Using AUTO vs MANUAL modes

[throughherdrama]

I'm not exactly a 'photographer' I don't think; I just use a Cannon Powershot and enjoy taking (a lot of) pictures of things I think are meaningful or interesting. It took me a while to figure out how to use the manual setting, and now it's all I use (mostly).

So on Flickr, I like to look at the EXIF data so I can learn how others shoot pictures I like or what to mimic. I see a lot of people who take great photos with expensive cameras, but all their pictures are taken in 'auto' mode.

Does this irk anyone else? Why do people spend money on these great cameras, and then just leave them in 'auto' mode?
Or am I being silly, and this is a normal thing?

 

[480sparky]

"Auto" mode is just a tool. Given my druthers, I'd shoot manual. But sometimes, things happen too fast, so I use Auto modes.

 

[Designer]

Does this irk anyone else?

I know this irks many of the posters here, although I don't understand why. Perhaps it is because since they have learned their craft, they think everyone else should too.

Personally, I think I should use whatever mode fits my "style", serves the purpose, and gives the results I want.

 

[12sndsgood]

If they are taking great photos should it matter what setting they were using?

 

[SCraig]

I shoot manual when I need to, I shoot aperture priority when I need to, I shoot shutter priority when I need to. What everyone else does is their business. 'Nuf said.

 

[jake337]

There is a right and wrong way to use auto as well, I believe.

Like the argument about using some sort of TTL flash versus full manual flash.


They're all tools to use at your own discretion...

 

[Infidel]

Flower mode.

 

[rexbobcat]

I mostly stick to Aperture Priority if the lighting isn't constant. The camera does pretty well at approximating the proper exposure quickly during those conditions. It's not perfect, but it's MUCH easier to pay attention to composition and whatnot when I don't have to look at the exposure thingy all the time.

I never really use shutter priority though.

I use Manual when the lighting is constant. It's much more accurate than any other mode then.

 

[Patrice]

The forum goes down this road a lot, the end is always the same. Use whatever mode works for you, others will do the same. Fretting over other people using 'auto', or 'program', or 'flower' modes, with whatever camera they own is simply pointless and a waste of energy. If that sort of thing bothers you, you need to go see a medic for blood pressure meds, you'll need them sooner than later.

I tell my daughter to worry about stuff she can control, the rest, well just deal with it and move on.

 

[pixmedic]

The forum goes down this road a lot, the end is always the same. Use whatever mode works for you, others will do the same. Fretting over other people using 'auto', or 'program', or 'flower' modes, with whatever camera they own is simply pointless and a waste of energy. If that sort of thing bothers you, you need to go see a medic for blood pressure meds, you'll need them sooner than later.

I tell my daughter to worry about stuff she can control, the rest, well just deal with it and move on.

Someone call for a medic??

 

[Garbz]

My personal view is to use what you have available to you. Some people here will swear by full manual mode and manual focus. This irks me. I just spent thousands of dollars on a camera body with a state of the art autofocus system and an even better metering system.

I trust the camera to get the exposure right and it does so 99% of the time. I choose the creative settings needed to get the picture I want though. Sometimes this means aperture priority, sometimes shutter priority, but the only time I go to manual is when the camera is in a situation where it gets confused (late night photos, ultra long exposures etc).

Mind you I also don't use a lenscap or turn my camera off during the day. I want to be able to pick it up and push the button before whatever fleeting moment I am witnessing escapes.

This is my shooting style.

My girlfriend is the opposite. She spends a lot of time in full manual, but she also takes a lot of time to get a perfect photo of a moment, rather than get a photo of a perfect moment.

 

[Xanimal13]

I almost always use Aperture Value, or Pro-Mode, unless I have something tricky I'm shooting for. I forced myself to learn to use only manual mode first just to figure out what I needed to know then use the easy button with minor compensation to make my shots.

 

[tangerine]

Getting the shot is more important to me than how I got the shot. If Auto or P mode gets me the clear shot, I'd rather not try and manually adjust and tell people "I almost got the shot".

 

[Solarflare]

As my prefered subject are people, my prefered mode is A(perture priority), where I set my aperture to f/2.8, because thats where my 35mm f/1.8 DX prime lens is the sharpest and I think the depth of field is more than enough.

I have forced me to set my camera to AUTO though after I missed a group shot because I had to get my camera out very quickly and forgot to set the correct aperture and thus only one guy was in focus.

 

[john5189]

Just because someone has £5000 kit hanging round their neck does not mean they are a pro or good.

With an expensive camera you are ;these days, really buying it for the high ISO and auto focus ability, and sportogs want FPS and burst processing and MPix concerns many people too.

To use manual you have to be fully aware of what is happening to the light infront of the camera and recognise when things change. This means you are very experienced

Manual allows you to contol exactly how the final image should look
But so can Av and Tv; depth of field for impact portraits and freeze frame or blur in sporting photos

The full program modes that even the most expensive camera have, just ensure there is no camera shake and then try to keep the ISO as low as possible. If the image infront of you is good and that is what you want to grab then as long as the exposure is near-you have a good photo

I dont know if high end pro machines have programable P, auto ISO is starting to be programmable. But adjustable P would be great:like min aperture and speed.