Rloren

Like I tell my wife, my smart phone is a computer that makes phone calls. My 1st DSLR is a computer that takes pictures.While I realize all these settings and syncing may be advantageous as I learn everything, if I just go manual all the way I bypass all the bells and whistles and can begin shooting. Same with the first flash unit I purchased..settings, settings, sync, buttons, etc. I just put that on manual too and began shooting. I guess if I really learn all this technology I can sync my camera to cook a turkey, start my car in the winter, and order take out.
I am learning, but is there anyone else who thinks this way? You be the computer that runs the show...?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like electronics. Good luck with Manual.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I like being the human that tells the computer what I want.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've been shooting manual for years.
--Bob

Digital1022 Loc: Holland, PA

RLoren
Look at the bells and whistles as tools. Different situations require different tools. If you are shooting images where you have time to setup manually then go for it. If you shooting the Indy 500, you may not have time to catch the great shot manually. Similarly, if you are shooting flowers on a windy day, you might want to use shutter priority to get the stop action. The camera is just a tool box, so expand your horizon. To quote Forest Gump, "Photography is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get".

John

Jim Bob

Those who claim manual is the only way to extract excellent images should be taken with a grain of salt.

dck22

Manual has its place, but so do all of he other modes. It just depends on the situation, type of shot, and preference of the photographer.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I like manual for controlled lighting situations. I like each auto mode for a different set of changing circumstances.

I usually focus manually for video. I use AF for most stills.

So my answer is, "It depends."

Jim Bob

The only answer that makes sense.

retiredsgt Loc: Red Lion Pa.

I started that way, over 64 years ago. But, today, after using 35mm, Medium and Large Format cameras, digital seems to lend itself easily to electronics, etc. Yeah, a lot of times I will use manual settings, to get the results I am looking for. With most cameras, with the instant results, it is a lot easier to finally end with the shot you want. But, good luck in your endeavors.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I shoot manual. But from time to time, I shoot other subjects to change things up a bit.

leftj Loc: Texas

Funny, I don't remember him saying that.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You must be a joy around the house ... I think full manual is actually pen & paper (or paint), a bicycle for transport, musical instruments and singing for entertainment, wood stove for cooking and heating. Then you'd really learn ...

BebuLamar

I like electronics and electronic doesn't mean automatic. I shoot fully manual including not using AF and the meter with my DSLR and especially with the DSLR because I do use the meter with my film SLR. And no you can't make your camera cooks turkey as I would if I can. I have fun shooting in manual but not having fun cooking turkey so I sure like to have a computer does that for me.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Thanks. Uhh, maybe that's because that's the way they were designed to be used?

On my GH4, I have the following exposure modes:

M (manual)
S (Shutter Priority, for stopping action)
A (Aperture Priority, for controlling depth of field)
P (Program Mode with Program Shift available on the rear thumb wheel)
iA (intelligent Auto, which is amazingly useful for capturing raw)
Art (a lot of canned special effects)
C1, C2, C3 (user-configurable custom settings)
Movie (for video and filmmaking)

The camera also has

MF (Manual Focus mode — most useful for video, filmmaking, macro...)
AFC (Auto Focus Continuous — most useful for tracking action and predictable motion)
AFS (Auto Focus Single — most useful for stationary subjects)
AFF (Auto Focus Flexible — most useful for tracking things moving unpredictably, like kids)

My usual usage:

When I'm controlling the situation for still photography, I use M and AFS.

When I'm controlling the situation for video, I use M or Movie and MF.

When I'm being a casual tourist, I use iA and AFS.

When I'm doing MACRO photography, I use M or A and MF.

When I'm recording action stills, I use S or P or iA and AFC or AFF.

Ever since I Read The Friggin' Manual (RTFM'ed) and understood what all the controls do, I've tended to use them...

I keep the 420 page Owners Manual for Advanced Features on my iPhone, so when I forget something, I can look it up.