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

I know you meant that in a light-hearted manner, but I'll very much disagree.

As expressed in other threads, I grew up on manual because that's the only mode my cameras came with. They didn't even have an on/off button because there was nothing to turn on or off. So I fully understand M and how to use it and I've been shooting for may years. Yet today, I shoot Av about half of the time because it helps me be responsive.

If you look at some of the most successful pros featured in Photovision or other similar videos, many of them are rather deliberate in stating they shoot in Av nearly all the time they're not using flash because it frees them of some of the technical so that they may focus more on the creative.

Assuming anyone has basic understanding of each mode, what they control, and how those elements interact to deliver different results, I don't think shooting one mode or the other expresses anything about someone's skill level or proficiency. Hopefully, photographers are making this selection based on the fact that they also understand themselves and what best allows them to create the kind of results around which they've built a reputation.

I agree. I think I may have mislead you with that last section about learning Manual. Reading it now, it sounds like I focused on it, when what you said is exactly correct. But yea... it was more satire than anything.

Just shot a wedding yesterday, had limited equipment that I did the best I could with and I have to say I can do M, but with the terrible lighting that was changing often I was forced into AV and kept my eye on shutter and exposure with flash. It's hard doing favors for friends, but I got a free 430ex II out of it.

My camera does not typically leave M, unless my fiance wants to shoot a little bit then she puts it into P and shoots or I just adjust the settings in M for her and let her shoot lol

I agree with Peacefield - I always shoot in AV except with flash. However, my husband always shoots manual. I really think it is just a matter of preference, whatever works for you - as long as you are able to adjust extremely quickly.

-Megan

Phil V wrote in post #11192388
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.

shooting different colours in the same ambient light will give you different meter readings will they not? how does AV mode cope?

ive been a big time Av shooter but after reading this thread i decided to try shooting a funeral today in M (no the funeral itself, the morning tea afterwards etc with old people talking and moving around a little..)

my thoughts are
-it made me a lot slower and not in a good way where i compose better but having to fiddle with numbers and dials
-i spent much more time in the viewfinder trying to get the little arrow on the 0 - which was hard when the people im shooting were moving around!
-this led to first looking with one eye closed getting the numbers right then hoping the person was still there for the right moment/smile so i could compose/shoot..
-every time i had to change a dial i felt the same task could be done so much quicker in Av/spot/matrix metering like i've usually done

essentially i felt i couldnt 'be there' for the shot when i wanted it, of course this was my first time trying it and i probably had the wrong mindset on using manual, how do you guys do it? as it was my first time i was checking the numbers every time i changed subjects..

a couple of other considerations are
-ive never been a raw shooter, but do you guys shoot manual/raw so you can control shutter/ap to how you want it then keep similar shutter/apertures while you're walking around and adjust in raw or something? (today was my first time shooting raw - was cool to muck around with white balance in post!)
-when someone would ask me to take their picture i'd go back to Av to be safe, compose and fire away and it was SO much faster! question is: in situations in decent light with people milling around eating/chatting, you'd probably only need 1/125 or so to capture talking/laughing wouldn't it make sense to set the iso at say 640 (somewhat higher than 200) and aperture to whatever in Av mode, spot meter on a face and let the shutter do the rest?

the funny thing is i grew up with manual film cameras and i was perfectly happy with them! i would just meter before you want the shot and fire when the moment arrives

Bobster wrote in post #11249591
shooting different colours in the same ambient light will give you different meter readings will they not? how does AV mode cope?

I tend to lock my exposure on an area I want 'correctly' exposed, reframe and shoot, it happens very naturally and my exposures are fairly consistent. My belief (prepared to be wrong) is that the only way my exposures could be more consistent would be to meter every shot with an ambient light meter and that would slow me down rather too much whilst shooting to make up for the little time I'd gain in post. The alternative might be to spot meter with compensation, but again the trick is in the metering mode and understanding it rather than in the M, AV, TV or P decision.

An awful lot of photographers trying to be 'smart' and insisting Manual is the only way are zero'ing their meter in M without much thought for what it is that they're metering. They have missed the point completely.

My point being that as long as you understand your meter and you have a smooth method to shoot with it, then whatever mode you shoot in makes no difference.

Unless you can explain to me how my meter in M behaves differently to my meter in AV, TV or P?

The first 3 years of my photography was with a completely Manual camera - followed a few years later by a couple more years with a MF manual camera and I embrace the advantages that technology has given me - if that makes me lazy I don't care.

ps. is this cause you've realised that Seb Loeb really is the fastest driver in the world? as he's proven himself on ice, sand, gravel and tarmac, not just some smooth tarmac in a sport that follows the sunshine round the world. I love Jenson but the 2 sports can't be compared when it comes to talent.

I was thinking a little more about the side trail this thread took, re: is one mode suggesting more professionalism or experience than the other.

My prefered method for shooting when I have the luxury of time is to spot meter, select my spot very carefully and deliberately, and use AV and exposure lock. The reality is, this is exactly like M except the camera will dial in the corresponding shutter speed instead of my thumb; there really is no difference. In terms of "professionalism", it's not about the mode, it's about how deliberate you are in getting the exposure you are after.

nicksan wrote in post #11184102
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?

im not you, and i expressed that it was my opinion, and still is

Manual.

I think I'm learning everything in reverse. I shot full M since my high school film photography class (I went to an arts boarding school so we had a very nice, advanced set-up that I wish I'd taken more advantage of). Just recently I discovered AV after struggling after my LASIK (though my vision is completely normalized now I have fallen in love with AV). And at this last wedding I had the opportunity to play around with P because it was a two-language ceremony (English first then Spanish so everything happened twice which meant I had a lot of time to just play around). I didn't like P mode due to lack of control, but at least I actually shot in it for once!

M must stand for "My-junk-is-bigger-than-yours".

Again, who cares what mode you shoot in as long as you are able to get the shot you envisioned.

nicksan wrote in post #11260171
M must stand for "My-junk-is-bigger-than-yours".

Again, who cares what mode you shoot in as long as you are able to get the shot you envisioned.

Maybe some people miss the shot and this information could be helpful to them.

TGrundvig wrote in post #11260626
Maybe some people miss the shot and this information could be helpful to them.

Exactly. I know a few people that swear by certain modes and wonder why they can never get a sharp shot.