The F-501 can be set for auto exposure, "hi-speed" auto exposure, "dual" auto-exposure (with AI-S type lenses) which switches between regular auto exposure and hi-speed autoexposure based on the lens attached, aperture priority, or full manual exposure modes, which allow the user to set both the aperture and shutter speeds. The shutter speed and auto-exposure modes are set by the use of a dial on the top of the camera, while the aperture ring on the lens is used for aperture control. The "hi-speed" auto-exposure tends to favor higher shutter speeds and wider aperture settings than the "normal" auto exposure mode, while the "dual" mode offers "normal" auto-exposure with lenses at focal lengths less than 135 mm and "hi-speed" auto-exposure if a lens is longer than 135 mm.