What modes do you usually use on your camera?

[Deleted member 42026]

M: 70%

Av and Tv respectively with exposure compensation if necessary.
Occasionally auto iso too, if needed.

 

[cartaphoto]

M 100%

 

[dstppy]

I dunno what it's called, but there's this green square that works better than the rest.

*ducks*

;D

Seriously though, Av for me most of the time these days.

 

[bonedaddy.p7]

It really depends upon the subject and the time constraints of the shot
if I have time to compose or if I really want to tweak the exposure: M
if I am just shooting normally: AV
if I need to prattle off a bunch of shots quickly and they are all different: P

I use M probably 60-70%, AV 30% and P maybe 10% of the time


oh yeah, I've never had a camera with auto ISO so I have no idea how often I would use it...it would probably replace all my P mode and some of my AV mode.

 

[Actionpix]

ISO always as low as the camera goes, Av when I need depth of field, but limited to f/8, and Tv for action, set for the amount of motion I want to be visible in the shot, and M when I use TS lenses or shoot the moon or backlit objects

 

[Cptn Rigo]

M - 98%
C1 - 2% (a custom mode with auto exposure and full auto focus for stealth shooting from the hip)

 

[SPL]

I will primarily use Av most of the time,..with manual ISO settings. M with flash and HDR brackets

 

[serendipidy]

Started out as a beginner using Program mode. Last year got a 7D and graduated to Av mode. Recently have tried M mode a bit. Still like Av the best and usually set ISO at 100-400 depending upon the focal length and available light to get enough shutter speed.

 

[RuneL]

M, always M. I light a lot of my pictures too, which means M. I did shoot some portraits for a feature the other day on Tv, but I'm so used to M that the results are usually worse when using the automatic modes.

 

[captainkanji]

I bought my first DSLR in March 2012 (Canon 7d). I'm still getting the hang of it. I spend 99% of my time in Av, but on the rare occasions when I shoot in low light indoors, I find that I have to switch to manual (and my 50 1.4). Seeing everyone of the forum who shoot M so much, I'm motivated to spend one day shooting only M mode. Here's an example of the shooting conditions I'm usually in:

Metropolis, IL
Superman Celebration 2012

I'm still a noob, so I'll keep practicing and reading the forum ;D

 

[bdunbar79]

M = 93%
C# = 5%
AV= 2%

AV is just too inconsistent for my likes. If I have to keep making EC adjustments I might as well shoot manual. Though, the 7D's meter might be to blame. I think it over exposes a bit.

My 7D certainly overexposed a lot. I noticed this a lot. I mainly use M mode just because it's more fun. But like Brian mentioned, on the 1D Mark IV shooting in AV mode isn't necessarily semi-manual, because you can set TV and ISO ranges as well. It's really fun.

 

[Jettatore]

Almost exclusively manual. If it's in nighttime I fix the ISO rather high and leave it. If it's daytime I often set it to auto-ISO. In both cases manually controlling aperture and shutter. I don't like aperture priority, it often sets shutter speeds that aren't hand-holdable in darker conditions. Shutter priority doesn't have such a dilemma but still leaves you without control over DOF. For the night-time shots where I fix the ISO high, unless I would be going for an effect, I just alter the shutter to control exposure, and only change the aperture if I want to change the DOF, it's fairly simple. Custom modes are quite useful if you are at an event, it lets you preset a few various styles or quickly account for stark differences in lighting you may find. I'm gradually getting used to manual focusing as when I don't completely miss, it leads to much better images than the tack sharp mechanical results which gets quite boring after a short while.

 

[keithfullermusic]

Av for most shots. The 50d is pretty much spot on in terms of exposure. If I want it brighter/darker I tend to just use exposure compensation.

If I'm shooting action I shots av (70%), tv (10%), and manual (20%), and I move the exposure compensation to gain speed (brighten it in post).

If I am using flashes or in controlled lighting i use manual 100% of the time. I also use manual when exposure compensation can't handle the difference I'm looking for (+/- 2).

If you're a pro at manual then god bless you, but why make it harder when the camera can usually do what you want it to do?

 

[westr70]

I'd say 80% manual and the balance Tv for bif. Got have that shutter speed consistent because those birds don't wait for you.

 

[mb66energy]

ISO set manually according to general conditions
Metering is spot

Roughly
40% Manual if lighting conditions are more or less stable
60% Av with *-Button to select the right exposure with the right area in the frame by the spot metering field
under changing lighting conditions

Best, Michael

 

[Dylan777]

I dunno what it's called, but there's this green square that works better than the rest.

*ducks*

;D

Seriously though, Av for me most of the time these days.

I use "P" PROFESSIONAL mode ;D ;D ;D

 

[briansquibb]

AV most of the time when not using flash (faux M on 1D4)
M most of the time when using flash

 

[YellowJersey]

I'm usually in Av, sometimes Tv. Sometimes I only go into manual sometimes.

Fortunately, being a landscape shooter, I usually have time to take a bunch of test shots. Sometimes, if I'm in a hurry, I'll go start with -1 in exposure compensation and take one image at each increment until I hit +1.

 

[JEAraman]

Started out manual and have always used it.. except for the occasional switching of modes by mistake and I wonder why settings keep changing alone! :

 

[revup67]

I use them all except for P and the green icon Fully Automatic.

M - 30%
Av- 33%
Tv -33%
B - 4%

and equally important are the AF Sel settings, the Metering settings (Evaluative, Centered, Spot and Partial) and the One Shot and Ai Servo settings.