Sorry if this is a real nit wit question !...but could one of the experts please tell me (in non camera manual jargon if poss !!) what is the difference between "Aperture Priority" and "Shutter Priority" ?

I have "Graduated" from a basic Kodak 8mp point & shoot to a Panasonic DMC-FZ28 and really want to move on from doing everything on "Intelligent Auto", however I am really struggling to get to grips with this one !

Thanks in advance.

...as always.."All knowlege is an asset !" :yes:

Aperature priority allows you to adjust depth of field (ie f2.8 will make part of your picture in focus but the rest will be out of focus thereby drawing you in to the focussed part). Conversely a high 'f' number will make more of your picture in focus. The camera will adjust the shutter speed to compensate for each setting.

If you select shutter priority then you are in effect saying that you want a quick or slow picture with settings available inbetween. A fast setting will freeze a birds wings in flight whereas a slow setting will blur them. Again, the camera adjusts the aperature automatically to compensate for what you're after.

Here's a photo that's got a fast shutter setting catching the stones as they get thrown up:-

Here's a slow one resulting in blurred lights.

Here's one with a shallow depth of field to emphasise the sign

and another with a large depth of field to emphasise the view.

Hope that helps.

Thanks very much for this.

I only needed to read it twice and I think I got it !!....(which is more than I can say for a Panasonic manual !)

Cheers

Try this link as well