Understanding your camera settings can dramatically improve your photography. Many photographers believe that shooting in manual mode is the only way to achieve professional results, but this video argues that this is not always the case.
Coming to you from James Popsys, this informative video explores the benefits of aperture priority mode over manual mode. Popsys argues that constantly adjusting settings in manual mode can be distracting, taking your focus away from composing your shot. He emphasizes that in most situations, you don't need the level of control that manual mode offers. Rather, he suggests setting a minimum shutter speed to avoid blur and utilizing your camera's auto ISO feature.
Popsys also cautions against overusing high apertures like f/16, explaining that this is often unnecessary and can lead to less sharp images. He encourages experimenting with mid-range apertures like f/5.6 or f/8, where lenses typically perform best. He points out that these apertures can also create pleasing background blur and draw the viewer's eye to your subject.
Many photographers, especially beginners, tend to gravitate towards extreme apertures, either shooting wide open for shallow depth of field or stopping down for maximum sharpness. However, Popsys urges viewers to explore the middle ground, where they might discover a sweet spot for both sharpness and creative expression. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Popsys.
Drats. I was just getting use to the convenience of Flexible-Priority mode.
No.
Just learn Manual and relax. It's not hard to adjust your Aperture and Shutter on the fly.
The author judging by his age never shot a picture and had to wait while it was developed. I bet he finds it hard to chew gum and walk too.
When not using flash, Aperture Priority along with Auto Min SS and Auto ISO is much much more efficient in most cases. IMO, die hard manual shooters are still stuck in the DSLR (or early mirrorless) days where auto anything wasn't very accurate.
IMO, people can use whatever mode they like and I certainly won’t judge them for it.
Shooting in "auto anything" in stable lighting conditions means you are conceding the camera is smarter than you are. If I've just used an external meter to dial in 2-3 flashes for a studio portrait shot, why in the world would I let the camera deviate from the settings I entered into the light meter?
There are times shooting in ambient only that rapidly changing conditions make Av the best choice. But for me, most of the time M gets the results I want both easier and quicker than Av or any other semi-automatic or auto mode.
Use whatever works for you in the shooting situation you find yourself in. Let others use whatever works best for them. There is no one single "best" way to shoot everything.
--- "Shooting in 'auto anything' in stable lighting conditions means you are conceding the camera is smarter than you are."
You misunderstand. It's not about being smarter, it's about being faster and more efficient. I already said that in my very first sentence.
--- "If I've just used an external meter to dial in 2-3 flashes for a studio portrait shot, why in the world would I let the camera deviate from the settings I entered into the light meter?"
Maybe you don't read so well. I also already have said it in my first 4 words.
Relax. Breathe.
If the light is not changing, setting manually and keeping the same exposure is most efficient, especially if shooting RAW and applying the same initial conversion settings to all of the images in the session.
The manual mode killer?? These clickable titles get ever more ridiculous. I’ve nothing against aperture priority and it is the preferred mode for many photographers but can people stop trying to claim one mode is the best way to go for everybody. I personally use manual as it is vital for me to have complete control and not rely on the camera making some of the decisions for me. I don’t always want the ‘perfect’ exposure, often using over/under exposure for creative effect plus a slow shutter speed from time to time.
Some of you people get so hilariously triggered easily. In your view it's a clickbait title and yet, you open yourself up to sound whiny and weak. Just state your case and be done with it. For instance, just lead with your " I personally use manual as it is vital…"
By all means object to my comment if you must but maybe try not being so rude in future. You had a chance to make a valid point but blew it by being unnecessarily offensive.
Ditto. By all means, state your preferred way of doing things without the sensational sniveling. And, my point isn't any less valid just because your feelings are easily hurt.
I bet you don’t talk like that to people face to face.
Yes and no. Yes, I do talk to people like this face to face. No, it doesn’t happen often because face to face, men act like men. They don't act like little crybabies right in front of everyone. Sadly, with the anonymity of the internet, many of you are not embarrassed to cry over trivial matters…like over a title.
I love FV as well, beats the program mode that everyone copied from Canon.
Oh, man. Either someone has been lying to you; or you've been lying to yourself. Canon copied Aperture Priority from Pentax and Shutter Priority from Konica.
So I took a peek what Fv was about. Nothing special really. With other cameras having Auto Min SS and Auto ISO. Pretty much negates the need for Fv. And, if Fv does not have Auto Min SS, it's pretty much handicapped.
If you are mindlessly following the camera's meter in "manual" then why not use auto?
AV, TV etc. lets you quickly change exposure by under or over the suggested meter setting.
I agree, use AV but also use TV where a shutter speed takes priority. Or program.
The absolute best is FV over AV etc.
Go FV and never look back.
In manual you have complete control over aperture shutter and iso, even if you are ‘mindlessly following the camera’s meter’. It’s not really the same as auto. The meter just gets you to something resembling the correct exposure (depending on the exposure mode used) and it’s easy to over or under expose for a desired effect. Use whatever metering mode you prefer though.