Best universal settings for an assignment..

[teaking]

@ Elmo

I agree that most the time flash is best used in manual so you have full control over it, but in a situation where you need flash purely as fill light and not as your primary source then Av mode and exposure comp could possibly work as the camera is only changing the shutter speed which will only effect ambient (background) light and ISO.

So you could control the background light with the EV comp, and the fill light being the flash with the flash power (or aperture which you have probably already set).

Although shooting in P will let the camera expose taking in to account the flash which would increase the shutter speeds if dark so its a good universal option where you haven't a lot of time to think..... My head now hurts!!!!

[Cam Monroe]

When I am shooting something important, I have a second camera at the ready.
Different set up, different lens.
I then use both cameras throughout the event.
I can also admit.....I have gotten lost, and flipped the switch to full auto.
Getting the shot is more important than the settings...just don't show the client the EXIF..lol

I can't say there is one single setting better than another.
I have scouted out a site, got a feel for the place, made my game plan.
The big day came, and the weather was different, and they had brought in decorative lighting with a strong yellow hue, and they didn't follow the steps they had just made the night before at the rehersal.

So you make it up as you go along.
As your experience grows, you will make better choices, faster.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by sk66

What, no ones yelled at you for using program mode yet?

I would generally shoot in aperture mode and set aperture for effect/shutter speed. Auto ISO and Auto WB. Fill flash(bounced/diffused) as necessary. To get "balanced" lighting colors, you are also looking at flash gels. And a faster lens would certainly have helped your situation.

Nothing Wrong With "P",(professional) Mode- pro's use p mode when no-one is watching! But the only practical uses for Auto white balance, are: a) for sunset and sunrise,and b) when under domestic tungsten lighting-pre-set tungsten white balance is set at 3400 Kelvin-which is correct for studio tungsten,but domesic tungsten bulbs are rated at 2500-3200 Kelvin-and if you use the tungsten pre-set your image will be too blue. Auto WB is are totally useless for anything else. And auto ISO is a waste of time. Regards, Ken