P, A, S, M

What the camera sets vs what you set

P

Program Auto

Aperture: Auto
Shutter: Auto
ISO: You choose

Camera sets aperture and shutter. You can shift the combination (program shift).

When: Quick snapshots without adjusting exposure
Av

Aperture Priority

Aperture: You choose
Shutter: Auto
ISO: You choose

You control depth of field. Camera matches shutter speed. Default mode for most shooting.

When: Portraits, landscapes, everyday work
STv

Shutter Priority

Aperture: Auto
Shutter: You choose
ISO: You choose

You control motion. Camera matches aperture. Freeze or blur movement on purpose.

When: Sports, waterfalls, panning
M

Manual

Aperture: You choose
Shutter: You choose
ISO: You choose

Full control. The meter shows in the viewfinder but does not change settings.

When: Studio flash, night, consistent exposure across a series

Which Mode Should I Use?

Follow the priority that matters most for the shot

1 Is depth of field (blur) your priority?
Yes
A
Aperture Priority Control blur, camera handles shutter
No ↓
2 Is freezing or blurring motion your priority?
Yes
S
Shutter Priority Control motion, camera handles aperture
No ↓
3 Do you need consistent exposure between shots?
Yes
M
Manual Full control, consistent results
No
A
Aperture Priority Default for general use
Default starting point

Aperture Priority covers most situations. Switch to Shutter Priority when motion is the constraint, Manual when every frame must match.

Which Mode When

Scenario, mode, and the setting you dial first

Scenario Mode Set First Notes
General / walkaround Default Av / A f/2.8–f/5.6 Camera picks shutter. Most flexible daily mode.
Portrait (blur background) Av / A f/1.8–f/2.8 Wide aperture. Watch minimum shutter for handheld.
Landscape (sharp throughout) Av / A f/8–f/11 Camera picks shutter. Tripod if shutter drops too low.
Sports / action Tv / S 1/1000s+ Freeze motion. Camera opens aperture wide.
Waterfalls / motion blur Tv / S 1/15–1/2s Tripod required. ND filter in daylight.
Studio flash M f/8, 1/125s Match sync speed and aperture to strobe power.
Night / astro M f/2.8, 15–30s Ignore meter in dark sky. ISO 1600–6400.
Quick snapshots P Program shift Rotate dial to trade aperture for shutter. ISO auto ok.
The rule

Blur priority: Av/A. Motion priority: Tv/S. Every frame must match: M. Unsure: start with Av/A.

Choosing a Mode in the Field

Pick the constraint, dial the primary control, verify exposure

  1. Identify the priority

    Depth of field: Av/A. Motion: Tv/S. Locked exposure across frames: M. Use the flowchart or lookup table above.

  2. Set the primary control

    Av/A: dial aperture. Tv/S: dial shutter. M: set all three using the meter as a guide.

    Portrait: Av f/1.8 Sports: Tv 1/1000s Flash: M f/8 1/125s
  3. Configure ISO

    Manual ISO for consistency. Auto ISO in Av or Tv with a max cap (ISO 3200–6400) and minimum shutter floor (1/250s).

  4. Check exposure

    Review histogram after a test frame. In P, Av, or Tv, dial exposure compensation if the meter misses. In M, adjust aperture, shutter, or ISO yourself.

Cheat Sheet

Quick answers for the field

Blur the background? Av/A, open to f/1.8–f/2.8
Everything sharp? Av/A, stop down to f/8–f/11
Freeze action? Tv/S, 1/1000s or faster
Blur water / clouds? Tv/S, 1/15s or slower + tripod
Studio flash? M, f/8 at sync speed (usually 1/125–1/250s)
Same exposure every frame? M. P, Av, and Tv re-meter each shot.
Quick grab shot? P with program shift, or Av/A
Shutter too slow in Av? Raise ISO, open aperture, or switch to Tv/S

Common Questions

Quick answers on Av, Tv, Manual, and when to leave full Auto.

What is aperture priority mode?

You set aperture (f-number); the camera sets shutter speed for correct exposure. Best when depth of field is the priority: portraits at f/1.8–2.8, landscapes at f/8–11.

When should I use manual mode?

Studio flash, night photography, panoramas, and any scene needing identical exposure across frames. You set aperture, shutter, and ISO; the meter is a guide only.

What is the difference between P and full Auto?

Program (P) sets aperture and shutter but lets you shift the combination, choose ISO, and override with exposure compensation. Full Auto controls everything and often limits flash and file format options.

Which mode should I use most of the time?

Aperture Priority (Av/A) for general shooting. Set the f-stop for depth of field; the camera handles shutter speed. Switch to Tv/S for motion control, M for full consistency.

Keep Learning

Exposure controls and scenario settings