Macro setting on mode dial? <moved>

I will be using a 40D with a 60mm Macro lens. Is it necessary to use the macro setting on the mode dial? I usually shoot in AV mode.

mrgooch wrote in post #15599637
I will be using a 40D with a 60mm Macro lens. Is it necessary to use the macro setting on the mode dial? I usually shoot in AV mode.

No, that mode does very little that is useful. Use either AV or Tv for natural light shooting and manual for full flash shooting.
Brian v.

Learn to use manual properly, and you will never need to go back to anything else, even AV or TV. And with macro, a light meter is going to really help you learn manual and get the proper exposure.

BirdBoy wrote in post #15604441
Learn to use manual properly, and you will never need to go back to anything else, even AV or TV. And with macro, a light meter is going to really help you learn manual and get the proper exposure.

I agree (for the most part) with this.

Using a macro lens, you'd be best off using manual mode.

However, I do believe that both Av and Tv have their uses.

Tiberius47 wrote in post #15604501
However, I do believe that both Av and Tv have their uses.

AV and TV have their uses, like for changing light conditions. But when you are shooting macro, you are in a controlled lighting situation where the flexibility of manual will always be better. We are in the macro section so I gave my advice accordingly. I did not mean all photography.

BirdBoy wrote in post #15604620
AV and TV have their uses, like for changing light conditions. But when you are shooting macro, you are in a controlled lighting situation where the flexibility of manual will always be better.

That second sentence leaves me baffled. Are you talking about studio situations only? Often, when I'm shooting macro, I'm outdoors, with natural light. The subject might be a bug on the underside of a leaf--very little light control there. I use Av a lot to get greater DoF.

BirdBoy wrote in post #15604620
AV and TV have their uses, like for changing light conditions. But when you are shooting macro, you are in a controlled lighting situation where the flexibility of manual will always be better. We are in the macro section so I gave my advice accordingly. I did not mean all photography.

Oh yes, I fully agree that in macro shots you really want the extreme control manual mode gives you. It's just the way you said it sounded to me like you were advocating manual mode as the best choice in just about any situation.