shooting mode?

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peter
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looked at a few tutorials but they seem to contradict , camera is a D80 , both agreed on not using auto , so until i can get some tuition what is the best setting for me out of the M A S P options .
sorry if it is a basic question , but really am new to this .
peter
 
Best setting depends on the situation.

P - camera sets everything, with the option for you to modify some of the settings.

A - use this when you want to shoot at a specific aperture (to control depth-of-field) and let the camera set the other settings for correct exposure.

S - use this when you want to shoot as a specific shutter speed (eg. to freeze motion) and let the camera set the other settings for correct exposure.

M - use this when you want control all the settings yourself.

Spend a day on each messing around with the settings and see how it affects the final image. Best way to learn, imho. Of course you can also read some exposure tutorial on the net.
 
As above.

But you could try youtube for a more detailed demo/tutorial.
Have look through some of theseHERE
 
Edit: Oops! Crossed post :)

They all do the same thing, just different ways of arriving at the same exposure setting.

Manual - you set both the shutter speed and lens aperture, and then it is locked at those values.

Aperture priority - you set the aperture (f/number) and the camera sets the shutter speed.

Shutter prioority is the same, but the other way round - you set the shutter speed and the camera sets the lens aperture.

Programme - the camera sets both shutter speed and lens aperture.

Auto/green square is generally very similar to P, but the camera sets other things for you like the flash, and also locks you out of some other stuff to stop you making a mistake. This varies a bit between different cameras.

In all cases, what you are trying to do is deliver just the right amount of light to the sensor for best exposure. And you can mix and match both the shutter speed (exposure time) with the lens aperture (brightness of the light) to get that correct. Plus you can moderate things further with the ISO which adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor to light.

These are the three adjustments that you use to control exposure, and it doesn't matter how you go about it, or which mode you use. Of course, the objective is to select shutter speeds and lens apertures to give you the creative effect you want, so that is why you might want to work in one mode in preference to another, just to make things easier, but it makes no difference ultimately.

Aperture priority is usually the most versatile for most people and situations, and I think it is also best for learning with. Manual is good if you want to lock the exposure settings, to stop the camera changing things which it might otherwise do. P is good for point and shoot where the creative effect isn't too critical and you just want the right exposure sorted quickly. Full auto is just a pain IMHO!
 
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Normally working in A or S is a good way to get used to the handling of the camera and settings before moving to M. I use manual all of the time now as I like to be in control of the shots. Unless I have to give my camera to anyone to use, in which case a quick change to P normally makes life easier ;) lol
 
Is it ok to start off using A or P or should one stick with Auto for some time to learn the camera?
 
I think starting with P is a good move as it is near enough auto except you have some control with flash, ISO, white balance etc. Obviously this varies to different peoples preferences but I think its sometimes best to move out of FULL auto. You can still learn the camera well in program
 
lazerdrive said:
Is it ok to start off using A or P or should one stick with Auto for some time to learn the camera?
Click to expand...

The danger shooting auto is that it can make you lazy and deter you from progressing your technical side. If you've bought a DSLR, its usually because you want to be more creative with your kit. If this wasn't the case, you'd have opted for a point and shoot.

Play around with S or A and enjoy experimenting. That way, the camera's doing half the work for you but you're still having some input.
 
I guess it is best to play safe if it is a shot you don't want to mess up and don't have much time and stick with Auto?
 
thanks for the info , with some help from a mate as well ive reset the camera now to A , ISO is on auto , and F is 6.3,
 
As previously said above.. get out there and experiment with the camera and enjoy yourself learning :)
 
Have a play. To be honest aperture priority and shutter priority modes are pretty much automatic anyway. You select the appropriate aperture or speed and the camera works out the rest. In fact even Manual shows you using a diagram when you have too much or little light for the current settings and as you change them it shows you the results.
 
WP-UK said:
Normally working in A or S is a good way to get used to the handling of the camera and settings before moving to M. I use manual all of the time now as I like to be in control of the shots. Unless I have to give my camera to anyone to use, in which case a quick change to P normally makes life easier ;) lol
Click to expand...

That's true, Manual gives you control because the camera settings won't change unless you change them. Manual should really be called Set & Lock.

But a lot of people use M and then just line up the exposure indicator in the viewfinder, which is doing nothing more than what the camera will do for you automatically. You are only 'in control' if you review and probably modify what the camera is suggesting in some way.

Which is what you can do in exactly the same way in any of the auto or semi auto modes by applying exposure compensation. In that sense, if you shoot in say aperture priority and use the compensation dial, you are actually in more control than someone working blindly in manual.
 
HoppyUK said:
But a lot of people use M and then just line up the exposure indicator in the viewfinder, which is doing nothing more than what the camera will do for you automatically. You are only 'in control' if you review and probably modify what the camera is suggesting in some way.
Click to expand...
Hmmmm that's not how I use manual, I expose correctly for the part of the subject I want exposed correctly and then lock it at that. And most of the people I know who use manual do that...
 
Its best to learn manual first because then the rest becomes easy. I use A (Aperture priority) most of the time.
 
So, A or S are better to choose from that using M?

I have not ventured past Auto much myself yet!
 
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