Aperture priority mode

[mysteryman44]

Hello, Do a lot of photographers use the aperture priority dial on their cameras. I have a Nikon z 50 , and would seem easier than using shutter priority. Especially on a sunny day. Just wondered on your thoughts since I am learning these camera modes, Thanks

 

[NickZ2016]

Aperture mode is for when the F/stop matters most.

For example you want shallow DOF you'd set the lens wide open.

Shutter mode is when the shutter speed matters most.

For example you're photography something fast and you want to freeze motion. You'd want to set a higher shutter speed. Or even the other way round. You want to show the motion by using a slower shutter speed.

Neither is easier. You just need to pick the one that fits what you're doing.

 

[rich_cx139]

NickZ216 has explained this pretty succinctly.

I guess people develop their own ways of use - for still subjects where I want to control the depth of field, on some camera bodies I use A mode.

For moving especially sport / wildlife I could use Shutter priority but I don't:

On most cameras like my Z6 and dslr, I use M and auto iso also exposure compensation. This gives me pretty much full control of the camera short of selecting ISO manually. This works best for me but only because exp comp is available with auto iso. On some other cameras ( Nikon 1 for example ) this isn’t the case. You do have to keep balancing what you want in terms of aperture and shutter speed with what ISO matches to get “correct exposure”. Ideally trying to keep ISO as near base as possible.

 

[Kirnbichler]

As it's possible to achieve both with either technique, it basically turns out as similar to the pocket calculator battle RPN vs. infix, that is, HP vs. TI.

 

[JayPhizzt]

Hello, Do a lot of photographers use the aperture priority dial on their cameras. I have a Nikon z 50 , and would seem easier than using shutter priority. Especially on a sunny day. Just wondered on your thoughts since I am learning these camera modes, Thanks

I'd say aperture priority is the most used mode among photographers in general as you usually want to control the depth of field.

But, it does of course depend on what you shoot. Sometimes you might want to shoot fully manual instead for example.

--
https://www.instagram.com/brixphoto/

 

[PLShutterbug]

Hello, Do a lot of photographers use the aperture priority dial on their cameras. I have a Nikon z 50 , and would seem easier than using shutter priority. Especially on a sunny day. Just wondered on your thoughts since I am learning these camera modes, Thanks

NckZ2016 did explain it very well.

I use A mode for 90% or more of my shots, because with the kind of photography I do controlling depth of field is more important than controlling motion.

 

[Alex Ezorsky]

Is there any way to set manual iso in aperture priority mode? Im looking for a mode that basically uses only shutter as the only auto feature.

 

[TheSoaringSprite]

Hello, Do a lot of photographers use the aperture priority dial on their cameras. I have a Nikon z 50 , and would seem easier than using shutter priority. Especially on a sunny day. Just wondered on your thoughts since I am learning these camera modes, Thanks

All these modes have their special uses. I normally use Manual mode, but last weekend when shooting with a 20mm f/1.8 at f/1.8 even in bright sunlight, I was using Aperture mode, because I knew the camera would choose a fast enough shutter speed to capture even the unexpected action due to all the available light. I set my desired ISO to 64 or 100 and I was set.

When shooting in lower light, I adjusted my ISO higher, so that the camera would choose a shutter speed that was still fast enough to hand-hold without causing too much blur of subjects in motion. Aperture priority is a risk in low light when trying to freeze a moment, but can work well for still subjects.

I wouldn't use Aperture priority when shooting sports or wildlife and birds in flight, because that's when I want to make sure I freeze whatever action may happen, even in lower light. I use Manual mode so that I can set a constant shutter speed (at least 1/2500s) and aperture, and I compensate for lighting by using Auto ISO.

I've never used Shutter priority, because I want to be able to control the aperture at all times.

Your metering options are also going to make a difference to all these modes, so that's another variable to think about. I like to use highlight-weighed for most things with exposure compensation set to +0.7 so that the camera doesn't underexpose by too much when protecting highlights, or I'll use Matrix metering with exposure compensation set to -0.7 so that it exposes the whole scene somewhat evenly, but doesn't blow out all the highlights in the frame.

