Exposure Settings

Just a quick question about what all of you in POTN Land are using as far as settings. Is it better to use the Av or Tv settings when shooting landscapes or outside photos? I shoot in RAW most of the time (if not all of the time) and Im trying to figure out what is best for shooting in these conditions.

Thanks!

Many here will tell you to shoot manual.
I say AV, I like control of the DOF and Tv doesn't give enough latitude.

Think of Tv and Av as a means of the camera setting one parameter, while you set the other. You select Aperture (Av) or you select Shutter Speed (Tv); and there is NO SINGLE 'best' for a given situation!

For example, if you are shooting a waterfall and want the smooth flowing look to the water, you might want to use 1/8 sec. and shoot with that on Tv mode and let the camera choose the aperture.
On the other hand, shooting the same waterfall, you might want deep DOF and so you select f/11 with the camera on Tv, and let the camera choose 1/100. See how each mode is useful for the waterfall?! No single answer, but one which is driven by what YOU as the photographer wish to achieve!

I only use Tv if I am shooting sports. for example I found that 1/250 was the perfect shutter speed for drag racing. Any faster and it looked like the wheels weren't moving.

I use Av most of the time, especially outdoors. Aperture is my main concern with what I shoot, if the shutter speed is too slow then I can just bump up the ISO.

M I use when lighting is tricky, or if I'm indoors shooting with flash.


If you decide to shoot in manual, whatever you do don't just waste your time 'chasing the needle". that is no different then shooting in Av/Tv. You need to understand WHY you are picking the settings that you are, not jure relying on the camera's meter.

I think manual is the best way of shooting landscape, use Av to get to the right settings for the exposure, the flick over to Manual, and either go for tiny bit more exposure or little less either way, you won't lose out too much details in the picture

There is no simple answer (you didn't really think there would be, did you?) It depends on your priorities as dictated by the subject and/or your aesthetic requirements. And sometimes by how much you are willing to compromise between them. For instance - use Av if maintaining a particular f/stop in order to get a particular DoF is important, but keep an eye on what speed the camera is setting so you will know if it is too low. If it does drop too low, raising the ISO might be in order. Use Tv if the primary consideration is not dropping below a certain speed, but be aware of what's happening to the f/stop and how that will affect the image. Of course starting with a nice high ISO will give you more freedom in both the speed and f/stop departments, but that comes at the cost of added noise and reduced dynamic range.

I use M mode about 90% of the time and Av the remaining 10%. Tv mode doesn't have any use to me.

I shoot on M almost exclusively, but Av and Tv do have their place. I generally find myself using those settings when the light is rapidly changing. For instance, a baseball game where half the field is in open shade and half in direct sunlight. Setting to Av or Tv allows you to concentrate more on following the action and proper focusing.

For landscapes, you generally don't want to give the shutter priority less it picks an aperture that doesn't yield good DoF. If motion blur/milky water is what you're after in your landscapes, then Tv would be a better choice.

Mostly in AV, though I will use Tv for certain situations.

I shoot Av most of the time, except for flash or panoramas.

With flash I prefer M, letting the ETTL flash control exposure. But if I want fill flash in daylight, it's Av again.

Shooting a panorama it's important that the exposure is the same for each segment - if it's not, stitching can become difficult. Av will often change exposure slightly with each segment. For the same reason, I don't use AWB in panoramas.

-js

How long is a piece of string?

Twice as long as it is from the middle to one end

philwillmedia wrote in post #8988210
How long is a piece of string?

philwillmedia wrote in post #8988213
Twice as long as it is from the middle to one end

Wow, now the perfect answer For being too clever