What mode do you mainly shoot in?

[FlyingPete]

The subject of 'green box' mode and Programe mode never really being useful came up in an other thread, so I though it would be interesting to see what most people use the majority of the time:

[lopix]

Isn't that funny, I thought I was odd always shooting in AV mode... seems it is more common!

[FlyingPete]

Isn't that funny, I thought I was odd always shooting in AV mode... seems it is more common!

Actually many of the first 'semi-automatic' metering cameras had an option of full manual of AV, TV came later. My OM10 (after the unfortunate demise of my OM1 had manual and AV, but had an add on option to give you TV, never used it though.

Still no one up to admitting to that green box thing, or those other funny modes :D

[lopix]

I have used the other modes, for interest's sake. TV to capture moments, or to override the camera's settings and the macro mode. During Xmas, I did just set it to auto-all ans just shot snapshots, without having to worry about anything...

[Anders Östberg]

Voted Av as that's my favourite for nature and wildlife.
For indoor sports or for flash photography I mostly use M.
For walkarounds the camera is often in P, it's an underrated mode. :)

[FlyingPete]

Voted Av as that's my favourite for nature and wildlife.
For indoor sports or for flash photography I mostly use M.
For walkarounds the camera is often in P, it's an underrated mode. :)

I mainly use Av for 'composed' shots, P is good for documentation style stuff, i.e. here is a pic of my new car, I tend to use program shift alot when I was in Program mode to control the aperture., so switched to Av mode in preference. I do all studio work in M, as I meter off a grey card.

To anyone using 'green box' mode, buy a point and shoot :twisted:

[tim]

There's nothing wrong with "green box" mode... a DSLR might be overkill, but it'd do way better photos than a P&S. I don't use any of the basic zone myself, though.

[FlyingPete]

But it'd do way better photos than a P&S. I don't use any of the basic zone myself, though.

Yes true, I often used that mode on my film SLR's when I was getting someone else to use the camera, best chance for success. My wife used to use it but I have now trained her well.

It would be a shame to go out and buy thousands of dollars of gear only to use it in that mode (haven't heard of this happening yet, although I know alot of people who shoot their film SLR's in that mode).

Personally I would prefer a custom setting like on the G-Series, or even better being able to have it as a custom function, either traditional 'green box' or a custom function (OK going a little far now, but most people who would want a custom setup won't need green box).

[Tom W]

Av is my default, but I use manual quite often as well. I don't seem to use Tv much though.

[Orogeny]

Av most of the time unless I am using my flash, in which case I shoot in M.

Tim

[Fills]

Av (especially now in the winter with less light to work with).... and I like Tv for sports. Even outdoor, I use Tv when shooting flying birds etc... to make sure I don't get subject blur.

[tim]

As most everyone knows, for a given scene if you adjust the exposure time the aperture will move in concert with it. Using Av or Tv is basically just two sides of the same coin - adjusting one automatically adjusts the other. It's really just what you're comfortable with, or which you find more important - exposure time or aperture. Since DOF control is key to most photos, I would expect most people to use Av most of the time (excepting scene modes or manual for tricky situations).

[Tom W]

As most everyone knows, for a given scene if you adjust the exposure time the aperture will move in concert with it. Using Av or Tv is basically just two sides of the same coin - adjusting one automatically adjusts the other. It's really just what you're comfortable with, or which you find more important - exposure time or aperture. Since DOF control is key to most photos, I would expect most people to use Av most of the time (excepting scene modes or manual for tricky situations).

True - increase exposure on one, and the other will reduce automatically. I guess I use Av more than Tv because I'm more comfortable with it. Even if shutter speed is my goal, I seem to like adjusting aperture and allowing the camera to set shutter speed. Plus, if its still too slow, I can bump the ISO up a bit.

[Fills]

Even if shutter speed is my goal, I seem to like adjusting aperture and allowing the camera to set shutter speed. Plus, if its still too slow, I can bump the ISO up a bit.

Wonderfully put. I just did this today. Indoors with no flash, stopped down to 2.2 and checked my speed.... then had to bump up to ISO800 to get what I wanted.

[FlyingPete]

Wonderfully put. I just did this today. Indoors with no flash, stopped down to 2.2 and checked my speed.... then had to bump up to ISO800 to get what I wanted.

Won't it be great if they perfect low noise ISO6400, no more lighting issues, just keep bumping up the ISO until you have what you want.

Lenses aren’t going to get faster cheaper due to physical restraints, slower shutter speeds and IS doesn't help you with subject movement; sensor sensitivity is where it is at for the future.

(sorry a little off topic there, but that is the one think I can think of that would motivate me to upgrade my DSLR body)

[tim]

I wonder if the 30D will be significantly better in that regard. Hmmm, might have to start a 30D "wish list" or predictions thread...

[Persian-Rice]

AV, but it's really a split between that and M. AV tends to do the job right most of the time.

[painted_pixel]

Hi,

If im shooting wildlife shots, then AV, occasionally M, but for general or more creative shots Manual for me. Im still on a huge learning curve though... :)

Tom

[D-Eastey]

I've only just introduced myself to the wonderful world of D-SLR cameras so being able to change apertures, shutter speeds and the ISO is something that I'm still trying to get my head around. With that said I have spent almost all of my time with it on M so that I can best understand how they all relate to each other, and what settings suit which situations best etc. It's frustrating when it doesn't work though ;) . This AV function seems to be a red hot favorite, I might have to investigate.. and yeah, I used the fully automated functions for the first week or two.

