How bad is Auto?

[TMG]

I recently purchased my Nikon D5000, which is my first DSLR. Im reading "Nikon D5000 for Dummies", practicing, and reading alot online. My camera has 16 scene modes which is very helpful, but of course everything I am learning is about manual modes. What I find is that when its time to take a photo, I end up turning the dial to a pre made scene mode rather than fumbling with A mode or S mode and missing the shot. Do you just experiment with calm, quiet still photos until A,S,P,M just clicks in your brain and you just know how to set your camera for every single picture? Do you shoot in Auto mode sometimes? Does shooting in Auto mode mean that even if I make a great photo it "doesnt count" because the camera set up the shot and not me?

 

[Robin Usagani]

Read this
Cambridge in Colour - Photography Tutorials & Learning Community

I use auto when I hand my camera over to someone to take a picture of me because it will bring the buttons to factory settings.

 

[Tomasko]

Shooting auto with DSLR means you've bought a very expensive compact camera. If you have hard time shooting full manual, learn to use aperture priority mode. It's far more easier, faster and you can control DOF. Or, if you need to control shutter speed, use shutter priority mode. It's that simple. Full auto is simply a waste of time, you won't learn anything and most of the time it's just a hit-or-miss game (yea, yea, some people can predict sometimes camera's behavior, but certainly not a beginner).

 

[subscuck]

The problem with auto is that the camera selects what it thinks are the optimum settings for ISO, aperture and shutter speed for any given shot. Sometimes it's right in guessing what you want, often it's not. The camera has no idea what you really wanted, only you do. You might have wanted shallow depth of field, but the camera may decide an aperture of f11 is best for that shot. I personnaly don't like anyone or anything making choices for me.

 

[TMG]

So basically to start, Aperture mode for portraits to control DOF, and use Shutter priority when I have moving subjects.

 

[Compaq]

I strongly disagree with Tomasko that manual mode is a waste of time. If you want to understand how your camera works, use manual. It's what everyone (pros and n00bs alike) used back in the days when auto or semi-auto mode wasn't available yet. Back then people knew how to use a camera. Pick any film slr and you'll see that you needed to understand things to use it (unlike today). So, I strongly recommend you to learn how to use manual.

Even if you're a beginner, learning to use your camera will come in handy.

 

[Tomasko]

I strongly disagree with Tomasko that manual mode is a waste of time. If you want to understand how your camera works, use manual. It's what everyone (pros and n00bs alike) used back in the days when auto or semi-auto mode wasn't available yet. Back then people knew how to use a camera. Pick any film slr and you'll see that you needed to understand things to use it (unlike today). So, I strongly recommend you to learn how to use manual.

Even if you're a beginner, learning to use your camera will come in handy.

Please, READ carefully....
Once again:

Full auto is simply a waste of time

 

[Compaq]

Ohh, I'm not sure why I read "manual" there.

I hereby withdraw my previous disagreement with Tomasko and re-position myself at full agreement.

 

[Kerbouchard]

My camera does not have an 'auto' mode. I do, however know how my camera responds to the settings it does have. I've never been a fan of shutter priority. It's silly because most times, you are limited by your aperture. Aperture priority wide open, does the same thing shutter priority does. Either way, you're up against the wall.

I shoot in manual 95% of the time, and that's because I use flash 95% of the time. The flash is automatic(ttl) and I use flash exposure compensation to make it work the way I want it to. The actual exposure settings almost don't make a difference when using TTL flash. As long as you set something within range of your equipment capabilities, bounce your flash off an appropriate surface, and adjust the flash exposure comp, you are pretty much guaranteed a great shot.

Honestly, photography is not that complicated. Once you know how it all works, it's all pretty easy. The trick is knowing where you are limited by your gear and compensating for it.

For outdoor, daylight shots without flash, there is nothing wrong with aperture priority if it fits the situation you are in. Using an automated mode is nothing to feel insecure about. A great shot with an automated mode is the same as a great shot in manual. Either way, you have to know your camera and how it reacts to specific situations.

For a lot of years, pro's had a saying, "F/8 and be there"...that hasn't changed that much.

 

[dxqcanada5]

Auto exposure mode is not "bad".
It is a setting when you (the photographer) do not care what effects of Aperture or Shutter speed are going to be applied ... as long as the exposure is mostly correct (the matrix metering algorithms in modern camera's have become fairly smart).

IF you want to become a better photographer, then you will take over from the Camera's Brain to your own ... and then you will start controlling those settings that are "auto". You will need to understand what those controls do and their effects on the image, to be able to use them ... and also how to read light (metering).

I will have to say that I use Auto when I am lazy (snap shooting mode).

 

[Breaux]

I'm an old-timer, but I think it's easier to learn the simple basics of aperture and shutter speed than to learn 16 scene modes anyway.

 

[KmH]

And the nuances of each of those 16 scene modes.

The D5000 is an entry-level DSLR camera. As Kerbouchard alluded to, the next 2 higher levels of DSLR (Prosumer and Professional) don't have AUTO, or any those scene modes. You only get A, S, P, and M.

Ponder why it would be that way.

 

[Biggs88]

I used to shoot in Auto when I first started.

It gives you no control of the image.

What happen with me is I would shoot. Then I would review the photos. If there was something I did not like, I would find out how to fix it.

Example. I shot a band playing at a dark bar. The photos where BAD.

Low shutter speed in A mode led to bad photos due to movement.

So. I cranked the ISO! 6400 should work! Whats this?!?!?!?!? Digital Noise!!!! Photos look even worse.

OK. I researched. I NEED a fast lens. 50mm f1.8 will do the trick!!!!!

Threw that baby on, flicked the f stop to 1.8 and went to town at the next band performance.

What the heck!?!?!?! only one photo was sharp and in full focus. What the heck is this "shallow depth of field and lens softness"?!?!?!?!?!

By working through the problems, I learned about solutions. I "amateurishly" tried to use just one "fix". But you have to use a combination of them.

Soo. The moral of the story is. You do not need to know "how" to use S,P,A, and M modes.

Why shooting in S,A,M is better in certain situations is the answer you need to find. The "how" will come very naturally after you know the why.

 

[JWellman]

When I first started on this forum I was shooting full AUTO because it was the only thing that I knew to do. Someone suggested learning photography in manual mode and I haven't been back since.

One day, out of curiosity, I thought I'd switch it back to auto and see what would happen. The photos were horrible. Not saying they are anywhere near perfect now, but I could most assuredly tell the difference between what I decided and what the camera chose for me.

Happy Shooting!

 

[Vtec44]

Auto mode is for when you want to take a picture. Manual mode is for when you want to make a picture.

=)