illininitt

Is that unheard of on this site? Are there any camera buffs that are are NOT perfection picture takers. I have been taking pictures since the flash cube....but only "set" the camera/use a tripod on some night shots.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I'm in manual mode 90% of the time. Close to 10% of the time in aperture priority mode, and way less than 1% of the time in Program mode. I haven't used full auto since I weaned myself off of it as a DSLR newbie 10 years ago. Full Auto will not allow me to take the pictures I want to take. It makes assumptions about the aperture, the exposure, the shutter speed, ISO, white balance and even what you're focusing on. Great for beginners. For everyone else not so much.

Full Auto is one of the main reasons why newbies have problems taking sports or wildlife images that aren't blurry. If one does not fully understand the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and doesn't set those parameters for each picture taken, then the results will not be the best you can get out of your DSLR. Instead, you're letting the engineers who came up with the generic full auto algorithms, and who don't know your goals, take charge of the final results. You're just pushing a button. That's not a problem if you are just interested in casual weekend snaps and are happy with less than great images. Many of us here care about the end results and strive for more than that. Might as well save money and buy a good point-and-shoot.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

My camera (Nikon Df) doesn't have full Auto and I've never used P.
I too have been taking pictures since the flash cube (Kodak Instamatic).

BebuLamar

My cameras don't have the green Auto. I never use S mode. I used P mode for a short time when I first got the Nikon F5. I never use it again. I use A mode as often as M mode.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Rarely would I make use of auto, preferring to set the camera based on the conditions and image I want to end up with.

I normally shoot in Manual, Aperture priority or shutter priority, sometimes I will set auto ISO for certain conditions with limits on high ISO.

Bill_de Loc: US

Almost always Aperture preferred and manual ISO.

But, as long as you keep your eye on the viewfinder information if your camera has the same as Nikon's 'flexible program' you can use P about the same as you use A or P.

In P mode turn the dial until you get the aperture you want. The camera selects the shutter speed.
In P mode turn the dial until you get the shutter speed you want. The camera selects the aperture.

The only difference is that in P mode neither the shutter speed nor the aperture are locked in. In changing light you will be turning the dial to maintain the constant you want.

Exposure compensation still works.

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repleo Loc: Boston

I'm in Aperture Priority unless I have good reason to use something else. I hold ISO at 100 or 200 unless the shutter speed drops too low, in which case I will raise the ISO to an acceptable setting. Sometimes I will take one in a series in Auto as a base line for comparison purposes. I never use Program - don't really know what it does. I only got off Auto about two years ago - doubt if I'll ever go back.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I never had any of my cameras set to that an any time!

Paulie Loc: NW IL

No AUTO or P for me. S or A a lot.
Still little shy with full "M"
Manual ISO as low as I can, because I don't like the noise my camera produces when ISO goes up.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Neither of my two bodies has ever been in P or Auto.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Does it really matter? If you are happy with your photography, why cares what others do or think.

Bill_de Loc: US

Could help you expand your horizons. Learning how others do things could get someone out of a rut and make them even happier.

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mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

What do you see as the advantages of always leaving your camera in Program/Auto?

Mike

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I use every mode in my camera, depending on what I’m trying to control and how the light is on any given shot/shooting.
SS