Something daunting about "Manual" mode for beginners (Page 2): The Manual Mode offers so much potential fun in learning!! And unlike learning with our old SLR's, learning on a DSLR is...

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

The Manual Mode offers so much potential fun in learning!! And unlike learning with our old SLR's, learning on a DSLR is cheap! Take! Look! Learn! Delete! Make some changes! Take again! What a GREAT way to spend an afternoon! And go out in nature to do it?? Even better!!

But you are right, gvarner. Getting started doing it is daunting!! (but worth it!!)

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

gvarner wrote:

There seems to be something daunting, too challenging, about Manual mode. I'm not a novice but I still don't use it. However, besides allowing complete control over your camera, I think that it is the best training tool for beginners who want to learn the technical side of photography - how things work. Become familiar with capturing your artistic vision using manual controls and all the other options in modern DSLR's will make much more sense.

Take a class at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, they taught me for a whole week in manual mode only. It's actually quite easy to do, the hardest part if remembering that YOU have to reset everything and move the levers or buttons on your own.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I wonder how many people with very expensive cameras never take the thing off auto. They do, in fact, have very expnsive point and shooters

Bill_de Loc: US

boberic wrote:

I wonder how many people with very expensive cameras never take the thing off auto. They do, in fact, have very expnsive point and shooters

What decisions can you make in manual that you can't make shooting shutter or aperture priority?

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LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

gvarner wrote:

There seems to be something daunting, too challenging, about Manual mode. I'm not a novice but I still don't use it. However, besides allowing complete control over your camera, I think that it is the best training tool for beginners who want to learn the technical side of photography - how things work. Become familiar with capturing your artistic vision using manual controls and all the other options in modern DSLR's will make much more sense.

Absolutely agree—and said so in an earlier thread on this. It makes sense to learn the fundamentals before branching out to the other modes. I’m lucky. When I started out it was the only option available. With digital, one also gets immediate feedback. I had my notebook.....

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Yankeepapa6 wrote:

My daughter was married two months ago. The photographer we hired had two assistants. Halfway through he wanted to get some more group poses. He had a Cannon. I asked if I could look at it. It was set to Automatic.

Was it full auto or program auto? I know a lot use full auto depending on lighting but program auto is usually more popular. I have been second shooter at several wedding events and I know folks that do many events per year and when one is on a quest for good candid shots, one of the auto modes can definitely be their friend.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

willmscr wrote:

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I don't go back... (show quote)

I used to be able to take photos with no meter, out doors at least.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

boberic wrote:

I wonder how many people with very expensive cameras never take the thing off auto. They do, in fact, have very expnsive point and shooters

Yes but the technology and programming that went into that very expensive camera makes using the auto modes a logical choice in many situations. On the other hand, why would someone pay thousands of dollars for high end technology and never use it.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

It really isn't rocket science to learn how to line up the little needle in the middle of the + and - slashes.
What's Rocket science is EVERYTHING you do beyond Manual, because the cameras ARE very complex. Just learning a complex focus system well, is rocket science.
HOW many are using manual as a CHRUTCH to avoid learning to use all the complex functions and modes in a modern expensive camera thoroughly!!!
For some, best to stick to Manual!!! LoL
SS

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

gvarner wrote:

There seems to be something daunting, too challenging, about Manual mode. I'm not a novice but I still don't use it. However, besides allowing complete control over your camera, I think that it is the best training tool for beginners who want to learn the technical side of photography - how things work. Become familiar with capturing your artistic vision using manual controls and all the other options in modern DSLR's will make much more sense.

I completely disagree.

To help justify the investment you've made in a modern digital camera you have to produce pleasing images. Subjects and compositions that will get you comfortable with your device and stimulate your creative juices. This, for most is shooting JPEGs in Program or Automatic mode. Manual is just too hard for beginners. Eventually, you'll read about the benefits of RAW images, then begin to discover and understand the Sunny 16 Rule. Then it is time to transition into Manual mode shooting and get comfortable with full manual control.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Just Fred wrote:

You don't even have to get a physical light meter. There are several high-quality smartphone apps that provide light metering. I use Pocket Light Meter (Nuwaste Studios) on my iPhone, and I'm looking at replacing it with myLightMeter, which gets 4.7 out of 5 stars on the App Store. There are both free and paid (~$4) versions. Certainly cheaper than a(nother) device you're going to trundle around with you.

The light meters in any DSLR are very accurate, I can't see any need to get a separate light meter at all, unless you need to meter flash.

BebuLamar

Yankeepapa6 wrote:

My daughter was married two months ago. The photographer we hired had two assistants. Halfway through he wanted to get some more group poses. He had a Cannon. I asked if I could look at it. It was set to Automatic.

We're talking about beginners. For pro it doesn't matter which modes they use. The full green A automatic mode is the most difficult mode to comprehend and I must admit I don't know how it works. I know well P, S and A and of course M is simple.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

SharpShooter wrote:

It really isn't rocket science to learn how to line up the little needle in the middle of the + and - slashes.
What's Rocket science is EVERYTHING you do beyond Manual, because the cameras ARE very complex. Just learning a complex focus system well, is rocket science.
HOW many are using manual as a CHRUTCH to avoid learning to use all the complex functions and modes in a modern expensive camera thoroughly!!!
For some, best to stick to Manual!!! LoL
SS

Well stated, SharpShooter.

jcboy3

Then perhaps you are still a novice?

whwiden

Just Fred wrote:

You don't even have to get a physical light meter. There are several high-quality smartphone apps that provide light metering. I use Pocket Light Meter (Nuwaste Studios) on my iPhone, and I'm looking at replacing it with myLightMeter, which gets 4.7 out of 5 stars on the App Store. There are both free and paid (~$4) versions. Certainly cheaper than a(nother) device you're going to trundle around with you.

Here is a link to an exposure chart that I made for shooting film, but it would work fine for digital in manual mode. It is a modification of some info on the side of old film boxes.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-424663-1.html

I then attach a few other charts I made for when I am shooting manual, generally best for film, but handy for digital if you want to get the first shoot close to right in full manual mode.

When I am shooting film a lot, I really do not need to look at them, other than for a refresher. A light meter can be good to test your sense, particularly if you are in a new altitude or latitude. If you develop your own film, so you can assure consistency, one can get very accurate.

If film were not such a pain to travel with, I would use it even more.

I hope somebody finds these little charts useful or fun.

(Download)