Photographers and Auto Modes

[gsgary]

Anyone who says to use only Manual settings for everything has no idea what they're talking about. There's a reason my tool box has more than one drawer.

what about using Leica M4's i dont have auto

 

[CCericola]

Auto modes were added to cameras at the request of working professional photographers. In my opinion though, one needs to master manual to understand how the auto modes work.

 

[Dao]

A lot of us here remember the old days before automatic modes. We were brought up on cameras with absolutely no metering whatsoever so it was either learn how to use manual or find something else to do because that was all we had. These days I'm perfectly happy to let my camera make some of the decisions for me, and I let the situation dictate which camera mode I need to use. Manual mode is just one of them, as are aperture priority and shutter priority.

It seems to me that being able to say that one "Shoots In MANUAL!" has become a badge of honor, especially among newer photographers. I see numerous posts here from people who recently got a camera and are already trying to make manual mode work for them and can't. They are disappointed and annoyed and wondering WHY they can't get decent photographs when the answer is simply that they are trying to do something that they don't know how to do.

More interesting is, some people think they are king if they shoot in manual. But what they do is shoot in manual mode, set the aperture, and then dial the shutter speed until the camera light meter said it is at "0". And in the next scene, they point the camera to the subject and then dial the shutter speed again so that the light meter is back to "0".

 

[imagemaker46]

A lot of us here remember the old days before automatic modes. We were brought up on cameras with absolutely no metering whatsoever so it was either learn how to use manual or find something else to do because that was all we had. These days I'm perfectly happy to let my camera make some of the decisions for me, and I let the situation dictate which camera mode I need to use. Manual mode is just one of them, as are aperture priority and shutter priority.

It seems to me that being able to say that one "Shoots In MANUAL!" has become a badge of honor, especially among newer photographers. I see numerous posts here from people who recently got a camera and are already trying to make manual mode work for them and can't. They are disappointed and annoyed and wondering WHY they can't get decent photographs when the answer is simply that they are trying to do something that they don't know how to do.

More interesting is, some people think they are king if they shoot in manual. But what they do is shoot in manual mode, set the aperture, and then dial the shutter speed until the camera light meter said it is at "0". And in the next scene, they point the camera to the subject and then dial the shutter speed again so that the light meter is back to "0".

Maybe it's just me but I don't understand what you are trying to say here.

 

[imagemaker46]

Auto modes were added to cameras at the request of working professional photographers. In my opinion though, one needs to master manual to understand how the auto modes work.

While having auto modes does help a lot of people, and I agree that one should try and master the manual side of photography, I have always managed to do ok without needing all the crap that has been added to the digital cameras. I find what has happened is that it is getting more difficult to learn and understand all the functions that are being added. I would end up wasting more time sorting things out than I would shooting, for me personally I'm quite happy with my understanding of manual. Honestly I have been frustrated at times just trying to find things on any new cameras I buy. It really used to be so easy.

 

[Trever1t]

My comment about those who say that to use anything other than manual is less than "manly" stands.

I have worked with TWO photographers in recent months who thought that they have to consistently use manual to get the shot and in both circumstances their keeper rate was less than 10% during event coverage. I never implied that those who use manual are doing it wrong, I did imply that those who think MANUAL is the ONLY way are! Seems to be a trend, as the OP has stated that only true photographers use M mode, and that is objectionable and misleading.


Knowing every tool in your toolbox and when to use what tool is necessary.

 

[Dao]

A lot of us here remember the old days before automatic modes. We were brought up on cameras with absolutely no metering whatsoever so it was either learn how to use manual or find something else to do because that was all we had. These days I'm perfectly happy to let my camera make some of the decisions for me, and I let the situation dictate which camera mode I need to use. Manual mode is just one of them, as are aperture priority and shutter priority.

It seems to me that being able to say that one "Shoots In MANUAL!" has become a badge of honor, especially among newer photographers. I see numerous posts here from people who recently got a camera and are already trying to make manual mode work for them and can't. They are disappointed and annoyed and wondering WHY they can't get decent photographs when the answer is simply that they are trying to do something that they don't know how to do.

More interesting is, some people think they are king if they shoot in manual. But what they do is shoot in manual mode, set the aperture, and then dial the shutter speed until the camera light meter said it is at "0". And in the next scene, they point the camera to the subject and then dial the shutter speed again so that the light meter is back to "0".

Maybe it's just me but I don't understand what you are trying to say here.

