MtnMan Loc: ID

I'm in similar position to you. I've had my DSLR about 8 months now. I've read those books and several others, attended classes, watched online stuff, etc. and by now have shot thousands of pics with my D5100.

Although I have experimented with most of them I rarely use Scene modes now and hardly ever use Auto. I only used M in class and in special situations that demand it; e.g. when I use my camera on my telescope.

I have gravitated to using the P mode on the D5100 most of the time. You can rotate the thumbwheel to go from the exposure with the shortest exposure time to the highest f-stop for the ISO you have set. If those choices don't do what I want to see I change the ISO.

I mostly shoot jpeg fine with white balance on auto and spot metering and focus. But I have set the function button to "+ RAW" and use it before shots where I think it will be a real keeper I want to work with.

I'll use A mode if I want a real high or low f-stop, or S if I want a particular shutter speed; e.g. flowing water.

Many of the professionals do better than me shooting manual. You might enjoy Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure". I thought I knew it all but he provides many new insights and great photos that illustrate his points. He, like many of today's photographers and you and I learned to shoot M when that was all there was. They are happy staying with it. While I'm OK using it when needed I'm happy to move on.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

You got a point there. A very large aperture with the crap they come up with. :lol:

photopop44 Loc: Roun Drock, Texas

E-510 with kit lens. 14-42

photopop44 Loc: Roun Drock, Texas

I only made the post so I could use the thread title. Thanks for noticing.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Nice choice of wording. I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. Some folks here aren't the greatest spellers but this is a site for people who are more visually inclined, so it doesn't bother me at all. I use spell check all the time. If I could just find a left-handed keyboard it may fix my dyslexic fingers...

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Just a thought but try turning your keyboard upside down. Might be tough with a laptop though. :roll: :lol:

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

What do you do when spell check gives you a big ? When it happens I go to the paper dictionary and struggle. When I can't find my word then I try other words that hopefully I can spell.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

LOL! I do the same I have a compact Webster's on the desk. Could go into Word and spell check I guess but sometimes just picking up the Webster's is easier. Try to find the video of why the ipad will never replace a newspaper. On YouTube I'm sure. It's funny. :thumbup:

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

Very Very Nice, def. frame worthy to me.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

I guess that means (in your situation) "A" stands for A-- Holes.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Very good. You get an A! Wait, that didn't sound right. Ok I'll change it to a B. :lol:

MtnMan Loc: ID

As in Beavis and B....?



:lol:

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

LOL! You're now on suspension!

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Easy- B---Holes!

photopop44 Loc: Roun Drock, Texas

My thanks to everyone who responded with compliments, humor and information. I did a lot of research on the topic so I wouldn't make a mistake like the lady who said her photos were in the RAW and she meant she didn't wear clothes when she took them. The best info I got was the Youtube link from Planepics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRcaEW4ar3o
If you have any interest in this subject it's a must see. He doesn't talk about SCENE settings but rather what one must do to achieve great sunset photos without using SCENE. My conclusion is to take the same photo I took, and it is very much like the actual event, is to spend several minutes tinkering with color balance, vivid, saturation etc as well as the exposure and focus if you knew what the camera's manufacturer thought SUNSET should be, shoot in RAW and do serious post processing with software that many of you have but I don't or use the SCENE setting.

I'm not a pro, I'm an old guy with a camera that wants to capture the beauty of the world with pro quality and bring it home to share. I usually shoot in P or S, which ever is more important to me, and if I don't like the S or P the camera gives me I adjust the ISO, that's almost manual.