Your discusion question has so many variables it could be impossible to provide a straight and honest answer.
My SLR is usually used in manual mode, quite often on a tripod, using a shallow depth of field and quite often long exposures.
I also really like going out late and doing long exposures while popping a flash or 8 off such as the shot below
44 second exposure, ISO 200, f8, 8mm fisheye lens, tripod mounted, used a remote trigger, 8 flashes in different spots
PP adjustment for contrast and blacks
Devils Playground by
The McCusker, on Flickr
And a selfie for ya with some details
Same deal, tripod, 8mm fisheye, f8, adjusted WB in PP, ISO 200, remote triggered, PP adjustment for contrast and levels, spot clarity and saturation as well
Self Relic by
The McCusker, on Flickr