tP, S, A, and M Modes

Shutter Speed and Aperture

P, S, A, and M modes offer different degrees of control over shutter speed and aperture:

 

Mode

Description

 

 

 

Programmed auto

Camera sets shutter speed and aperture for optimal exposure.

 

 

 

P

Recommended for snapshots and in other situations in which

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there is little time to adjust camera settings.

S

Shutter-priority auto

User chooses shutter speed; camera selects aperture for best

 

 

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results. Use to freeze or blur motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aperture-priority auto

User chooses aperture; camera selects shutter speed for best

A

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results. Use to blur background or bring both foreground and

 

 

background into focus.

M

Manual (0 77)

User controls both shutter speed and aperture. Set shutter speed

 

 

to “bulb” for long time-exposures.

 

 

 

t

 

 

 

 

 

D Lens Aperture Rings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When using a CPU lens equipped with an aperture ring (0 168), lock the aperture ring at the minimum aperture (highest f-number). Type G lenses are not equipped with an aperture ring.

AShutter Speed and Aperture

The same exposure can be achieved with different combinations of shutter speed and aperture. Fast shutter speeds and large apertures freeze moving objects and soften background details, while slow shutter speeds and small apertures blur moving objects and bring out background details.

Shutter speed

 

 

 

 

 

Aperture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fast shutter speed

Slow shutter speed

Large aperture (f/5.6) Small aperture (f/22)

(1/1,600 s)

(1 s)

(Remember, the higher the f-number, the

 

 

smaller the aperture.)

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