what is your most used exposure mode?

**ismaelg** · 06-08-2013, 04:26 AM

Av most of the time, full manual if I time permits.
However, I've found TAv to be very useful on certain no-flash circumstances like theater performances and some church events.
Ever since I discovered Topaz Denoise I can be a bit more aggresive on ISO making TAv more useful. But still try to keep it not much higher than 2000-2500 on my K20D.

steve1307 · 06-08-2013, 04:32 AM

Most often Av for general shooting, keeping the ISO low and an eye on the shutter speed. Just what I'm used to doing.

M mode for anything with flash

M mode for night photography or on tripod.

I tried TAv for my kid's soccer games (with matrix metering) but found that it overexposed some shots so went back to M mode and change setting if the light changes.

Tv for Motorsport panning shots

I don't think I've ever used the Sv , or Green modes

MPrince · 06-08-2013, 06:21 AM

I mostly shoot Av when not using flash, x-sync or manual when using flash.

**JimJohnson** · 06-08-2013, 06:47 AM

P mode (with easy overrides), or <gasp> full auto when I'm basically just grabbing family snapshots or a shot where exposure isn't critical. I regularly use other modes of course, but those are the two most used.

Jean Poitiers · 06-08-2013, 07:02 AM

M, M, M and then more M ... especially with my M42's ... otherwise it's Av, then P ... J

Paleo Pete · 06-08-2013, 07:38 AM

Almost always M. 99.9% of the time, that's where it stays. I just very recently started trying Av when dealing with fast moving clouds. The rest of the time, M.

yusuf · 06-08-2013, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by Wired

A recent Depending on the situation I'll even manually set white balance. Myself personally, I like being in full control. Even my flash guns are set to full manual (to be honest I have no idea how to use them any other way).

99.9% Av, and auto whitebalance as I shoot raw. Most of the time awb is fine but I can adjust the white balance if requires. Just wondering in what situation do you manually need to set white balance?

Reliant K1000 · 06-08-2013, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by bkpix

I like to be in full control, too. So I mostly use P mode, which gives me instant access to all the exposure control I need. If I need to tighten up even more I switch to M or TAv.

One of the nice things about the K-5 is how transparent the control structure is in all modes.

My sentiments exactly - All those K1000 years made me good at guessing what works when and if I disagree with what the camera has picked automatically, I can easily override as the human eye is more sophisticated than even the best exposure system.

It's partially the reason I re-picked Pentax when I decided it was time to get a DSLR - that ease of manual, partial manual and full manual.

mikeSF · 06-08-2013, 11:23 AM - **1 Like**

Control freak here, I only use M mode and I usually turn off AF and do all my focusing manually...I just don't trust...robots.

yusuf · 06-08-2013, 11:28 AM

Just wondering, why many of you prefer M mode?

Jean Poitiers · 06-08-2013, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by yusuf

Just wondering, why many of you prefer M mode?

I learned with a K1000 and old habits are hard to break ...

J

PS - I'm a control freak as well ... damned robots ...

Wired · 06-08-2013, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by yusuf

Just wondering, why many of you prefer M mode?

I don't trust the computers is all there is too it. I learned on an MX, so full manual is just how I learned how to do things. I know i could just shootin in Av and use exposure compensation, which I did for years, but I just feel more comfortable shooting full manual.

Why let some programmer in Japan make some of your art for you?

kkoether · 06-08-2013, 01:48 PM

Av because that's what I got use to with my ME Super way back when. I shoot Raw and have started using a grey card for setting WB on my K200D. I know I can adjust the WB in post processing but I've been a LOT happier with my colors since using a grey card for the current light conditions.

JohntheThird · 06-08-2013, 02:11 PM

Trying them all. Complicated light situations Av or TAv or M. Sports and tele mostly Tv.

I have just discovered P, but not used it much. Could be usefull mode covering it all, but then you miss a dial for EV.

**Ex Finn.** · 06-08-2013, 03:09 PM

I use P when lazy = most of the time. M when connected to a telescope and TAv when shooting fast action.

