gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

In fact, there are some clear benefits to using Auto. So, I’d like to explore some of its advantages and offer a few reasons why you shouldn’t feel so bad if you set your expensive DSLR camera on that familiar green Auto setting. Follow the link below for the entire post.

https://digital-photography-school.com/benefits-shooting-auto-mode/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feb-1617

CO

I read the article. They have some good points about auto mode. One is that you can concentrate more on the subject in front of the camera. I almost always use aperture priority because I like to use the aperture settings where the lens is its sharpest and to control the depth of field. When using studio strobes manual mode is a must.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

Good article. Similar points could also be made about other famous ideas, such as shooting everything in backlight--I like postcard lighting in the sun at 10 o'clock behind me, but not for everything. I also do not require out of focus backgrounds for everything--there is a lot to be said for the old f64 idea (but not for everything). Creativity is a wonderful thing until it is no longer creative and becomes a cliche. Bach, Beethoven and Brahms were creative within the general rules, and that is why the times they deviated were so effective. Creativity is not q

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

continued
Creativity is not quite the same as "being different."

jim quist Loc: Missouri

The setting I would like to see on a camera is "Balanced Lighting." Where it will balance the light from the sky and ground and give a good exposure.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

It seems like all he is considering is either full Auto or full Manual. When I am not using manual because the lighting or action is ongoing and settings are going to need to change rapidly, I still almost always want to control either the aperture or the shutter speed. I certainly wouldn't advise a novice photographer to keep using Auto rather than striving to learn the advantages of at least aperture and shutter priority.

gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

What I liked most of this article is that you can teach yourself of what the camera did in auto mode when you read the EXIF data. Then you can use the same setting in manual mode and modify one at the time to see the differences.

mackphotos Loc: Washington, DC

It's a good way to learn.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

There are many reasons not to shoot full auto, but one of the main ones, which is not really covered properly in this article, is that full auto will decide what to focus on. This is usually the closest object. That means, for instance, in a photo of someone standing next to an object considerably closer to the camera, that object, rather than the person would be in focus.

For those of us, who for whatever reason don't have the time to fiddle with settings, P mode is a much better option than full auto. In P mode, at least on Canon cameras, the camera will select the "best" combination of shutter speed, aperture and ISO like full auto but still allows you some leeway to modify the general realtionship of a higher or lower shutter speed and aperture. It also does not pop up the flash on its own. Finally, unlike full auto, P mode allows the shooter to determine the active focus points so the camera actually focuses on your subject rather than some random object which may be closer.

Full auto is great for newbies to help them while they're becoming comfortable with their new camera and allows them to get usable photos. It gives them time to learn to get the best at their own speed. Once they become familiar with the operation of their camera full auto will rarely or never be needed again. Any one staying on Full Auto permanenty, like a point and shoot, wasted their money.

Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

I agree that manual is good where you want a particular combination of speed and aperture and there are distractions like fast movement or moving light sources. Sports action comes to mind (or other moving about)--you can meter your hand or a card and set it without any auto trying to outsmart you.

The last word is always to look at the settings and see if one of them is a problem--regardless of the setting mode. In P mode on my Canon, I see shutter speed and aperture in the viewfinder, and the wheel next to the shutter trigger will move aperture up or down while keeping correct exposure overall. So I can still regard it as aperture preferred auto, yes?

What comes first depends. Given a choice, I usually want the sharpness of fast shutter, the depth of small aperture, and the quality of ISO 100. I will give up one or the other (to the degree necessary) if there is no choice, but for some pictures I just wait for better light. Sometimes I wait, and sometimes I add light in order to keep fast speeds and small apertures. The photojournalist style does not require studio lighting (it can't) and I do have a few cases of flashbulbs for a Speed Graphic with Graflite. And I don't mind the flash on camera for some things such as items for sale on eBay (sometimes) or fill outside. I do wish the flash on cameras could tilt up for bounce (without homemade stuff).

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

A well thought out argument, especially for those starting out with photography. Too often people use a particular setting 'because they were told to' by some experienced camera owner, without actually knowing 'why'.

Most of the tutorials ignore full auto in there writing for no other reason than their tutorial is aimed at getting a particular kind of shot. You are not told to compare that shot with any other setting - an opportunity lost! All they are doing is teaching 'tricks'.

Everyone likes to come home with an acceptable shot. We also like to experiment. The two should go together quite happily as we learn how the camera works rather than 'why I screwed up'.

Thanks for posting it.

Have fun