what mode do you guys typically shoot in? full, AV, TV, M?

mmmm

LNJ Photography wrote in post #11183930
To me, IMHO, no matter what any one else tells you, if you shoot in anything but Manual then you allow your camera to make the decision on what your picture looks like....You and your camera are parners, its job is to collect the data you tell it to. You do this in manual.

jmo

Hmm. Really?

You can shoot in Manual but still let your camera make all the decisions for you if you chase the needle to the middle and of course you can ride the EC dial in Av mode to change the exposure as you see fit, so it's not so cut and dry.

That said, I am usually in M mode, but won't hesitate to use Av mode if the situation calls for it.

Simply put, if you get the results, who gives a rat's ass what mode you use...right?

sapearl wrote in post #11181660
Most of my wedding lightint comes in "consisten blocks." That is, inside the church is fairly consistent, outside bright light, outside shade, indoor reception, etc. The automated modes would just slow me down and diminish consistency. For this reason I use full Manual most of the time. Like Robert, most of the gear I grew up with was pretty much " M ' and that's how I learned exposure.

Av could really get you into trouble if you were in dim surroundings and you weren't aware the camera was selecting a slow shutter speed that would render blurred action. Tnd - are you planning on going into wedding work? Btw, welcome to POTN.

Same here. Using M keeps me aware of what the light meter is showing at all times. Using an automated mode I'd never pay attention and miss shots due to camera shake.

AV right now, but intend to work on going full M

M

Like to control the f stop and shutter speed.

the camera is my **** 8)

I use a variety of settings. I started photographing weddings in Manual and still do for about 20% of shots but found weddings move way too fast. I find I just dont have the time to consult the aperture/shutter speed reading when I'm taking a photo every 10 - 20 sec. For me I do best in TV. I set the shutter speed and ISO and let the camera choose the f stop whilst constantly reviewing the histogram or screen. I use AV when using the 50L as I want to avoid f1.2 because of extreme shallow dof. Manual is important but only in certain situations. Outside of wedding photography my camera lives on M.

highway0691 wrote in post #11185155
I use a variety of settings. I started photographing weddings in Manual and still do for about 20% of shots but found weddings move way too fast. I find I just dont have the time to consult the aperture/shutter speed reading when I'm taking a photo every 10 - 20 sec. For me I do best in TV.

I agree 100% .. except to the Tv, I'm using A for 80% of my wedding work, when using flash or in consistent light I'll pop over to M.

Fact is that A mode center weighted (or metered to AF point when using my 1 series) gives me the same settings I would dial in myself in M .. so why not use it?

highway0691 wrote in post #11185155
I use a variety of settings. I started photographing weddings in Manual and still do for about 20% of shots but found weddings move way too fast. I find I just dont have the time to consult the aperture/shutter speed reading when I'm taking a photo every 10 - 20 sec. For me I do best in TV. I set the shutter speed and ISO and let the camera choose the f stop whilst constantly reviewing the histogram or screen. I use AV when using the 50L as I want to avoid f1.2 because of extreme shallow dof. Manual is important but only in certain situations. Outside of wedding photography my camera lives on M.

100% agree here! i admit i havent shot many weddings yet (one as primary) and i grew up with a few years of manual/film experience (actually i grew up without a working light meter, so my dad taught me to guess exposures!), then i learnt digital and my shooting speed went up like crazy! i cant see myself shooting a wedding full manual the whole time, its usually always on aperture priority

im an 'on the ball' sort of person and dont, or try not to miss decisive moments, one wedding photographer i follow uses manual and center weighted metering always but i feel my shots have a lot more energy/life compared to them than hers which seem a bit more 'set up' and slow

M or M sometimes I'll switch and end up using M

Av and M for me.

Av and M here.

I used to shoot full Manual all the time but since getting LASIK I've been having issues seeing some of the controls in really bright outdoor lights and since most of my weddings are outdoor beach weddings it's proven to be an issue from time to time. So I've become friend with AV when this comes up. Thus far, I have had no problems letting my camera help me out a bit. I find I can adjust just as quickly and effectively in AV as I can in M and my work hasn't suffered at all because of it.

The important issue is being aware of what your meter is seeing and how it reacts to it. With this knowledge it doesn't matter if you shoot P Av Tv or M; YOU WILL GET THE SAME SHOT - sometimes faster in M, sometimes faster in Auto, it depends how you prefer to work.

So as long as you are controlling your meter and the focus point YOU are in charge of the shot. I simply can't comprehend the suggestion that M is the only mode that gives you total control of your shot.

Unless of course you're talking about balancing flash, because that camera will do weird things in any auto mode once you're in low light with flash. But you need to balance that 'weirdness' against all of the possible combinations of balanced flash / ambient that a pro might choose to use, then the obvious situation is that; how could the camera possibly guess what you intend to do.

Phil V wrote in post #11192388
The important issue is being aware of what your meter is seeing and how it reacts to it. With this knowledge it doesn't matter if you shoot P Av Tv or M; YOU WILL GET THE SAME SHOT - sometimes faster in M, sometimes faster in Auto, it depends how you prefer to work.

This is the important thing .. there was a notion some years ago that pros only used "M" and that you somehow relinquish control over your camera by not using "M". Which is nonsense of course.

I use full M 80% of the time. I like the consistency of exposure and it makes post processing easier because all the photos from a certain time have the same exposure. With all the black suits and white dress, AV is too inconsistent. The only time I use AV is for walking photos when the lighting is changing.