[FlyingPete]

Amazing all this fancy metering technology and automation, yet so many people *myself included) often opt for manual metering.

[D-Eastey]

I think that may be because although you have the option of using presets, it's more about the quality of the image itself and about being able to adjust it to what you want. I think the word I was looking for is customisation.

[Nabil-A]

AV - 99% of the time,
M - manual at all other times.
Auto - dont shoot much car stuff, but when i doo.... is this what this is for ??
P - Puuuulleeeeaaaaasseeeeeeeeee


:)

[Kabz]

With M - I sometimes mess up because the light meter gets tricky on me, and I try to compensate, but it just doesn't work right.

AV seems to be very comfortable, and I feel no guilt in letting the camera control my shutter speeed.

[Mac]

I use the M mode most often...but there have been a few occasions I have wondered off to the Av mode...hehe...

[aam1234]

Even if shutter speed is my goal, I seem to like adjusting aperture and allowing the camera to set shutter speed. Plus, if its still too slow, I can bump the ISO up a bit.

That's what I do with the 100-400L, because I find this lens soft wide open (at least my version of it).

[intechpcx]

For purposes of this poll I had to go with "Whatever suits best at the time". I'm really all over the board. About 90% of the time I'm in the "Creative modes", very rarely do I use the basic modes just because of the White Balance alone. Of the time I spend in Creative, most often it's either Manual or Program. I do a lot of flash stuff but I don't have a TTL dedicate flash (yet) for this camera. I need manual to use my Sunpack 443D (originally purchased for my AE-1). I do use Tv when I'm shooting sports to ensure that I can keep the exposures quick.

[intechpcx]

There's nothing wrong with "green box" mode... a DSLR might be overkill, but it'd do way better photos than a P&S. I don't use any of the basic zone myself, though.

"Green Box" mode is the main reason I bought the 300D. There's no way my wife would have let me drop $1000+ on another camera if she wouldn't be able to figure out how to use it. I'll admit to using it a couple times however I've been almost disappointed with the quality since I know that by tweaking a few settings the results can be soooooooooooo much nicer.

[Anders Östberg]

...
P - Puuuulleeeeaaaaasseeeeeeeeee
...
:)
Actually, as I wrote above, P is a very underrated mode, not to sneeze at. With program shift on the wheel at your finger tip (10D and other SLRs) you actually have a great combination of Av and Tv at your disposal, and an auto fallback that will allow a quick snapshot if you don't have time to change settings. My cameras are in P as default, great for walkaround type shooting when you have some time to decide on how to shift the aperture/shutter speed point.

Maybe different cameras impose some restrictions with the P mode but my 10D and 1D Mark II are fully functional in all other respects compared to for instance Av.

[RTMiller]

I use P mode more than AV mode on my 20D. To control the depth of field, I simply change the aperture with the main dial. As I see it (please correct me if I'm missing something), the only difference between P mode and Av mode is that with Av mode the camera will stay on the selected aperture until it is manually changed. In P mode, when I press the shutter half way, I get a recommended exposure combination automatically from the camera. I can then change the aperture if desired or I can just shoot.

[Mark_Cohran]

You just about have to pick the mode that best suits the shooting condition. For myself, it's manual with flash in low light, AV when shooting people or subjects where I want definitive control over the depth of field, TV when shooting sports or action (and I will admit to using the Sports mode on the camera for some situations), and Program Mode for casual shooting (with strong use of the shift capability). To shoot only in one mode the majority of the time neglects the verstatility and capability of the camera.

[CanonAndy]

I think we quickly forget how much we owe to the GS (green square) and 'P'... Without these two settings, sales volumes of the 300D and 20D would be considerably lower, which in turn means much higher prices. I am guessing that at LEAST 40% of all pictures taken with 300D's and XXD's combined are P and GS. This guess is partially based on a survey of the EXIF data on my laptop and 2 friends' computers.

Regardless of pro-am pride, there are a LOT of these cameras in the hands of casual users who appreciate the basic settings. My 6 year old daughter isn't quite ready for advanced DOF, but she can turn on my camera, flip on the 380EX, and take some surprising candid shots (considering her age). She knows P is for photography!

If today's green squares are tomorrow's advanced photographers, I am glad Canon offers basic modes...

Andy

A few cameras, a few gadgets, not enough time

[Nightcrawler]

Of course I use the mode that best suites the situation, but it ends up happening that most of the time it is Av. Not that the other modes are useless to me or anything. I have used them all to some extent.

Note: The question is what mode do you end up using the most. Not what modes do you use.

[MarkH]

I use whatever suits:

P - General stuff

Av - Controlling depth of field or for max shutter speed (waterfalls)

Tv - Specifying the right shutter speed for motorsports (I use this a lot)

M - When the camera wont meter consistantly sometimes I choose the settings

Green box - I don't like it or use it, too restrictive on what settings I can use

Other settings - Same problem as green box so I don't use them. e.g. sports mode, I don't necessarily want the fastest shutter speed for motorsports, usually I want a particular shutter speed to blur the background for that sence of speed.

[Toogy]

AV for me except flash, then I go full manual. Full manual and flash is the only way to go.

[dsze]

My 10D has only moved off of M twice.

-daniel