understand your camera.



#38
Davem45

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My first ever SLR was manual only and I learnt so much from shooting that way now 75% of the time I shoot program I love being able to adjust what is really an auto mode to what I want  but there are times I want either a fixed aperture or shutter speed as well but very occasionally I will stick it on auto as well that is also the default mode for when the camera is in the bag so if I have to get the camera out for a fast taken shot I can just point and shoot



#39
AndyLewis

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Sometimes users dont take their cameras of Auto modes simply because todays cameras do everytihng thats needed on Auto to get the required images, i myself love shooting in sports mode though i have been playing around with 'Bulb' Settings for some amazing night time pictures and recently started playing around with 'light painting''

I like bulb shooting for night shoots myself as I prefer to keep my ISO as low as possible. My issue with this approach is the movement of the moon and stars shown in the image. As for which mode to shoot in, I tend to favour manual as I can maintain control over the shot although I know this isn't the fastest way of shooting. Fine for landscape. If I was doing wildlife I may switch to an auto mode. 



#40
BeerBelly

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Usually aperture priority and manual. Depends on the needs.