rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I'm a noob when it comes to using a DSLR; I got mine for Christmas 2011.

I started off using AV mode because that was suggested to me.

I then happened to buy Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" and on his recommendation; began using manual mode exclusively...mainly because I wanted to actually understand what's going on inside this little box and how those pesky dials affect the images that come out of it.

Well...to my surprise, I found that manual mode isn't hard to learn to use at all....in fact, it's a LOT less mysterious than the "auto" modes because in manual, the settings are all you...you are deciding what the camera does and there isn't any guessing as to "what went wrong" when you get a crap picture.

So here is my question (sorry about the long lead in...)


Why is there such fear or aprehension about using manual mode? I see it all of the time on here and other places....why do you shy away from it?

Because I found out the secret that it's just not difficult to use at all it made me wonder why it's not used more often...

Greg-Colo Loc: Fort Collins,Co

It gets back to a basic understanding of shutterspeed, aperture and ISO and the relationship between all three....

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I believe it the fear of the unknow, you should not try to use the settings all at one time, instead of learning each individually, then combining them. You have to learn each of the three legs of the triangle, and how the relate to each other. I found that the more you learn, reveals what you did not know, but assumed that what you read or was told was true. I felt the same way you did when I got my dslr, I will never learn it all, then I then started one step at a time, reading the manual, shooting, compare, study and try some thing different. I will never know all there is about the camera, so be it, that is life.

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

Propably because you can't just use the manual mode, you have to "learn" to use the manual mode. Now why do folks have an adversion to learning? There are some legitimate reasons and some not so legitimate.

I'm just now getting comfortable with it and like you was surprised to realize it wasn't as difficult as I imagined. All that said, it's about the image and not the process. If auto makes someone happy then I'm happy for them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Why do people prefer automatic to manual transmissions in cars? It's easier. Few people who learned on automatics would choose to learn manual.

When SLRs first came out, they were all manual, and no one gave it a second thought. Set the shutter, set the aperture, focus, and press the button. Then cameras got built-in light meters, so you could center the needle and get the right exposure. Now we have auto exposure and auto focus, with manual also available.

For a quick, unexpected shot, Auto is perfect. If you can take the time to make adjustments, Manual is good.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

well said. it is kinda like driving a manual shift car vs an automatic. an automatic is great in the city and the new ones are great on the twisties too that's why the prancing horse has them....

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Rpavich,
It is not just the mode, you are dealing with all the other things involved in getting the photo. Shutter Speed, Fstop, distance and focus, White Balance. This is what scares people they have to learn it all, is it hard, no for many people, but then there are those that have a real hard time with it.

George

50teeslady Loc: Ormond Beach Florida

I am one of those who have a hard time with it!!!I understand each element..Aperture,Shutter Speed, ISO...but putting them all together correctly to take a good shot is my downfall!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You might try this. For outdoor, good light, set the ISO at the lowest, and set the aperture at f/8. Then play with the shutter to get a good exposure. That will give you a reference for future shots. As one setting goes up, the other goes down. Unlike shooting with film, you get instant feedback.

Izzy

So I take it the manual was useful, was it simple to follow and was it exclusive to you camera or general, I also need how to use manual mode. Where and how much if u don't mind me asking?

MtnMan Loc: ID

I actually have the opposite question. For perspective I shot in manual mode for over 30 years with my SLR so am perfectly able to do so.

I wonder why anyone would want to shoot in manual with a DSLR (except in instances where auto exposure doesn't work)? You spend all that money for a highly Engineered machine built by the best minds in photograpy, and then decide to use manual. To me its like hooking a horse up to the front of your BMW.

Second, "manual mode" only affects exposure. You have a number of other camera settings including white balance, picture control, ISO and focus mode that have equal if not more affect on what you take. And, more important than that is how you point the machine and control the focus or, if in modes like P trade off f-stop and shutter speed.

As someone noted in another thread last week, the most important accessory to making great pics is the one located right behind the viewfinder. I think that accessory should pay attention to what only it can; i.e. composing a great picture, and not be fussing with stuff the machine can now do quite well in most instances.

