Can't believe how un-usable "Auto" mode pics are!

[splproductions]

I know I'm preaching to the choir here...

My in-laws are in town, and they have the same exact body I do (T1i) but they are using the kit lens. The extent of their photographic knowledge is where the shutter button is (nothing wrong with that - just sayin').

I've been flipping through their pictures, and it absolutely blows my mind that 9 out of 10 their indoor "Auto" shots are un-usable. And I'm setting a very low bar here for what's considered usable. My bar is set at, "Oh - that's a nice snapshot. Let's keep it." Most of them aren't in focus, and even if they were in focus, the camera choses an impossibly slow shutter speed, resulting in subject blur.

Anyway - it makes me wonder how many of the thousand or so pictures I have in my iPhoto library from years back are that crappy. I'm scared to look.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

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[rexbobcat]

It's probably not the Auto mode as much as it is user error.

 

[fjrabon]

yeah, if you're a decent photographer, you can use auto modes and get perfectly great shots. The camera does its best, but it can't work magic. If they're shaking the camera up and down, and it's a low light situation, and they point the camera at the wrong thing, not much it can do.

 

[bratkinson]

There are many (older) people that are at a complete loss when it comes to technology. My older brother and a good friend Gary are two that are still in the dark ages. The point-n-shoot we use at work for problem documentation completely eluded one now-retired co-worker of the need to point it in the correct direction when pressing the shutter button!

The OP's in-laws sound like they're cut from the same technology-less mold. They won't/don't/can't learn how to get some great photographs, so they settle for what they get. Cell-phone 'photographers' think they are getting 'great' pictures as well! The in-laws situation could simply be an accidently-set option (been there, done that), or even setting/leaving the lens to 'MF' (been there, done that, too!).

Perhaps they would like a higher-end P&S for Christmas????

 

[Blackjack]

Try to remember that "older" people invented the computer and the internet and put men on the moon. There are plenty of young people that are clueless about technology. Old age doesn't make you clueless, just tired.

 

[sm4him]

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Dang it, Bitter!! No fair making me "like" a completely blank post!

 

[MLeeK]

If you own an "expensive camera" it makes the images perfect. That's the artistic vision of the photographer. You should know this by now!

 

[KmH]

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Dang it, Bitter!! No fair making me "like" a completely blank post!

Uh! FWIW. It's not completely blank. He used camouflage.

 

[Johnboy2978]

I have a canon g12 that I carry sometimes when I don't want to bring my dslr and I find the auto feature to be quite decent actually. I usually have it on another mode but when I first got it, I was rather impressed at the quality of the image right out of the box in auto.

 

[John27]

As far as point and shoot cameras go, a DSLR makes a great one in full auto! Maybe make sure they have the ISO set to full auto as well, that might be the issue. If it's fixed at 100, then it'll drop that shutter speed into the basement!

I use mine in Full Auto sometimes for point-and-shoot work. Like when the nieces and nephews are over and do something cute, just stick it on auto and shoot. The extent of the shot would be a facebook post, not a wall hanging. I'd just as soon use my iPhone in the same situation.

Although +1 to MLeeK. I have a few high school and college friends that are now 'photographers' and have their own facebook pages and everything for their stuff, and you chat with them about cameras and they are clueless. Of course some of them DO use point and shoots...

 

[markj]

I don't see the dot KmH. For this he receives 5 likes. Go figure!

 

[Overread19 7]

auto mode can somewhat fail if it can't use flash; if they disabled flash and shot in auto I can well understand that it would give sub-par results when used in a more difficult situation. That said auto mode is auto mode - it does ok in most situations but anything out of the ordinary and it will fail - esp if the light is poor.

I don't see the dot KmH. For this he receives 5 likes. Go figure!

You have to understand, Bitter is a bit like the mafia of likes. If you don't like enough of his posts each week he sends the heavies around to break up your artistic talent (thus crippling your chances of being a photographer).

 

[mishele]

BJ, 4000 before New Year's?

 

[Patrice]

There are many (older) people that are at a complete loss when it comes to technology.

And just how old are you to be so technologically brilliant? 14? 15? 25?

One of the ways I earn a living is by doing essential skills training programs for young (18 to 25) adults who are pretty much un-employable mostly due to their lack of literacy, numeracy and inability to think critically. I am no longer surprised at just how many young adults are totally ignorant of the some of the most basic knowledge and almost totally lacking in any saleable skills.


I'd much rather be a smart but forgetful old fart than an ignorant and arrogant young buck.