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P, S, A, and M Modes

P, S, A, and M modes give you varying degrees of control over shutter speed and aperture.

Mode P: Program AE

Let the camera choose shutter speed and aperture for optimal exposure. Other values that produce the same exposure can be selected with program shift.

  1. Rotate the STILL/MOVIE mode dial to STILL.

  2. Slide the lens aperture mode switch to A.

  3. Rotate the shutter speed dial to A.

    P will appear in the display.

If the subject is outside the metering range of the camera, the shutter speed and aperture displays will show “–––”.

To use the shutter speed dial, press the dial lock release and rotate the dial to the desired setting.

If the lens is not equipped with an aperture ring, select AUTO for DBUTTON/DIAL SETTING > APERTURE SETTING.

Program Shift

If desired, you can rotate the rear command dial to select other combinations of shutter speed and aperture without altering exposure (program shift).

Shutter speed

Aperture

Program shift is not available in any of the following circumstances:

  • When TTL is selected for FFLASH SETTING > FLASH FUNCTION SETTING
  • When an auto option is selected for HIMAGE QUALITY SETTING > DYNAMIC RANGE
  • In movie mode

To cancel program shift, turn the camera off.

Mode S: Shutter-Priority AE

Choose a shutter speed and let the camera adjust aperture for optimal exposure.

  1. Rotate the STILL/MOVIE mode dial to STILL.

  2. Slide the lens aperture mode switch to A.

  3. Rotate the shutter speed dial to select a shutter speed.

    S will appear in the display.

If the correct exposure cannot be achieved at the selected shutter speed, aperture will be displayed in red.

If the subject is outside the metering range of the camera, the aperture display will show “–––”.

To use the shutter speed dial, press the dial lock release and rotate the dial to the desired setting.

If the lens is not equipped with an aperture ring, select AUTO for DBUTTON/DIAL SETTING > APERTURE SETTING.

Shutter speed can also be adjusted in increments of 1/3 EV by rotating the rear command dial.

Shutter speed can be adjusted while the AFON button is pressed or the shutter button is pressed halfway.

At shutter speeds slower than 1 second, a count-down timer will be displayed while the exposure is in progress.

To reduce “noise” (mottling) in long time-exposures, select ON for HIMAGE QUALITY SETTING > LONG EXPOSURE NR. Note that this may increase the time needed to record images after shooting.

The picture will go out of focus if the camera is moved during a long time-exposure; use of a tripod is recommended.

Time (T)

Choose a shutter speed of T (time) for long time-exposures. Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent the camera moving during the exposure.

  1. Set shutter speed to T.

  2. Rotate the rear command dial to choose a shutter speed.

  3. Press the shutter button all the way down to take a picture at the selected shutter speed. At speeds of 1 s or slower, a count-down timer will be displayed while the exposure is in progress.

    4. To reduce “noise” (mottling) in long time-exposures, select ON for HIMAGE QUALITY SETTING > LONG EXPOSURE NR. Note that this may increase the time needed to record images after shooting.

Bulb (B)

Choose a shutter speed of B (bulb) for long time-exposures in which you open and close the shutter manually. Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent the camera moving during the exposure.

  1. Set shutter speed to B.

  2. Press the shutter button all the way down.

    • The shutter will remain open for up to 60 minutes while the shutter button is pressed.
    • The display shows the time elapsed since the exposure started.
    • Releasing the shutter button closes the shutter, ending the exposure. Processing will begin, and the camera will display the processing time remaining.

Bulb photography is not available in drive modes other than STILL IMAGE or when the electronic shutter is selected for ASHOOTING SETTING > SHUTTER TYPE.

Selecting an aperture of A fixes shutter speed at 30 s.

To reduce “noise” (mottling) in long time-exposures, select ON for HIMAGE QUALITY SETTING > LONG EXPOSURE NR. Note that this may increase the time needed to record images after shooting.

Using a Remote Release

A remote release can be used for long time-exposures. When using an optional RR-100 remote release or an electronic release from third-party suppliers, connect it to the camera’s remote release connector.

Mode A: Aperture-Priority AE

Choose an aperture and let the camera adjust shutter speed for optimal exposure.

  1. Rotate the STILL/MOVIE mode dial to STILL.

  2. Rotate the shutter speed dial to A.

  3. Slide the lens aperture mode switch to Z.

    A will appear in the display.

  4. Rotate the lens aperture ring to choose an aperture.

If the correct exposure cannot be achieved at the selected aperture, shutter speed will be displayed in red.

If the subject is outside the metering range of the camera, the shutter speed display will show “–––”.

To use the shutter speed dial, press the dial lock release and rotate the dial to the desired setting.

If the lens is not equipped with an aperture ring, select MANUAL for DBUTTON/DIAL SETTING > APERTURE SETTING.

Aperture can be adjusted even while the shutter button is pressed halfway.

Previewing Depth of Field

When PREVIEW DEPTH OF FIELD is assigned to a function button, pressing the button displays a L icon and stops aperture down to the selected setting, allowing depth of field to be previewed in the display.

Mode M: Manual Exposure

In manual mode, the user controls both shutter speed and aperture. Shots can be deliberately overexposed (brighter) or underexposed (darker), opening the door for a variety of individual creative expression. The amount the picture would be under- or over-exposed at current settings is shown by the exposure indicator; adjust shutter speed and aperture until the desired exposure is reached.

  1. Rotate the STILL/MOVIE mode dial to STILL.

  2. Slide the lens aperture mode switch to Z.

  3. Rotate the shutter speed dial to select a shutter speed other than A.

    M will appear in the display.

  4. Rotate the shutter speed dial to choose a shutter speed and the lens aperture ring to choose an aperture.

    The manual exposure display includes an exposure indicator that shows the amount the picture would be under- or over-exposed at current settings.

To use the shutter speed dial, press the dial lock release and rotate the dial to the desired setting.

Shutter speed can be adjusted in increments of 1/3 EV by rotating the rear command dial.

Exposure Preview

To preview exposure in the LCD monitor, select PREVIEW EXP./WB for DSCREEN SET-UP > PREVIEW EXP./WB IN MANUAL MODE.

PREVIEW EXP./WB

PREVIEW WB or OFF

Select an option other than PREVIEW EXP./WB when using the flash or on other occasions on which exposure may change when the picture is taken.