Sorry, it must be my English. I was kind of echo what SCraig said. Some people has a impression that shooting with manual is the king without knowing how and why. All they do was just do what the camera suggest. And that is no difference from using semi-auto mode or even auto mode. But I am sure you are not based on what you said in your sports shooting case.

 

[table1349]

I think I misread the statement. I thought it referred to professional photographers. I didn't believe it. LOL!!

It well could. Professional means to make your living from photography, not that they necessarily have a large skill set.

Accomplished photographers go out and get the job done with the best tools available for the job.

 

[Dao]

My comment about those who say that to use anything other than manual is less than "manly" stands.

I have worked with TWO photographers in recent months who thought that they have to consistently use manual to get the shot and in both circumstances their keeper rate was less than 10% during event coverage. I never implied that those who use manual are doing it wrong, I did imply that those who think MANUAL is the ONLY way are! Seems to be a trend, as the OP has stated that only true photographers use M mode, and that is objectionable and misleading.


Knowing every tool in your toolbox and when to use what tool is necessary.

That is truth. The key is understand why you shoot manual mode not because the pro shoot manual mode.

 

[IByte]

The modes are just stepping stones for those of us who don't have the luxury of formal training, or growing up in the photography world.

To me telling someone to go manual off the back is like giving a Marine recruit a loaded M16, and expect them to get a tight group.

I got to low crawl before I walk.

 

[TCampbell]

I use _every_ mode of my camera. Most of the time I find my cycling through Av, Tv, or M -- probably with nearly equal measure in each mode. I will _occasionally_ use Program, but that's rare (and upon reflection I realize I never actually use "A" but "P" is basically "A" with the ability to override settings and shift to equivalent exposures whereas "A" locks out any changes in attempt to be "foolproof".)

I'm a heavy user of exposure compensation and/or don't center the digital "needle" on my light meter when shooting in M. Basically I'm always thinking about whether the subject I'm metering is likely to yield a middle-gray.

As Dao points out... if you're taking the meters advice on every shot, then you may as well be shooting in an automatic or semi-automatic mode because you were going to set the exact same exposure that the camera was going to set anyway... you're just taking longer to dial it in because you used manual.

 

[SCraig]

While having auto modes does help a lot of people, and I agree that one should try and master the manual side of photography, I have always managed to do ok without needing all the crap that has been added to the digital cameras. I find what has happened is that it is getting more difficult to learn and understand all the functions that are being added. I would end up wasting more time sorting things out than I would shooting, for me personally I'm quite happy with my understanding of manual. Honestly I have been frustrated at times just trying to find things on any new cameras I buy. It really used to be so easy.

And there is nothing whatsoever wrong with that. People should use what they are most comfortable and capable with, and in your case it happens to be manual. If it came out that I was pointing a finger at experienced photographers who know how to use manual then I apologize since that was not my intent.

My point was simply that some people think there is something about shooting in manual mode that sets them apart from the lowly ones shooting in auto or semi-auto modes even though, as Dao mentioned, all they do is line up the meter when using manual. They tend to proudly exclaim in posts that they ONLY shoot in MANUAL mode, and that fact is usually patently obvious in their photographs. In many cases they would be a LOT better off by allowing the camera to make some of the decisions for them.

 

[imagemaker46]

Anyone that believes that they are well above other photographers because they shoot in manual are mistaken. What sets photographers apart from others is the ability to always produce good images consistently.

 

[imagemaker46]

My comment about those who say that to use anything other than manual is less than "manly" stands.

I have worked with TWO photographers in recent months who thought that they have to consistently use manual to get the shot and in both circumstances their keeper rate was less than 10% during event coverage. I never implied that those who use manual are doing it wrong, I did imply that those who think MANUAL is the ONLY way are! Seems to be a trend, as the OP has stated that only true photographers use M mode, and that is objectionable and misleading.


Knowing every tool in your toolbox and when to use what tool is necessary.

I would say that if the two photographers have a keep rate of less than 10% they should probably look into a different line of work. I have a bike wrench that does a lot, I have a hammer that fixes almost everything, my tool box is basic, I have the skills and experience to use the tools I need. For many camera owners, they really need to try and understand everything about the technical side of their gear, if it works for them, great, that's all that matters.

I use what works for me.

 

[Trever1t]

Yes, exactly but there seems to be a trend of newer photographers who are being informed that to be a 'real' photographer they have to shoot in Manual mode exclusively...as my 2 examples. I use whatever mode works best, as I see it, for any given scene.

Going back the the OP, who asked if he needed to shoot M or what our thoughts on the subject are, it seems we BOTH AGREE to know your tools and use the best one for the job, yes?