 

[AlanWatson]

Is there any way to set manual iso in aperture priority mode? Im looking for a mode that basically uses only shutter as the only auto feature.

There's no link between aperture priority and auto ISO: you can just turn auto ISO off no matter what exposure mode you select (actually I've never used P or Auto, but certainly in A, S and M).

Press the ISO button and turn the front dial to toggle auto ISO on or off, then turn the back dial to select your preferred ISO (or minimum ISO if you are in auto ISO mode).

 

[PLShutterbug]

Is there any way to set manual iso in aperture priority mode? Im looking for a mode that basically uses only shutter as the only auto feature.

Yes. Press and hold the ISO button, then rotate the sub-command dial (the front dial, under the shutter button). Each click turns auto-ISO on or off. Note that this affects all metering modes, not just the one you happen to be in when you change the value

Did you know you can set up the camera so you don’t have to hold buttons down as you adjust things with the command dials? Look for “Release button to use dial” in section f of the Custom Settings menu.

 

[rlguess]

I use M mode most of the time. I set my shutter speed depending on the subject I am shooting and if I am going for motion blur. The adjust the f stop depending on what DOF I desire or to put my lens in its "Sweet Spot" for example my Tamron 150-600 G2 gives me the best result at f/11

 

[PaulDunlopPhotography]

Yes - I use A mode 50% of the time - M 40% of the time - S 10% (pretty much sports only)

and you can turn off Auto ISO independently of the mode you are in

I use Auto 50% of the time

 

[Rene Gr]

Is there any way to set manual iso in aperture priority mode? Im looking for a mode that basically uses only shutter as the only auto feature.

Be aware that too slow shutter speeds are one of the main reasons for blurry images, due to camera or subject movement. It is better to program the AUTO ISO mode to your liking. You can set a maximal ISO, or tell it to prefer a slower shutter speed instead of higher ISO.

 

[stratman1976]

Aperture mode is for when the F/stop matters most.

For example you want shallow DOF you'd set the lens wide open.

Shutter mode is when the shutter speed matters most.

For example you're photography something fast and you want to freeze motion. You'd want to set a higher shutter speed. Or even the other way round. You want to show the motion by using a slower shutter speed.

Neither is easier. You just need to pick the one that fits what you're doing.

And don't forget manual mode when you want to have control over both ate the same time. You can then choose whether you want de camera to compensate with auto-ISO or set it manually.

 

[Alex Ezorsky]

Ah, apparently my issue was for the very specific case of filming video on the z8. For some reason manual ISO is impossible in aperture priority mode in video :/

 

[Alex Ezorsky]

Hm, yeah I just realized this only seems impossible in video mode on the z8

 

[Ellis Vener]

I use Aperture Priority 98% of the time, manual the rest of the time.

 

[AlanWatson]

Ah, shooting video: that was a significant piece of missing information ;-)

What does the shutter speed do when shooting video? Obviously the frame rate must limit the minimum shutter speed, but since I don't shoot video I don't know whether it just restricts the lowest shutter speed or whether the shutter speed is actually fixed.

Either way, if you fix the aperture and the shutter speed is constrained then if the light drops too far it will need to increase ISO to maintain the exposure. I'm just speculating here, but maybe that's why it doesn't let you select auto ISO in aperture priority mode?

 

[Michael Firstlight]

And everyone knows that P stands for "Professional" mode. :-D

 

[jiberlin]

And everyone knows that P stands for "Professional" mode. :-D

P stands for "Picture" mode, it is used by people who are more focused on the picture (=framing) then on technical settings.

In most cases i use P mode with manual ISO (with shutter speed limit). I adjust the ISO to the situation and use P-shift if i am not satisfied with the settings chosen by the camera. In the rare situations where i want to have certain aperture or shutter speed, i change to A or S mode.