DSLR Users which mode do you use?

[joeb_uk]

I have been shooting in manual mode since i got my d70, but i recently tested apperture priority and shutter priority mode and thought they may be more appropiate for candids! i have found sometimes i have been abit slow when setting the shutter speed and missed shots lol, so i am just wondering what you guys use?

[deliriouspixel]

In good enough light I go Aperture Prio. If that doesnt get me the shutter speeds I need
at the f-stop I want then I switch to Shutter Prio and fix the underexposure in post
processing. I use Manual when I flash.

[thirty2]

I agree with deliriouspixel. I almost shoot in aperture mode exclusivley with candids. The only time i change to shutter or manual is when shooting other things. If your shutter speed is too slow when in aperture mode then try jacking up your ISO. With the D70 you should be ok with the ISO up to 800 and then using a noise reducing program.

[joeb_uk]

Yeah! i am guessing both of you shoot raw?

[thirty2]

Yeah! i am guessing both of you shoot raw?

I try to shoot with jpg most of the time. That means I have to get the white balance right. I would say the main reason I stay away from raw is that I don't have the time to post process. I guess if you have the time and the HD space then go for it.

[greatphotos]

I shoot with my D70 on:

Aperture priority
Try to stay at f7.1 or f8 if possible
ISO 200
JPG Fine
Auto or Cloudy white balance

As long as my shutter speed is over 1/1000 or higher then I'm happy, sometimes I think I'm down to 1/640 but that seems to be the slowest I should go. If not enough light then I use a larger aperture or maybe go to ISO 400 at the most.

[NoUsername]

For candids I shoot on Auto most of the time. (is that okay to admit?) lol. I find that for candids conditions change so quickly that manual settings are often wrong just a few minutes later....Like if I am shooting in the sun and then I follow someone around a corner and its in the shade. Also if you shoot with direct sun and then notice someone who is back lit I would rather not take the time to make adjustments I just swing and shoot and trust that the D70 will make basically a good call. On the D2X there isnt really an "auto" mode so I shoot in shutter priority.

[watcher]

Woah, this is interesting. With my new Canon 20D I shoot almost always in manual, and I don't really know what I'm doing, just guessing the settings. Maybe I'll get some better results if I switch to the modes you pros are using.

[Shark]

On my Rebel, I shoot most of my candids with the camera set in the "creative" mode on AV, I believe it stands for Aperture Value. If it's real sunny, I usually have to have it set at f16 or f18, and let the camera set the shutter speed. If I went with a smaller number f stop, the pictures would be overexposed. My ISO is set at 400. White balance is set on Auto. Of course, I have no idea what the settings should be for this type of shooting, that's just what seems to work out best for me, for now. The longer I have the camera, the better my shots get at times, because I am always experimenting with the adjustments, to see if my shots can get better. If anybody knows of some settings they could suggest for my camera to make my shots come out better, feel free to tell me if you'd like. I am always open for tips from people who know what they're doing.

[the boss]

I shoot on sports mode.

I'm too lazy and usually don't have time to think about iso 100, apeture f8 shutter 1500 blah blah blah.


as long as i don't over expose, it's all good.

[greatphotos]

On my Rebel, I shoot most of my candids with the camera set in the "creative" mode on AV, I believe it stands for Aperture Value. If it's real sunny, I usually have to have it set at f16 or f18, and let the camera set the shutter speed. If I went with a smaller number f stop, the pictures would be overexposed. My ISO is set at 400. White balance is set on Auto. Of course, I have no idea what the settings should be for this type of shooting, that's just what seems to work out best for me, for now. The longer I have the camera, the better my shots get at times, because I am always experimenting with the adjustments, to see if my shots can get better. If anybody knows of some settings they could suggest for my camera to make my shots come out better, feel free to tell me if you'd like. I am always open for tips from people who know what they're doing.

hey shark, i sent you a pm

[mortenmorfar]

I use Aperture and because im in denmark where there isent much light I set it at the lowest, and I know with my 75-300 lens it's soft at 300mm @ f5.6, but I would rather have a "soft" image that I would have a blurry one, imo a faster Aperture is nice for "people" photography, why use F16+ when the subject is a girl (or boy) ?

[Mobius]

This will work with any camera but my only practical experience is on the D70 at ISO 200, the lowest ISO setting. Try shooting in Shutter Priority "S" and setup the shutter speed you need. Try 1/ mm of your lens for handholding the camera. For 60mm = 1/60th of a second. For 200mm = 1/250th of a second or bump it up to 1/500th of a second. If you are going to shoot from the hip try to double this formula if there is enought light. The great thing is if there is too much light, the camera will automatically close down the aperature so you get good exposure and it won't blow out the highlights.

Another trick I use on the D70 is the AUTO ISO function. Turn it on when you are shooting in low light and use either Aperture or Shutter priority. If you use Shutter as described above it will open the Aperture as wide as possible to get the needed shutter speed. When the Aperture is full open it will start to increase the ISO until it get's high enough to take the photo at the selected shutter speed. Sometimes, especially indoors, I end up shooting at 800 or more but it's better to have a clear shot at ISO 1600 than a blurry mess that you can't see at ISO 200.

[Gramps]

Wow this is all good...I really gotta try aperture priority,
from what people say it makes some sense...with the new cam
when I'm zoomed out (set on sports mode, shutter priority) some
pic's which I think should be perfect are blurry..But some turn out
great...or I've shooting auto for now...sometimes with the new cam
I'm afraid to fuck up/or miss the shot...with the old cam, it's much
quicker to set up...it's also not as good a cam as the new one...

and then as the boss says...sometimes I'm so old and confused...
it's fuck the Blah,Blah,Blah, and sports mode or auto and shoot! lol

But in all honesty from what I see with what I shoot with all the
comments make sense.....esp..the aperture shit! :)