Manual
Of all the exposure modes, I feel that
the Manual exposure mode is least
understood. And then there are those
who feel that the Manual exposure
mode is the only correct mode to use!
Please allow me to explain.Here is the top LCD screen on a Nikon
D-SLR set to manual exposure mode.
The exposure is set to increase/
decrease in 1/3rd stops.Notice that the cursor is at ‘0’ (zero).
This means that the exposure shown
is correct for whatever subject the
meter is reading (we are assuming
that the subject is mid-tone). If the
cursor was pointing to the minus side,
it would mean underexposure; if the
cursor was pointing to the plus side, it
would mean overexposure.How do you adjust the exposure
using the Manual exposure mode?movement is more important, consider
Shutter priority. Do keep in mind
though, that there are more available
shutter speeds than apertures (on most
D-SLRs, there are 19 shutter speeds
with one-stop difference between them
but even on a fast f/1.4 lens, there are
generally only 8 full-stops) and hence
when using Shutter priority, you could
run out of the corresponding aperture.
When shooting in Shutter priority
mode, if you see the aperture number
in the viewfinder/LCD blinking, it
means that the camera is unable to
provide you with a matching aperture
for the shutter speed that you have set.
In that case, you should opt for a slower
shutter speed or try a higher ISO.
Program (P)
The Program exposure mode is for
those situations where you do not
want to be troubled with technicalities.
When you choose Program mode, the
camera selects the aperture as well
as the shutter speed depending on
the algorithms (set of instructions)
programmed into the camera; you give
up the control to the camera.
Some users do not like the idea of
handing over total exposure control to
the camnera. If you happen to be one
of them, you can set your camera to
P* (also known as Flexible Program),
provided your camera has that facility.
Let’s take an example:
You notice that in ‘P’ mode, your
camera has opted for an aperture of
f/5.6 and a shutter
speed of say
1/60sec at the ISO
that you had set.
You feel that your
hand will shake if
you use 1/60sec
as your shutter
speed. You also
feel that you would
be comfortable
shooting at
1/125sec. If your
camera did offer P*
mode (the Flexible
Program), you could
alter the exposure
to 1/125sec at f/4
(Note that as far
as exposures go,
1/60sec at f/5.6
is the same as 1/125sec at f/4; at
1/125sec the chances of hand-shake
is reduced (since the shutter speed is
1-stop faster) but your depth of field
will also reduce (since you would be
using an aperture that is 1-stop wider).Alternately, in our same example, if
you wished that the selected aperture
was f/11 instead of the f/5.6 that the
Program mode selected, then with
the P* (Flexible Program), you could
change the aperture to f/11 and the
camera will automatically select
the corresponding shutter speed of
1/15sec. (Do keep in mind that using
a tripod or any other firm support is
advisable when the shutter speed is
low).http://www.smartphotography.in 99
Smart PhotographyJuly 2017