Just another take on the matter.

naturalite Loc: Up state NY

For us old film guys it's just the way it works. If you wanted to make photos you learn what is needed. Simple as rock, paper ,scissors. Depending on what element you wanted more control of. But it did have one restriction, ISO, ASA. once you loaded the film, you were stuck with it. And you just delt with shutter speed and aperture. More light, less light, DOF desired....freeze frame fast action or soft blurr motion and light trails.
In my opinion, the automated world makes us way too damned dependant on what's manufactured and crammed down our consumer throats. I believe the hive mind of the powers that be know it's the best way to control the worker bee's. Make them dependant in all things......Wait a minute! is this me talking or have I already been brain-washed by rebel forces.....

gessman Loc: Colorado

You've raised a valuable point and I think you deserve a serious, somewhat comprehensive answer rather than the one-liners you're getting, especially if you're truly a noob. I've been knowing "manual" from way back because that's all there was but then I'm not terribly intellectually gifted. Whether or not manual is desirable depends on who's shooting and what. In the beginning, most people can't put it all together in their head while working the dials to get a decent shot of a moving subject and would hence miss many good shots fumbling with the controls while trying to think their way through all that goes into assessing a scene. Some of us can't even do that after years of experience because we just don't to it enough and haven't developed that level of dexterity. I've seen very few seasoned pros, even, who can do that under pressure, or even care to. If you're truly a "noob" you may be missing many of the finer points of what's going on in a scene or you may have uncanny good luck working for you. You also may be fooling yourself, or not putting yourself under an adequate amount of pressure to produce quality shots of all subject matter under all shooting conditions so that you are in a position to talk about all the finer points of shooting manual.

All of that said, once you understand all the nuances of shooting manual, you then understand what the camera will do in one of the auto modes and can control the quality of most shots BECAUSE you understand manual and have the confidence to let the camera make part of the decisions for you because it can do it quicker than most folks, especially a noob. Maybe you're an exceptional person with vastly exceptional clarity and quickness and have practiced enough in a short time that you can pull it off at an average greater than the camera's computer but if that's the case, you would be extremely exceptional and could probably be a working pro because the vast majority of people who pick up a DSLR will never reach that skill level, especially in a matter of only two months. While quite good from what little I've seen, I don't see much in your pictures to make me think you're ready to compete with the big boys yet. As for understanding the relationship of iso, shutter, and aperture that goes into shooting manual, unfortunately, that's not quite all there is to it. You have to be able to deliver under a variety of situations and under pressure consistently over time to feel really comfortable that you can.

And just so my position is clear, I've been at it as an amateur, hit and miss, for over 45 years and I mostly shoot aperture or shutter preferred, depending on the situation and I do understand manual quite well, believe me, having shot medium and large format where there is/was no auto. I just don't, at 75, have the mental and physical dexterity to make the decisions about a scene AND remember where all the right controls are and a lot of that is because I change cameras too often, and don't become thoroughly familiar with each one before another one comes along AND I tend to shoot subject matter that doesn't allow me to have time to manually get that all done before the scene changes to something in which I'm no longer interested. You cannot control every scene and that's where the test begins, not simply learning the relationship between iso, shutter, and aperture.

The totality of photography is not THAT simple. If you feel it is, you may be missing a lot and it could be that you're not challenging yourself enough to advance your knowledge. On the other hand, you may be. I see you have a light meter so that tells me that you're a serious student but just since Christmas with a DSLR would seem like a very short time even for a really exceptional person to have mastered all the skills necessary, which you could be. I would say that if that's who you are, you might cut some other folks a little slack who aren't as gifted or as studious as yourself. Judging by your self portrait under the lamp, assuming that is you, you've got some grey hair so you've had time to test yourself and know just how intellectually gifted you are. Only you know.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Very well put.

The only thing I differ with you on is that I have found myself gravitating to using P mode most of the time. On the Nikon D5100 P mode allows you to rotate a thumb wheel to your preferred combination of f-stop and shutter speed for the given exposure. To me it is sort of the lazy way to use both A and S modes at once.

I use M for astrophotogropy and use the various scene modes for special circumstances; e.g. night photography. I use A mode when fussing around with HDR.

I most certainly agree that using Manual as a learning tool has great advantage. We both did that for 40+ years because we had no choice!

My focus (pun intended) is on learning all the capabilities of my machine and how to compose and take tack sharp shots. I am happy to let the camera work out the exposure.

Having said that I will confess to having a six speed manual in my Z4.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Me too. I use P for the reasons you do. As for the Corvette, I have an automatic but then again I live in South East Florida where one goes from stop light to stop light from stop and go on I 95.