First of all let me state the obvious, I'm fairly new to photography. With that said, here are 2 ares which I am a bit puzzled.
1. I don't understand why anyone would use the aperture priority or shutter priority selections on the camera. I understand what they are used for, but it seems to me that the program mode would do the same thing. For example, let's say you want a larger aperture for a smaller depth of field. You could go to aperture priority and set it to F2. The camera will then set the shutter speed automatically. Let's say it sets it to 1/250. NOW, let's say you do the same thing in program mode. The camera takes a reading and set's It to F8 at 1/15. To achieve the same effect as the aperture mode all you would have to do is shift it with the wheel to the desired range. Scroll the wheel down and it will shift the fields as follows: F5.6 at 1/30 - F4 at 1/60 - F2.8 at 1/125 - and finally to F2 at 1/250. Am I missing something? Is there something the av and tv modes can do that the program mode can't?
With that said, I can fully appreciate the value of the manual mode.
2. My next question, what exactly is exposure compensation? Again, I know what it is but I'm a bit confused as to its functionality. Are th next two statements true?
F8 at 1/125 +1ev = F8 at 1/60
Or
F8 at 1/125 -1ev = F11 at 1/125
In other words, can you achieve the same desired effect two different ways? Is there any other reason to use exposure compensation other than for convenience? And how does it actually compensate? Does it physically stop up/down the aperture or is it more on the processing side?
Sorry this post is so long winded. I would really appreciate anyones expertise on these matters.
On 2004-08-07 11:10:40 -0400, skyec...@comcast.net (Bob) said:
I will take the bait
> First of all let me state the obvious, I'm fairly new to photography. > With that said, here are 2 ares which I am a bit puzzled.
> 1. I don't understand why anyone would use the aperture priority or > shutter priority selections on the camera.
In scenics, portraits, or city scapes the single most important exposure decison I make is aperature (ie controls depth of field and image sharpness). So, I set the lens to what ever aperature I want to use and leave it there. Its set.. won't move. If I take the standard exposre I don't need to do anything else. The camera will pick a shutter speed. I normally shoot from a tripod so shutter speed is of little concern unless i am shooting moving targets. The +- exposure compensation is convenient t in this scenario. In the Nikon world, +- will affect the shutter speed not the aperature in Av mode. So, my lens stays at f whatever and I compensate. Real quick for bracketing. Also, I don't have t o guess at what is happening internally.
> I understand what they are > used for, but it seems to me that the program mode would do the same > thing. For example, let's say you want a larger aperture for a smaller > depth of field. You could go to aperture priority and set it to F2. > The camera will then set the shutter speed automatically. Let's say it > sets it to 1/250. NOW, let's say you do the same thing in program > mode. The camera takes a reading and set's It to F8 at 1/15. To > achieve the same effect as the aperture mode all you would have to do > is shift it with the wheel to the desired range. Scroll the wheel down > and it will shift the fields as follows: F5.6 at 1/30 - F4 at 1/60 - > F2.8 at 1/125 - and finally to F2 at 1/250. Am I missing something? Is > there something the av and tv modes can do that the program mode > can't?
Yes it works.. but look at all the steps you went through.. and the subject has now moved...
> With that said, I can fully appreciate the value of the manual mode. > 2. My next question, what exactly is exposure compensation? Again, I > know what it is but I'm a bit confused as to its functionality. Are th > next two statements true?
> F8 at 1/125 +1ev = F8 at 1/60
> Or
> F8 at 1/125 -1ev = F11 at 1/125
> In other words, can you achieve the same desired effect two different
Correct...
> ways? Is there any other reason to use exposure compensation other > than for convenience? And how does it actually compensate? Does it > physically stop up/down the aperture or is it more on the processing > side?
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