Is manual mode overrated?

[Dominantly]

Manual exposure should only be used when you know the in-camera meter is going to give you the wrong exposure ... otherwise use Aperture or Shutter priority to have your own control over either property.

I think the biggest misconception is that Manual exposure gives you the most control ... if you set exposure manually to what the in-camera meter tells you is correct, then it is no different then using any automatic setting ... Manual exposure gives you the most control when you deviate from the norm.

What about for a panoramic shot?
If you were taking 5 shots of a cityscape over a harbor, would you leave your camera in an automatic mode, or would you lock it down in manual to ensure consistent results? Just curious, as I would want Control and Consistency throughout the set.
So I would/Have/Will/Do leave it in manual.

 

[Josh66]

I think the biggest misconception is that Manual exposure gives you the most control ... if you set exposure manually to what the in-camera meter tells you is correct, then it is no different then using any automatic setting ... Manual exposure gives you the most control when you deviate from the norm.

Although I kinda agree, I think it's more a case of people not being clear with their reasoning behind using it.

If you don't like the auto modes because you don't trust the camera, but you use the in-camera meter in M - that's just stupid.

What M does do though, is provide consistent results. If you don't want to mess with exposure compensation, or you don't like the shutter speed or aperture changing every time you move the camera, manual is hard to beat.

Personally, I pretty much always use manual and spot meter.
I kind of evaluate the scene with the meter, then decide my settings.

 

[table1349]

Manual exposure should only be used when you know the in-camera meter is going to give you the wrong exposure ... otherwise use Aperture or Shutter priority to have your own control over either property.

I think the biggest misconception is that Manual exposure gives you the most control ... if you set exposure manually to what the in-camera meter tells you is correct, then it is no different then using any automatic setting ... Manual exposure gives you the most control when you deviate from the norm.

Then why AV, why TV, why not just full automatic all the time? Manual exposure does give you more control. The camera readings are not always correct unless you are always looking for that static, buy the book shot with the exposure the camera wants to give you.

The control manual gives you is the ability to think past what the camera interprets as proper and allows the photographer to get the shot they want, not what the camera thinks they want. YOU the photographer have to be in control, and to do that you have to have the knowledge base of concerning Aperture, ISO and f stop to understand and be able to visualize what modifying the settings means.

 

[dxqcanada]

The control manual gives you is the ability to think past what the camera interprets as proper and allows the photographer to get the shot they want, not what the camera thinks they want. YOU the photographer have to be in control, and to do that you have to have the knowledge base of concerning Aperture, ISO and f stop to understand and be able to visualize what modifying the settings means.

Yes, it requires that the photographer understand how the camera/sensor will capture the image based on a given meter reading on a given subject based on a precalculated algorithm.

 

[table1349]

The control manual gives you is the ability to think past what the camera interprets as proper and allows the photographer to get the shot they want, not what the camera thinks they want. YOU the photographer have to be in control, and to do that you have to have the knowledge base of concerning Aperture, ISO and f stop to understand and be able to visualize what modifying the settings means.

Yes, it requires that the photographer understand how the camera/sensor will capture the image based on a given meter reading on a given subject based on a precalculated algorithm.

No it means not just understanding that precalculated algorithm, buy understanding what changing any one portion of that algorithm means and understanding which portion of that algorithm has to be changed to get the shot that the photographer wants, not what the camera wants to take. To do that you need 1. knowledge and 2 the platform to use that knowledge, ie. Manual mode.

 

[Dominantly]

Rocket science it is not.

Middle gray, 18% reflectance, nanoo nanoo

 

[kundalini]

I learned how to use a camera shooting Manual. I'm happy with it. My Nikons allow me to quickly change aperture or shutter speed with my forefinger or thumb in 1/3 stops on the fly.

 

[Dominantly]

^ Exactly.

 

[TGood]

Using an old manual focus camera made me learn the basics of shutter speed, aperture, etc. I think it's a must for anyone to truly understand how the camera's setting affect the overall shot.

 

[table1349]

Rocket science it is not.

Middle gray, 18% reflectance, nanoo nanoo

Houston, whe have a problem.

Meters Don't See 18% Gray by Thom Hogan

 

[altitude604]

I find it more difficult to use the automatic modes, manual seems to be the easiest of the bunch.
Now this may differ depending on the body you are using, and the ease in which you can manipulate your settings (IE D90 with two command dials).

I mainly stick to Av mode... occasionally Tv. Probably would use M a little more often if I wasn't on an XSi body however.

 

[manaheim]

Artisan, you should do some digging. You seem to be dragging up a lot of these old and massively-hashed-out topics.

BTW, you won't get reasonable answers from 99% of the people on internet forums to these kinds of questions because, like many things, most people advocate only what they are most comfortable with.

The real answer to all such questions is to use the tool that is most appropriate for the job, and to use every tool available to you if it makes sense to do so.

 

[Light Artisan]

manaheim, do you think I really care what the outcome is? I just want people to think about a given topic and post their thoughts. Maybe someone is shooting manual all the time and doesn't even know why, or on the flip side, maybe someone should be shooting manual and isn't... topics like this are good for discussion.

I figure this is a better discussion than half the threads started lately, at least this one deals with photography and has (until now) stayed on topic quite well.

Do a search!

You know what, had I done that I'd getted ragged on for digging up old threads. 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

 

[Village Idiot]

What's the point of shooting manual? I understand lighting is one key element, but other than a couple other fine circumstances I don't see the need personally.

It's how you learned so it's what you're used to?
Control freak?
Just to say you shoot in manual?

Discuss.

I use lighting equipment for 90% of photography, so most of the time I have to have a certain shutter speed and I want my aperture to remain constant. I'm also starting to get more into composite shots that require mostly constant settings or a constant aperture with a changing shutter speed to expose other parts of the scene properly.

 

[manaheim]

Well, you'd get ragged on because I can statistically guarantee you that you responding to any given thread on any one of these kinds of topics would not only revitalize a long-dead thread, but would also add absolutely nothing to the overall conversation on said topic... because it's all been said... thousands of times.