Why did nobody tell me M was so easy?

OMG the more I play with my camera the more I get excited.

I had the EOS 350 & 400D mainly for family photos but over the last year I seem to be sparking a passion for more. I usually shot in AV priority but had an understanding about aperture, speed and iso but never in a millions years did i think I could shoot manual.

My amazing hubby bought me a 7D for xmas and last night I had a play in M mode. Initially I couldn't change the aperture so grabbed the manual and found out about the the lock then I read something about checking the exposure level. I am going to sound really stupid but when I thought of manual mode I had just imagined having to try loads of shots to get one that had OK exposure and/or no blur using only trial and error; never in a million years did I think there would be a way of the camera telling you that you were on or very near to the correct exposure. Wow it actually works and I seem to totally understand the relationship between the three factors. I can predict what is going to happen to exposure if I change a setting and what else I need to change to counteract it and I can also control the exposure depending on what I want!!! I know the learning will never end but being able to take a photo with correct exposure is something I didn't think I would ever be able to do in manual quite so easy.

I will be watching the kids at rugby tomorrow and although my 70-200 f4 is lens has not yet been delivered I can't wait to get out there with moving subjects and put manual to the test and practice practice practice.

Kerry