View Poll Results: where does your mode dial sit most of the time
Green	0	0%
Program (P)	35	12.59%
Sensitivity (Sv)	1	0.36%
Time/Shutter (Tv)	5	1.80%
Aperture (Av)	140	50.36%
Time & Aperture (TAv)	40	14.39%
Manual (M)	55	19.78%
User	2	0.72%
Voters: 278. You may not vote on this poll

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06-08-2013, 04:26 AM	#31
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	Av most of the time, full manual if I time permits. However, I've found TAv to be very useful on certain no-flash circumstances like theater performances and some church events. Ever since I discovered Topaz Denoise I can be a bit more aggresive on ISO making TAv more useful. But still try to keep it not much higher than 2000-2500 on my K20D.

06-08-2013, 04:32 AM	#32
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	Most often Av for general shooting, keeping the ISO low and an eye on the shutter speed. Just what I'm used to doing. M mode for anything with flash M mode for night photography or on tripod. I tried TAv for my kid's soccer games (with matrix metering) but found that it overexposed some shots so went back to M mode and change setting if the light changes. Tv for Motorsport panning shots I don't think I've ever used the Sv , or Green modes

06-08-2013, 06:21 AM	#33
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	I mostly shoot Av when not using flash, x-sync or manual when using flash.

06-08-2013, 06:47 AM	#34
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	P mode (with easy overrides), or <gasp> full auto when I'm basically just grabbing family snapshots or a shot where exposure isn't critical. I regularly use other modes of course, but those are the two most used.

06-08-2013, 07:02 AM	#35
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	M, M, M and then more M ... especially with my M42's ... otherwise it's Av, then P ... J

06-08-2013, 07:38 AM	#36
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880	Almost always M. 99.9% of the time, that's where it stays. I just very recently started trying Av when dealing with fast moving clouds. The rest of the time, M.

06-08-2013, 08:27 AM	#37
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Originally posted by Wired A recent Depending on the situation I'll even manually set white balance. Myself personally, I like being in full control. Even my flash guns are set to full manual (to be honest I have no idea how to use them any other way). 99.9% Av, and auto whitebalance as I shoot raw. Most of the time awb is fine but I can adjust the white balance if requires. Just wondering in what situation do you manually need to set white balance?

06-08-2013, 08:55 AM	#38
Reliant K1000 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: BC - On the 49th parallel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 235	Originally posted by bkpix I like to be in full control, too. So I mostly use P mode, which gives me instant access to all the exposure control I need. If I need to tighten up even more I switch to M or TAv. One of the nice things about the K-5 is how transparent the control structure is in all modes. My sentiments exactly - All those K1000 years made me good at guessing what works when and if I disagree with what the camera has picked automatically, I can easily override as the human eye is more sophisticated than even the best exposure system. It's partially the reason I re-picked Pentax when I decided it was time to get a DSLR - that ease of manual, partial manual and full manual.

06-08-2013, 11:23 AM - 1 Like	#39
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Control freak here, I only use M mode and I usually turn off AF and do all my focusing manually...I just don't trust...robots.

06-08-2013, 11:28 AM	#40
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Just wondering, why many of you prefer M mode?

06-08-2013, 12:39 PM	#41
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by yusuf Just wondering, why many of you prefer M mode? I learned with a K1000 and old habits are hard to break ... J PS - I'm a control freak as well ... damned robots ...

06-08-2013, 12:41 PM	#42
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519 Original Poster	Originally posted by yusuf Just wondering, why many of you prefer M mode? I don't trust the computers is all there is too it. I learned on an MX, so full manual is just how I learned how to do things. I know i could just shootin in Av and use exposure compensation, which I did for years, but I just feel more comfortable shooting full manual. Why let some programmer in Japan make some of your art for you?

06-08-2013, 01:48 PM	#43
kkoether Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huber Heights, OH, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 731	Av because that's what I got use to with my ME Super way back when. I shoot Raw and have started using a grey card for setting WB on my K200D. I know I can adjust the WB in post processing but I've been a LOT happier with my colors since using a grey card for the current light conditions.

06-08-2013, 02:11 PM	#44
JohntheThird Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 94	Trying them all. Complicated light situations Av or TAv or M. Sports and tele mostly Tv. I have just discovered P, but not used it much. Could be usefull mode covering it all, but then you miss a dial for EV.

06-08-2013, 03:09 PM	#45
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	I use P when lazy = most of the time. M when connected to a telescope and TAv when shooting fast action.