When should you use aperture priority, shutter priority, or manual mode?
Asked 7/22/2011
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What are the practical benefits of Av (aperture priority), Tv (shutter priority), and Manual exposure modes? My understanding is that in Av or Tv you choose one setting and the camera automatically sets the other exposure value. Is that correct, and what are the advantages of using Av/Tv instead of full Manual or full Auto/Program modes?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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First, I don't know, which advantages of Av/Tv you don't know about. :-)
For me, these modes are very useful, when I do not have time for full manual setting and I do not want to use full auto mode.
Sometimes for example I need the camera not to choose shutter speed less than 1/250 (when I use my telephoto zoom) but I am sure, the camera will choose acceptable F-number.
When I have camera on tripod and shoot some static objects, I use aperture priority as the time can be 20 seconds, when necessary.
The priority programs give me relative freedom to set only, what I need without need to care about the other settings. So I can better focus on photo itself - composition etc.
Sometimes I also use full manual mode - when I have enough time and want to fully control the camera.
Originally by user5581. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5581
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. In Av mode you choose the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed; in Tv you choose the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture. The main benefit is speed and convenience: the camera handles standard exposure while you control the setting that matters most creatively.
Use Av when depth of field is your priority, such as landscapes or tripod shots where a long shutter speed is acceptable. Use Tv when motion is the priority, such as keeping shutter speed high enough to freeze action or avoid blur with a telephoto lens.
Compared with full Auto/Program, Av and Tv give you more control over the look of the image, because different aperture/shutter combinations can give the same exposure but very different results.
Manual mode is best when you want complete control, have time to set everything yourself, or need exposure to stay consistent from shot to shot. The tradeoff is that it requires more attention and is slower to adjust.
In short: Av/Tv are useful when you want creative control without having to set every exposure variable yourself.
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