i feel like i'm relying to much on manual settings

[gsgary]

In situations where the light isn't changing much it will always be better to shoot manual. It has nothing to do with a warm feeling, it has everything to do with being consistent. A full understanding of photography allows the shooter to make the minor changes quickly, without having to think about what they are doing, once you start to over think exposures, you start to miss the pictures. I shoot manual because it works for me.

Ditto if im shooting horses and i see a white horse coming i can drop shutter speed without moving my eye from veiwfinder but if you have one of those cameras where you have to go into the menu to alter settings it would be a pain in the butt

 

[tsabary]

Just tried to take some photos using aperture priority. Seems like I'm going to have some fun with it ;]

 

[cynicaster]

I spent a lot of time fumbling over this setting and that when I first got my DSLR, but eventually I naturally gravitated toward Av mode, which I now use probably 90% of the time for “available light” shots (with flash, it’s manual all the way).

I do this because the first question I ask myself when I’m about to lift the camera to my eye is “how much DoF do I need/want here?”, and I set the aperture accordingly. Shutter speed can be monitored right there in the viewfinder to make sure it’s staying in check. If it’s not, I increase the ISO.

The only time I shoot full manual without a flash is if I’m shooting a still scene where I have all the time in the world to set things up. It’s not that I need all the time in the world; I’m comfortable enough with how the manual controls work that they’re pretty much second nature now, but even still, it only takes a second or two of staring down at your camera to miss a great photo.

If I was selling sets of photos to a client—which wouldn’t happen because I’m purely a hobbyist—then I’d be much more inclined to care about shot-to-shot consistency. But when taking pictures of my nieces or candid shots of my family at a BBQ, exact consistency adds no value except for maybe academic (“hey look, I know how to take consistent exposures!&#8221 I’ll gladly accept the one or two extra “keeper” shots I get simply from spending less time farting around with my camera in exchange for a slight compromise in shot-to-shot consistency any day of the week.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

I agree with Keith. I love having two jog wheels to change the settings. It makes it so simple. On the entry level bodies, I prefer aperture priority. That way I can have full control over DoF, and the shutter is automatically selected.

Not saying that works for everyone, but I love it.

 

[ronlane]

I took pictures on Sunday of our Church's easter egg hunt and use Apeture priority, so that I wouldn't have as many issues as I seem to have in Manual. I found it to be a really good tool when I need to get the pictures and don't have time or able to do retakes.

 

[amolitor]

I took pictures on Sunday of our Church's easter egg hunt and use Apeture priority, so that I wouldn't have as many issues as I seem to have in Manual. I found it to be a really good tool when I need to get the pictures and don't have time or able to do retakes.

JOIIIINNN USSSSS! JOIIIIIN! WE ARE LEGION WE WILL RULE!

You want to be on the winning side after the Great Conflict, don't you? DON'T YOU?!

 

[ronlane]

I took pictures on Sunday of our Church's easter egg hunt and use Apeture priority, so that I wouldn't have as many issues as I seem to have in Manual. I found it to be a really good tool when I need to get the pictures and don't have time or able to do retakes.

JOIIIINNN USSSSS! JOIIIIIN! WE ARE LEGION WE WILL RULE!

You want to be on the winning side after the Great Conflict, don't you? DON'T YOU?!

There are sides? No way. I'm just on the side of getting the picture and I've screwed up some trying to use manual before.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

There are sides? No way. I'm just on the side of getting the picture and I've screwed up some trying to use manual before.

Of course there are sides... Those shutter priority guys are wanna be's and losers

 

[manaheim]

I spent a lot of time fumbling over this setting and that when I first got my DSLR, but eventually I naturally gravitated toward Av mode, which I now use probably 90% of the time for “available light” shots (with flash, it’s manual all the way)..

Hey have you noticed... Manual+flash eats batteries?

 

[cynicaster]

Hey have you noticed... Manual+flash eats batteries?

Eh? No, why would it?

I’ve noticed battery eating when I’m playing with off camera flash, but I assumed that was because of excessive use of live view and chimping, and the fact that my pop-up flash is firing repeatedly as a master.