Sliding Into Manual Mode: I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an 80D for a few years, mostly in auto mode. I do a ton of low light photography at a local coffee shop open...

robertcbyrd Loc: 28754

I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an 80D for a few years, mostly in auto mode. I do a ton of low light photography at a local coffee shop open mic. This requires me to be quick, unobtrusive and, with twilight changing the lighting, flexible. I use the resulting photos to promote the open mic.

I am trying to ease myself into using Manual Mode and am experimenting with it. However, the transition is painfully slow. Does anyone here have some tips for how to speed up this tedious process? Are there specific steps that I should be taking to get there? Is there a magic Youtube video that I should know about?

If anyone can help me, it has to be my fellow Hoggers.

BebuLamar

If you work at the same location all the time then figure out what kind of setting or settings you need ahead of time. If they don't switch the light during the performance than it's easy. Otherwise figure out the different settings depending on what kind of lights they use at the time.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

robertcbyrd wrote:

I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an ... (show quote)

I have no interest in shooting Manual, but here are some ideas.

http://www.beachcamera.com/blog/photography-101-how-do-i-start-shooting-in-manual-mode/
http://clickitupanotch.com/2010/09/shooting-in-manual-the-basics/
https://digital-photography-school.com/getting-off-auto-manual-aperture-and-shutter-priority-modes-explained/

whwiden

robertcbyrd wrote:

I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an ... (show quote)

I do not know Canon. On my Nikon's I can set the camera to auto ISO, and then manually set the shutter speed and the f-stop. That method blends some important manual choices for depth of field and stopping action--but gets the exposure right. So long as it does not place you in too high an ISO for your tolerance of noise, it is very much like shooting in auto.

d3200prime

robertcbyrd wrote:

I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an ... (show quote)

Go to www.udemy.com and look for the video "Ditch Auto" it's free and you will never use Auto again. There are other videos that you will find very helpful in advancing your photography. Many are FREE. Best web site I have found for learning photography. Good shooting to you!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Doesn't matter which tutorial you use. There are 3 words, and only 3 words that will get you comfortable with manual.. Practice, practice and practice.

mrpentaxk5ii

robertcbyrd wrote:

I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an ... (show quote)

What do you consider Auto Mode, is it full auto as the mode dial on the big A, and have you used Av-aperture priority or Tv-shutter priority, if not and you are going from full auto to full manual mode you will never learn how to use your camera. Do you know how to change your white balance or the diffrent metering and how EV, exposure compensation works, if you don't know how this works or have not used them and understand how they will help you change the way your camera works, stay away from Manual mode for now.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

mrpentaxk5ii wrote:

What do you consider Auto Mode, is it full auto as... (show quote)

I agree. I would advise learning aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes before trying fully manual mode.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

rehess wrote:

I agree. I would advise learning aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes before trying fully manual mode.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

robertcbyrd wrote:

I've been using a Canon EOS 60D, 70D and, now, an ... (show quote)

Be a bit more specific, I don't know what you mean by the transition is painfully slow? What is slow? What is tedious?

BebuLamar

rwilson1942 wrote:

I disagree if you think you would ever want to use manual mode then learn it first before any other modes. If you don't think you will ever want to use it then skip.
The OP said it's painfully and slow because he learned it backward.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

BebuLamar wrote:

I disagree if you think you would ever want to use manual mode then learn it first before any other modes. If you don't think you will ever want to use it then skip.
The OP said it's painfully and slow because he learned it backward.

I learned manual mode as my doing what I had depended on automation's doing in aperture priority and shutter priority modes; once I understood what they were doing, I figured out how to do it myself. Apparently your experience was different.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

BebuLamar wrote:

I disagree if you think you would ever want to use manual mode then learn it first before any other modes. If you don't think you will ever want to use it then skip.
The OP said it's painfully and slow because he learned it backward.

If you learn manual mode you will understand how all modes work.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

whwiden wrote:

.....On my Nikon's I can set the camera to auto ISO, and then manually set the shutter speed and the f-stop......

Once you've decided on an appropriate aperture it's simply a case of playing off shutter speed against ISO. That's about as simple a manual mode as you can get.

And if you're lucky your camera will also give you exposure compensation control while using manual + auto ISO. That gives you the option of overriding the camera's choice of exposure settings.

CO

Manual mode may be too slow to implement because the lighting in the coffee shop will be different as you take different shots. Have you tried the Av and Tv priority modes with your camera? The camera can figure out the new exposure times and speeds much faster than a photographer is able to. The only time I use manual mode with my camera is when doing studio photography with a strobe.