What mode do you use?

[Michaelaw]

I shoot manual mode always. I vary shutter speed, aperture and ISO all the time to get the shot I want. I've used priority modes but I always seem to do better in manual. I remember when I first started shooting, I was in "Automatic" mode all the time, got some great shots but I always felt like I'd cheated.

[Mad Aussie]

I remember when I first started shooting, I was in "Automatic" mode all the time, got some great shots but I always felt like I'd cheated.

I remember feeling the same way but these days I think it's not cheating ... it's just not getting the best out of yourself or the camera.

[Michael Van der Tol]

Hi All,

90% Manual
10% Av

Regards,

MikeV

[darkness]

For myself I would say I shoot Manual about 90% of the time AP 5% and TP 5%.
Mostly manual because I want to learn how to do thing myself rather than have the camera pick what it thinks is best.

[sclewin]

I'm very new to photography with a DSL and found that I spend most of my time, around 80%, in shutter priority mode. This could be because I have been shooting a lot of action shots at first and like a fast shutter speed to take the action. I have only used A mode about 1% of the time so far as FOV haves not mattered as much as shutter speed in the shots I made.

When I first got the Alpha 200 I thought the pre-programed modes like portrait mode sounded great, but I noticed I really don't like giving up control to the camera.

I don't mind the Program mode when I need quick shots because I always have the choice to change things if I disagree with the camera. The Alpha 200 allows me to change the shutter speed if I like in P mode. I used program mode about 19% of the time.

I have only played around with manual and have not really used it yet. I expect as time goes on and I learn more I will slowly start using manual more and program mode less.

[jellotranz]

With the exception of concerts, I generally shoot in aperture priority mode. Generally I am looking for a fast shutter speed and a very shallow depth of field, so I will generally run in aperture priority mode and go for the largest aperture I can, which also then gives me the fastest shutter speed. Concerts are full manual for exposure and AF. For most larger venues I shoot with a set shutter speed/aperture and hope for the best. This is generally because most of the time, the actual shutter speed quickly approaches the point where either handholding is tough, especially if there are crowd surfers coming over the wall on top of me, or it would cause the performers to blur (Something I can’t stand).