Question to those who've done this for years (Page 8): Good idea set auto then adjust-I used to do that-need to go back to that now and then-It is quicker at times!

Oly Guy

Good idea set auto then adjust-I used to do that-need to go back to that now and then-It is quicker at times!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Kuzano wrote:

For very many shooting manual is just an ego trip.... (show quote)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

hassighedgehog wrote:

I use whatever mode will get the shot. Most of the time on AV. Only those who only shoot landscapes, buildings or portraits will use manual all the time. A static subject allows time to change settings for manual. ANY action, especially an animal or bird, people in motion, etc. needs something that will be faster to set up.

You certainly can shoot sports and any kind of action shots, while shooting manual, you're absolutely not limited to landscape, buildings, or portrait shooting!!

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Like most issues in photography--it depends. What are you shooting and how do you shoot? What do you want your pictures to look like?

I like to shoot in manual mode when I can because I like to choose depth of field and/or how to handle motion as well as exposure. However, much of my shooting is done in crowds where I'm moving all the time or from vehicles or from the back of my motorcycle beside the road. Also, many of my subjects are fortuitous and may be moving or just appear suddenly and for a limited time. In those cases I tend to blow more shots shooting in manual and I've been working more with auto ISO and one of the automatic modes.

So, consider what advantage you may have with ab auto mode vs a more manual mode and then decide how you want to shoot. It's better to have a clear pictured from an auto mode than a botched picture from a manual mode but a good manual mode will give you far superior pictures if you have time to set it up.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I shoot 90+ percent of my shots in Shutter priority as I am often shooting fast moving subjects or sports and need to freeze motion to have a useful shot. I do shoot panned shots of drag racing sometimes with a slower shutter speed. I shoot portraits in manual most of the time. I really don't see the big deal about shooting in Manual mode vs Shutter or Aperture priority mode. You still need to understand the exposure triangle and what you are trying to achieve. It just domes down to the camera making the suggestions or decisions vs me making the decisions. Even in Shutter or Aperture mode I am going to use my knowledge and intent to set the Shutter or Aperture for the camera to use. The camera is then just using the light meter to select the remaining component.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

BIGRO wrote:

I've been reading and learning from this forum for years before joining. From what I've read, seen and had conversations about, most of you shoot in manual mode. Just entering this foray I understand why. The question is, even though you prefer to shoot in manual for complete control, do you still use automatic, perhaps for that one good shot? Trying to get the settings right I completely missed the shot I wanted. Timing is everything

I’ll frequently shoot in aperture priority mode. That also allows me to regulate shutter speed: open up for a faster speed or stop down for a slower one. That’s my approach when I’m worried about being able to shoot quickly. Otherwise, I do shoot manual, and I always shoot raw.

dhowland

Flash Falasca wrote:

If I shoot in manual and use the meter to adjust the settings won't I get the same settings as in A or S ??

Sometimes. But your camera, as sophisticated as it is these days of the computerized modes, still just averages everything, without taking into account outliers or really any ideal exposure that you might want, based on the light, colors, areas of composition etc that YOU want to emphasize. (The book "Understanding Exposure" goes into this well.) It's a creative choice--the camera isn't creative.

dhowland

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

I shoot 90+ percent of my shots in Shutter priorit... (show quote)

Yup I think of Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority to be near-manual modes because they allow for the creative choice I value in manual mode.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

dhowland wrote:

Sometimes. But your camera, as sophisticated as it is these days of the computerized modes, still just averages everything, without taking into account outliers or really any ideal exposure that you might want, based on the light, colors, areas of composition etc that YOU want to emphasize. (The book "Understanding Exposure" goes into this well.) It's a creative choice--the camera isn't creative.

I would say the answer to the question is yes if all you do in manual is expose for the entire scene and put the needle of the meter right in the middle.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

BIGRO wrote:

I've been reading and learning from this forum for years before joining. From what I've read, seen and had conversations about, most of you shoot in manual mode. Just entering this foray I understand why. The question is, even though you prefer to shoot in manual for complete control, do you still use automatic, perhaps for that one good shot? Trying to get the settings right I completely missed the shot I wanted. Timing is everything

I use all modes, but I often use AUTO when I don't need the creative controls
(example: a wide shot in bright sunlight). The camera on AUTO is very smart.
I don't shoot much fast movement, so I use Aperture Priority most often when
not in auto to control depth of field. Hope this helps. >Alan

dhowland

TheDman wrote:

Yep. 1/500th of a second at f2.8 is 1/500th of a second at f2.8. Doesn't matter what camera mode got you there.

You are correct: It doesn't matter what camera mode got you to those specific settings -- but what if that wasn't the ideal capture?? Did you want a large depth of field or a shallow one? Did you want moving objects to be razor-sharp or have motion blur? Did lights in the room throw off the reading, rendering your subject too dark? The camera will decide those settings for what it calculates to be the "correct exposure," but it won't answer those questions.

TheDman Loc: USA

dhowland wrote:

You are correct: It doesn't matter what camera mode got you to those specific settings -- but what if that wasn't the ideal capture?? Did you want a large depth of field or a shallow one? Did you want moving objects to be razor-sharp or have motion blur? Did lights in the room throw off the reading, rendering your subject too dark? The camera will decide those settings for what it calculates to be the "correct exposure," but it won't answer those questions.

Correct, but whatever you wish to do, you can do in either Av, Tv or M (unless it's over/under expose by more than 3 stops).

dhowland

russelray wrote:

I have never used manual mode in 51 years of photography and several million pictures. I'm always about capturing the shot. If it's not a good shot for whatever reason, back then I had the darkroom, various chemicals and papers, dodging, burning, special filters. Today I have Photoshop, Lightroom, onOne, Topaz, Nik, Paintshop Pro, Photo-Paint, Illustrator, InDesign, even Word. Cameras have always been smarter and faster than me, so I let them do what they do best and move on.

How is that possible? Weren't all SLRs manual years ago?

Anyway all that post-processing in any era may have been mitigated by making more ideal exposures, no?

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

As mentioned, each setting is usually right for certain types of shooting. I shoot mainly landscapes and always use manual settings. For family and other general shooting I use mainly aperture priority unless there are children then I use shutter priority since children move faster than adults. Finally, for travel I generally use aperture priority but have used auto setting on occasion. The point is to have the most control over your camera's settings, however, consider the type of shooting.

dhowland

charles tabb wrote:

I must be missing something....
I mostly shoot in Program Mode.
I more then often then not get the exact shot I want just using the two exposure controls.
If I wind up off a little, Post adjustments seem to take care of that.

Program mode, if I understand it correctly, isn't the same as Auto. Sounds like you're controlling aperture and shutter speed and not ISO ... which is like using a fully manual film camera. I sometimes say "Program" when I mean "Auto" ... (sorry!)