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Some recent Canon cameras (at least EOS RP) have a flexible priority (Fv) mode. Apparently, it does auto-exposure but allows setting various settings manually, too.

  • What does this mode exactly do?
  • What's so good about it?
  • What can be done with Fv mode that can't be done easily on a traditional camera not having the Fv mode?

To me, the Fv mode looks like another way of jumping between P, Av, Tv and M. So, to me, this is duplicated functionality on the camera, and just moves some settings from the main mode dial to the rear top dial.

About the only good feature of Fv seems to be very easy access to exposure compensation (I haven't figured out how to set exposure compensation on EOS RP without using the menu in P, Av, Tv and M+auto-ISO modes), but that's nothing revolutionary; my 2000D allows easy access to exposure compensation.

Oh, and one benefit of Fv is that the "mode guide" isn't displayed for ~10 seconds when changing what is set manually and what is set automatically. Moving the main mode dial at least on EOS RP shows the annoying "mode guide".

However, these seem to be minor user interface glitches. Is there something revolutionary in the Fv mode that I'm not seeing?

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    What does the Canon web site say about it ? – Alaska Man Jul 2 at 19:04
  • I'm looking for an objective answer instead of Canon marketing. I have the EOS RP manual, and the camera too, and it appears to be some combination of P+Av+Tv+M modes where everything can be set automatically or manually. I'd like to hear opinions of people having EOS RP, to understand if the Fv is truly useful. – juhist Jul 2 at 19:08
  • Telling us how canon intends for it to be used would be useful information. – Alaska Man Jul 2 at 19:41
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There are many results from Google explaining how it works, e.g. this one is pretty decent.

I don't have a Canon myself, but reading about the mode, it seems very similar to how most Fuji X-series cameras behave. Instead of the PASM modes, you have separate controls (one control with modes in case of the Canon) for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO each -- which all can be put to either automatic or a fixed value separately.

The benefit over the PASM modes is that switching the mode is more straightforward. E.g. if you are on full-auto mode and want to put your aperture to f/8, with this mode you just set your aperture and you're done, while with PASM you first have to set to Av mode, and then adjust your aperture.

The down-side of this is that you can't switch back and forth between the modes and have the camera remember which aperture/shutter speed/ISO you had selected before, nor have presets for quickly setting all three... The Canon having both kinds of modes seems like a win-win, although I personally like having separate physical controls for all three.

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