Set the aperture with the front dial, exposure compensation with the rear dial, and let the camera find the shutter speed. One variable to think about, an impossible exposure impossible to set, and direct control over the look. This is where you should live.
front = aperture rear = exp. comp. f/5.6 default 1/3 EV steps
How it behaves on this kit
Because the XC15-45mm has no aperture ring, aperture is always the front command dial here. The range is f/3.5 at 15 mm, f/5.6 at 45 mm, down to f/22, in 1/3 EV steps. Two conveniences worth knowing: aperture can be changed while the shutter is half-pressed, and if correct exposure is not achievable at your chosen aperture the shutter speed is displayed in red.
| Subject | Aperture | Min. shutter in Auto ISO |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait, one person | Widest available at 45 mm | 1/125 s |
| Two or three people | f/8 | 1/125 s |
| Landscape, architecture | f/8 to f/11 | AUTO, or 1/60 s |
| Food, close detail | f/5.6 to f/8 | 1/60 s |
| Children, pets | Widest available | 1/500 s |
| Street | f/8 | 1/250 s |
The one failure mode
In dim light, A mode will quietly hand you 1/8 s and a blurred photograph. The fix is not another mode — it is a MIN. SHUTTER SPEED in your Auto ISO bank. Set it and the camera raises ISO instead of slowing down.
One extra to assign while you are here: PREVIEW DEPTH OF FIELD on a function button. It shows you the real depth of field at your chosen aperture rather than the wide-open preview, which is genuinely useful for close-up and group work.
Assignment
Put a friend two metres in front of a background ten metres away. Zoom to 45 mm and shoot at f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/22 from the same spot. Then, still at f/5.6, walk to 15 mm and get close enough to frame the same head size. You now understand aperture and focal length as one combined control, which is what actually determines a background.