Camera Settings: the Mode Dial

Mode Dial

SCiL's Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR has a mode dial, located on the upper left of the camera chassis. The mode dial allows you to choose which mode the camera will operate in. The available modes are:

• C1, C2, and C3: user defined presets
• B: Bulb mode (the shutter remains open as long as the shutter button is held down)
• M: Manual mode (photographer controls all settings)
• Av: Aperture Priority mode (set the aperture/f-stop; other settings are set automatically)
• Tv: Shutter Priority mode (set the shutter speed; other settings are set automatically)
• P: Program AE mode (aperture and shutter are set automatically based on brightness)
• [A⁺]: Scene Intelligent Auto mode (fully automatic mode)

Which mode should you use? That will depend on what you are trying to accomplish. However, some modes are more commonly used than others. The modes you are most likely to use are:

• M (manual mode). Usually, professional photographers and filmmakers will usually prefer to have complete control over the camera and all of its settings. This is the recommended mode for a serious photographer or filmmaker.

As a matter of convenience, it can sometimes speed up your workflow to use partially automated settings:

• Av (aperture priority). Sometimes it may be convenient to set the aperture/f-stop and allow the camera to automatically handle other settings. This may be useful when, for example, you want to control depth of field using aperture but do not have special requirements for ISO or shutter speed. 
• Tv (shutter priority). Sometimes it may be convenient to set the shutter speed and allow the camera to handle other settings. This may be useful when, for example, you would like to achieve specialized shutter effects (like a long exposure) and would like the camera to automatically assign other settings to achieve a good exposure.
• P (automated shutter and aperture). Sometimes, especially when shooting casually, you may find fully automatic settings help you to capture images and video quickly when the camera handles most settings for itself. This is not the recommended mode for capturing imagery or videos for immersive media productions.