What Aperture and Shutter Speed Do You Commonly Use?

[Winglets747]

For those willing to divulge their secrets :wink: what aperture and shutter combination as well as mode (aperture priority, shutter priority) do you most frequently use for various times of the day when spotting?

[Derf]

f9 AT 30 or so seconds :borat:

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/201061405-L.jpg

[PhilDernerJr]

f43 @ 1/1600

Kidding.

f8.0 @ 1/500 is best for me in good light. Light is the variable, but if it's good I go with shutter priority at 500 and monitor my shots to make sure it's giving me close to 8.0.

[pgengler]

Like Phil (the other Phil), 1/500s or faster @ f/8 is where I try to be.

[lijk604]

Fred you keep finding new spots to take pictures from over there! I swear one day you will have a shot from on TOP of the control tower.

[lijk604]

Sorry, now back on topic:

With the Digital Rebel XTi: with great light, I will be in MANUAL mode and start at f/9 @ 1/500sec. Take a few shots and adjust the shutter speed up or down from there.

[adam613]

1/800, f6.7 in daylight, slowly opening up the aperture as the sun goes down.

But my camera isn't an SLR and has a rather small sensor, so I need to keep the aperture as big as I can or I get grainy pictures. Also, I always use manual mode, but that's just because I don't trust my camera to get the settings right.

One of these days I'll buy an SLR and a long lens...