Metering method

[Reschsmooth]

Ok, just as a bit of interest, I wanted to find out how most people shoot. I pretty much always use manual mode.

What do you use (most of the time)?

For the record, I generally shoot in manual mode.

P

[Geoff]

Good question Pat!
I almost exclusively shoot in Appeture mode.
I find that I can move around with the appeture and get whatever DOF is required for the shot, and the camera works out the apprropriate shutter speed for me. The only time I'd use manual is if I'm doing a night time long exposure on bulb.

[sirhc55]

I use manual, aperture and shutter priority - all depends on what type of photo I am attempting

[Reschsmooth]

Geoff, do you find the camera's selection of shutter speed is pretty accurate for a good exposure?

P

[Geoff]

Geoff, do you find the camera's selection of shutter speed is pretty accurate for a good exposure?

P

Yep - absolutely Pat! The D200 I know is very good at this.

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks Geoff. I might give it a go as I noticed last Sunday I missed a shot or two playing around with both aperture and shutter speed.

P

[Alpha_7]

My standard use mode is A mode, lets me concentrate on the DOF I want, and I'll keep a watchful eye on the shutter speed.

2nd would be M mode, anytime I want full control, often more when I'm using a tripod, and I have a more setup shot... more chances of getting it wrong..

3rd S mode, for when I want to blur movement, or freeze action then S is the winner.. I also use it more when I'm using flash...as A mode often blows out due to the 1/60 thingy..

[PiroStitch]

I generally use manual for everything. I still don't trust the camera metering in S and A

[MattC]

100% manual mode and 100% spot meter.

Cheers

[wendellt]

I use matrix metering as a guide but set the camera to
manual, shutter, aperture, WB and ISO

i would only use the s and a modes if your shooting something like sport which i've never done
when you dont have time to fiddle with dials and knobs

although if you've nailed the technique after studying the way the camera acts(results) in a certain situation, you could shoot in manual
to prevent the camera's metering making mistakes

[Steffen]

I generally use manual for everything. I still don't trust the camera metering in S and A

The camera's metering doesn't depend on the exposure mode. In M it will still suggest the same exposure as in S or A. How do you meter (or override the camera's decision)?

I usually shoot in A, but have the other wheel programmed to do exposure compensation. If needed I can quickly dial in some plus or minus. Only if shutter speed is of particular importance I shoot in S.

I normally use matrix metering, and spot only to measure out the range of a scene when there's plenty of time. I'm not good enough at guessing how many stops above or below 18% reflectance my subjects are to use spot metering routinely.

With flash and macro I often use M.

Cheers
Steffen.

[colin_12]

I mostly use A mode and then chimp the result and move to M to adjust for what I am after. I am doing more in just A mode now that I have started taking more varied subjects.
Regards Colin

[Reschsmooth]

Further to my other comments, the manual mode allows me to get into a range of either shutter speeds or apertures that I want and then play with the other operation. If I can't get the exposure I want, I can then play with ISO or exposure comp.

As a side question for those who either use non-CPU lenses or film cameras where the aperture ring comes into play - what is your preference: sub-command dial on DSLR or aperture ring?

Cheers

P

[Yi-P]

I use M mode most of the times. Then hardly look at what the D70 meter suggests me, just go by the feeling of it. Because i can set exposure or DOF changes in one flick, not having to mess around with multiple button combination to do so as in A/S modes.

As for most images, they dont need to be perfectly exposed to certain rule the camera tells you. Does it?

I'm still learning on how to see the light and know what combination of shutter/aperture to use. Getting there about 60-65% hits, but still need some more practice on this.

[Grev]

Right now it's manual most of the time.

Aperture priority at times when fiddling with the camera is a no no.

Metering, that's another matter! Centre weighed, and I tend to overexpose according to the D70's meter.

[photograham]

I mostly use Aperture priority but will use shutter priority for some sport. Will use EV overide regularly and mostly matrix metering, sometimes centre weighted, depends on what I am shooting, and rarley spot metering.

[admajic]

I generally use manual for everything. I still don't trust the camera metering in S and A

Interesting you say this. How do you get metering for manual then? Do you carry a light meter?