Kodak DCS 500 Series User Manual page 172

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Here's some additional background as to which exposure mode is best according to the
situation at hand:
P (Program AE): With the camera set for fully automatic operation, the camera and
Speedlite work together while you concentrate on picture-taking. In daylight or brightly lit
indoor situations, the background will always be exposed correctly and the camera will
control the fill-flash ratio for optimum results. Indoors or at night, the Speedlite becomes
the main source of illumination and the shutter speed will automatically be kept high
enough to permit hand-held exposure.
Av (Aperture-priority AE): Selecting Aperture-priority AE mode with flash gives you
maximum control over depth of field when it is a concern. The camera will automatically
set a shutter speed to provide adequate background exposure, day or night. Outdoors, or in
relatively bright indoor lighting, if the selected aperture is unusable, the shutter speed
indicators in the camera's viewfinder and Top LCD panel will blink. Just select a smaller
aperture, and shoot. Indoors or at night, slow shutter speeds are likely, so it's best to use a
tripod or pick a different camera exposure mode.
Tv (Shutter-priority AE): Shooting in Shutter-priority AE mode with flash lets you
select the shutter speed while the camera selects the aperture to give correct background
exposure. High shutter speeds up to maximum sync speed can be used in bright light,
while slower speeds down to 30 seconds are more appropriate in dark conditions or for
special effects. In low light situations, the maximum aperture value of the lens may blink
in the viewfinder and external display if the selected shutter speed is too fast to produce a
good exposure of the background. Just set a slower shutter speed and shoot, or switch to
manual exposure mode on the camera.
M (Manual): Manual exposure mode lets you control both the shutter speed and aperture.
This option is important in low light situations when you want to combine small apertures
with high shutter speeds. Keep in mind that manual exposure mode on the camera can be
combined with fully automatic flash exposure, since the camera's metering systems for
flash and existing light are independently controlled.
DEP (Depth-of-Field AE): If dedicated flash is used in the DEP (Depth-of-Field AE)
mode, the camera uses the same settings as dedicated flash in the P (Program AE) mode.
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