Are you M, A or S shooter

<p>I was interested in people often discussing their camera under or over-exposing and I wondered if most people shoot with an Aperture or Shutter Priority rather than Manual. So, what do you all do? What's your preference and why?</p>

<p>Normally A, M, and S in that order<g>. Seldom S, unless a rare sporting event. I like to control the aperture and DOF though.</p>

<p>With my D300, A and P, mostly A. With my P6000, A and P, about equal. </p>

<p>Really depends on the cam but here's my usual take...</p>

<p>89% = A<br>

5% = M<br>

5% = P<br>

1% = S</p>

<p>Normally A or M on my D300S. Depends on what I'm doing.</p>

<p>I shoot all formats through 4x5, so I'm accustomed to using light meters and making exposure calculations.</p>

<p>- Leigh</p>

 

<p>Normally A - 85%<br>

Or M - 14%</p>

<p>Most of my cameras don't have anything but M. On the few that do, I sometimes use M and sometimes A depending on my mood and whether I think the light is consistent enough that I'd prefer to use a consistent exposure even when differently colored subjects might make an autoexposure algorithm decide to mess around with things.</p>

<p>In order by frequency of use.<br>

Mostly A to control D.O.F.<br>

S for when I want to have moving objects clear and not blurry or if I want to convey movement and purposely blur.<br>

P for just goofing around<br>

M for situations where A, S and P are failing me and the camera isn't giving me what I want.</p>

<p>When I shoot for fun, P. Like an off duty cop who takes his KN partner to DQ.</p>

<p>When I work, mostly M.</p>

<p>Almost always aperture priority on my automatic cameras.<br>

But, when shooting with my old F2, I almost always reach for the aperture ring, not the shutter dial.</p>

<p>A, then S, then M.</p>

<p>I'll often start with A(I use a lot of non-AF,non-AE lenses), but will inevitably switch to M because the metering system in the camera(D3) is not very smart. Even on matrix the ten million ugly snapshots that Nikon analyzed in order to create the matrix program don't help me...except when I'm actually trying to create an ugly snapshot.</p>

<p>A (on cameras which have it) - 75%, M 25%. I don't use shutter priority, and rarely use the Program mode either.</p>

<p>That's interesting. I have tried using A or S but I usually end up going back to M through frustration. Maybe I should persist. Photographing things moving in and out of shade and/or rapidly changing light conditions is always 'fun'.</p>

<p>I use P for "Professional" mode. <br>

Seriously, I use A about 80% and P about 20%.</p>

<p>Mostly A, often M, sometimes S, rarely P.</p>

<p>Incorrect exposure is a result of the meter being 'fooled' by the lighting conditions and is not mode specific.</p>

<p>As I like to and often need to control both shutter speed and aperture, I often use Nikon's 'hidden' automatic mode, shooting in manual mode with auto ISO on and use exposure compensation as needed when the meter gets it wrong.</p>

For visible-light work: 99% A, 1% M.

 

For UV or IR: 100% M.

<p>M only. The only way you can get exactly what you want. I used A a couple of times last year in some panicky situations, when i didn't have time to chimp and i had to get the shot right.</p>

<p>Almost exclusively, A mode. Sporadically, M mode for basic or studio flash heads, and a very few odd situations.</p>

<p>Mostly M, with an occasional A. I learned photography on a good P&S with M settings available and stuck with that. However, I set up the camera for the lens, the scene, and my needs, then simply adjust <strong>shutter speed</strong> only to get balanced exposure.</p>

A for most of the time, otherwise M. Very seldomly S.

<p>For bird photography - exclusively S. For all else, A 99% of the time. M only for panoramas, night shots or quite often when using flash. I never use P - I am not a Professional ;-)</p>

<blockquote>M only. The only way you can get exactly what you want.</blockquote>

<p>With all due respect, that is a ridiculous statement. M, A and S are simply different means to the same end - you can achieve exactly the same result whether you tweak your exposure in M or A or S. Which one to use is a matter of personal preference or convenience; none is "better" than the other. </p>

<p>I am not sure how using A/S/M or even P will relate to under/over exposure. So long as you understand how the meter works e.g. A/S using exposure comp - M just set the iso/aperture/shutter so that the meter reads the way you want. Unless of course something like setting the shutter to 1/2000, and obviously in S mode, there isn't an aperture wide enough in low light for you to open up to....</p>

<p>Personally, I shoot mainly with A, 'cause I want to control my aperture, exposure comp for well, exposure comp, and then use my iso to regulate shutter speeds. M is usually for panoramas and indoors with flash. Can not remember the last time I used S. or P. Maybe nikon could install a custom function to remove unwanted auto exposure modes :-)</p>

<p>Alvin</p>

<p>99% of the time, A. Sometimes at events, if I want to catch something or pan with an effect I'll switch to S. If it gets dark, I'm playing with flashes, or need direct exposure control, I'll switch to M.<br>

For some reason I don't think I've ever used Program modes at all.</p>