Manual mode vs automatic mode

[Dacaur]

I agree, "manual mode" is pushed way too heavily as something you have to use to be a"real" photographer.... Simply not the case. I also spend most of my time in aperature priority with iso set to 100 or 200, going auto iso when necessary to get the shot.

 

[Byrnew]

Thanks again all very helpful as always.

Much appreciated;-)

 

[Original katomi]

I adapt what I do to what I want to achieve. Last night was fox photography in the last of the evening light.
I knew what shutter speed I wanted so I used shutter priority adjusted the iso as and when I needed to and let the camera sort out the f stop

 

[Grandpa Ron]

The numerous camera picture mode algorithms are quite good, they allow you to concentrate on composition without having to mess with exposure variables. But...the more challenging your photographic endeavors become the more you begin to exceeds the camera's "automatic" limits.

Two things come to mind, the long exposures that I needed for the Northern Lights, star patterns, and other dark scenes and the times I mounted my film camera lenses.

From the previous posts, you can tell that it is important to have a good working knowledge of all your cameras functions. (though some you may never use). That is the biggest asset of digital, you can experiment to your hearts content and errors are only a push of the delete button away.

Always using automatic mode reminds me of owning a convertible and never putting the top down. Some things you do just for fun.

Good luck

 

[AlanKlein]

When I'm walking around on vacation 95% of my shots are taken in P mode. 1 inch camera.

When I'm contemplating my navel and shooting with my medium format film camera, then 100% of the shots are manual control cuz it's the only way to use it. Along with a handheld light meter.

It depends what you need to do.

 

[Solarflare]

I bought my first camera a nikon d3500 and I am realy impressed with it and enjoying snapping away. Before I got it I was researching a bit to much into it to try and learn about it to shoot in manual mode. As pointed out on this enjoy it and use the automatic mode which I am and I am realy happy with the quality and results that I am getting .

So just one question when I feel I am ready to move into the manual mode is there going to be much of a quality / sharpness diference between using manual bs automatic mode in the photos that I take ??

No.

Using manual mode doesnt raise your image quality at all.

It gives you more control, but also requires you know what to do.

So you need a light meter. But wait a moment, there already is one ! Its in your camera, connected to your exposure automatics.

So the only times I use manual exposure mode is when I have full control over the light, i.e. when I'm using flash and not just using it for fill, or the situation is so extreme that automatics no longer work, though I dont remember that ever happening on my DSLR; it has happened with my Ricoh GR though.

Otherwise I am at all times in aperture priority, so I can shoot spontaneous images with changing lighting conditions. I typically will use spot metering because the subject thats in focus should also be properly exposed.

In the rare occasions I need to set a specific shutter speed I switch to shutter [speed] priority instead. I never use any other mode.

There are some strange people on the web that either insist you have to use manual exposure mode all the time or you're not a real photographer, or newbies that believe those people and then reliably complain they of course have no clue what values to set. Yeah well, nobody does. You need to have an idea what the lighting conditions are or you dont know what values you have to set on the camera. Thats why I use aperture priority - the camera meters for me and thus allows spontaneous, candid photos.

I see no reason not to use autofocus and automatic exposure if they are available. Sure, they are not 100% reliable, and sometimes you want to disable them. Or, in case of my lenses, some of my lenses simply dont offer autofocus.

 

[SquarePeg]

Hi. Getting out of Auto and in control of your camera will take a while to master but it’s worth it. There’s nothing wrong with Auto mode and it definitely has its uses but when you’re ready to step it up I highly recommend the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It’s a great first explanation of what your camera can do away from Auto mode.

 

[ac12]

As was mentioned, the silly stuff on the web about going "manual" to be the goal of a GOOD photographer, is silly and shows lack of knowledge.

The various modes all have different purposes.
Think of them like tools in a tool box. You then select the best tool for the job.

You don't use a hammer, to pound in a screw. You use a screwdriver, to screw the screw in.​

Same with modes. Most of the time I use P, but I will freely use S, A and M, as the situation calls for it.
What you have to learn is when to use which modes, and why.

Back to your question.
Basically you will NOT loose any image quality going to M.
BUT, that presumes you know about exposure and how to use M mode.

Example, if you shoot a pic of your 4 year old child running in the house. If you shot it a 1/15 sec, your child will be a blur. This is because you did not use the M mode properly, you set the shutter speed too low.
Example2, but you can also do that same mistake in S mode, by setting the shutter speed too low.​

Anything other than Auto or P requires more thought on the part of the photographer.

Gud Luk

 

[AlanKlein]

No one looks at a photo and stays, "Wow, what a great shot. He got the exposure right."

 

[Derrel]

in the article that was linked to,I actually think that the automatic exposure settings that the camera determined, the shot made at F/1.8,looked better than the manually decided upon exposure...

 

[ac12]

No one looks at a photo and stays, "Wow, what a great shot. He got the exposure right."

Actually I do, sometimes.
Because when I am trying to study and learn the shot, the exposure is part of that study.

But I also appreciate the shots where the exposure is totally up to the photographer, like deliberately underexposing by 4+ stops, to get a darker scene. In that case the "right" exposure is the one the photographer took, regardless of what the meter reading was.

Then the flip side, when the students underexpose the image.
Though this is because the kids are using an old camera with a low max ISO, a slow lens, and shooting a night game (low light). Then even if the camera indicates underexposure, they shoot anyway

 

[SquarePeg]

No one looks at a photo and stays, "Wow, what a great shot. He got the exposure right."

I think it comes down more to someone (a non photography person) liking a photo but not quite knowing why. It's usually the light or the dof or the composition - they just don't know enough to know it.

 

[AlanKlein]

Getting the exposure right is a given. It's part of technique like getting it in focus or shooting at a higher enough shutter speed so it's not blurry.
Who says? "Wow what a great shot. Not only is it exposed right, but it's not blurry. It's in focus. What an eye."

If the picture doesn;t say anything, those other things aren't important. It's got to have a subject that speaks to you, composed in a way that amplifies that.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

While I rarely argue with the auto settings because I would rather worry about composing the shot. However, a lot of my shots require manual input.

I spent the earlier part of the week chasing moon behind the clouds and trees, night photos of moon lit landscapes, I even tried some star constellation shots. I also prefer my old film camera zoom over the telephoto screw on lens.

There is nothing mystical about manual or auto. As has already been pointed out, you use what you need to get the picture you want.

 

[petrochemist]

No one looks at a photo and stays, "Wow, what a great shot. He got the exposure right."

Very rarely, but it's all too common to look at a photo & think ' They (or I) screwed the exposure on that one!' sometimes followed by what a shame it would have been a perfect shot otherwise.