I see the light Manual mode, why do people Use AV??

[Corey Hayes]

In the last month I forced my self to use use Manual mode and now I don't understand why people use aperture priority so much, I was always told by local guys that its the proper mode and that's what the pros use.
Its logical that Shutter priority would be more appropriate.

[P-A. Fortin]

I'd suggest you read this thread: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...nd-Other-Modes

Answers to your question and lots to learn.

[David Stephens]

I've spent thousands of dollars for a camera with controllable metering patterns, built-in histogram and highlight warning blinkers, so why not use those features? I used to shoot my Yashica 44 in manual mode, but that was my only option. My Pentax Spotmatic had a needle-matching exposure sensor, that I used to determine settings. Now, my Canon 5D MkIII has three metering modes and I can see the shutter speed in the viewfinder as I change ISO and/or aperture. There's no excuse for me not knowing what's going on with the camera settings. I can also preview the image and the histogram.

Without taking my eye away from the viewfinder, I can change ISO, change aperture and, perhaps most importantly, adjust + or - EV by spinning the thumb wheel on the back of the camera. In rapidly changing light conditions or for subjects with varying degrees of DR, I can adjust instantly, while watching to see what happens to SS as I adjust. If the SS drops too low, then I can opt to raise the ISO. You can also do these things manually on the fly, but I just find it easier for me to use the camera's capabilities in almost all conditions.

[Don Lacy]

All three modes actually four if you cant program have their uses and depending on the circumstances the best option for image you are trying to capture. For me I switch to Aperture when I am confronted with changing light values as I prefer to concentrate on capturing the pose or action and not on changing the shutter values to get the correct exposure. There is also a saying amongst event photographers that the P for program is for professionals and while I have been known to use that program when shooting family functions with flash i still have not found a use for it nature photography

[David Stephens]

I don't think that the choice between Av and Tv modes is real important because you can see the impact on the other variables in you viewfinder. In general, I'd say pick on and use it most of the time, while paying attention to all the variables shown in the VF.

[John Chardine]

I agree with those above who say that each exposure mode has it's uses. Manual is incredibly useful in many circumstances and produces consistent subject exposure with varying overall image tonality. I usually start a photo session in Av and once I figured out exposure for the subject, switch to M and stay there. If the light and subject lighting are stable I've stayed in M for extended periods, never having to adjust (worry) exposure. In the same circumstances in Av I would have had to continually think about the relative tonality of BG and subject and adjust exposure accordingly. Regarding (Canon's) Av and Tv modes, I want to control aperture so that I obtain the desired depth of field, avoid diffraction effects at small apertures, etc, so I use Av and even have Tv programmed out as an option on the 1DIV.