BebuLamar

I have no data but I would say no. But the reasons that some want manual controls because the auto things take the fun out of their hobby.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

With all due respect, getting better results does not take the fun out of anything. Manual or not, it’s all about the image, isn’t it? If someone produces a great image shooting with one or more assists, that’s maximum fun, at least in my book.

Andy

whwiden

It is about process and the photo produced. If the photo produced is good, I do not care about the process used by the photographer except to the extent I might learn something. When I am the photographer there are certain aspects of the process I enjoy apart from the end product. As a hobbyist I enjoy manual film photography. That approach has some value for teaching as well. Many do not like that process and I well understand that.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Yep, its absolutely reflected in real world photography. The built in algorithms don't know that you want to focus on the car behind the crowd of people nearer to you. They don't know that you want to separate your foreground subject from the background using a wide aperture to create background blur. They don't know what shutter speed you should be using to stop action at a baseball game. They don't know when you want a very wide depth of field to keep the foreground and background in focus. In short, the algorithms make a lot of assumptions. Its great for newbies who don't know what they are doing, but not as great for the rest of us who do.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Two more words...Quote Reply...

chippy65 Loc: Cambridge

Chippy................I thought it would create a few predictable ripples !.

If you have time to be artistic ......fine. But if setting up the artistic settings cost me the shot I will always be glad that

I have a fairly competent "auto mode" to fall back on

Larz

Two thoughts. Steve R. Mentioned photographic horizons. They are different for different people. If you can reach yours in auto or a program mode, fine. If you find yourself falling short, it might be time to explore and master other modes or manual. The other is that if you are not getting the shot you visualize, such as desired depth of field, exposure or motion, but accepting what the camera gives you, it might be time to explore and master other modes or manual.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I use manual most of the time

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Anyone who sets their knob to anything other than "M" is using some form of auto. And the "M" setters who use anything other than their eyeballs to set the exposure are using some form of auto. I am tempted to say there is no such thing as a completely manual shooter but I'll just say they are extremely rare.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

One thing is the automated, convenient way we have everyday and another the auto function of a camera. If you ask me I have to say that I prefer the convenience of driving a car with an auto transmission than another with stick shift. Yes, I also like the auto function of a dishwasher machine and all of the other auto functions that make our lives much easier.

When it comes to photographic cameras I can also understand the convenience of auto modes and aperture priority is something I use often. If I use an all auto mode where the camera does everything I know that I lost control over the camera. Perhaps the camera will look at a subject and will be able to figure out what I want from it but in the majority of the cases it will not work like that. In an all auto mode the camera is taking its own decisions not the photographer.

When I set my auto transmission to drive or overdrive I know I am going to have a great safe ride. The dishwasher will perform to perfection also but the camera has an exposure meter and I am sure you know that not all of its decisions are correct, even using multi pattern, evaluative or matrix metering. We will have to accept the camera's decision and in a great proportion of cases that decision and its result is not what we wanted. We simply are not in control of our photography.

There is a big difference between the auto functions we face everyday in our daily life and the auto functions of a camera.

Dannj

Sometimes blur is a good thing😊

CO

Using Auto mode is giving up too much control for a variety of reasons. Using Program mode is also giving up too much control unless it's in the Flexible Program mode.

1) It's good the set the aperture yourself to control the depth of field and to get the lens in its sweet spot range. Generally, lenses are their best when the aperture is stopped down some from the maximum.

2) Sometimes you'll want to control the shutter speed to either freeze motion and obtain blur such as photographing flowing water.

3) Manual mode is needed when using studio strobes unless it's one that has TTL capability. When I use studio strobes, I take light meter readings and enter the settings into the camera.

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

srt101fan

Interesting comment....what, actually, is a "completely manual shooter"?

rplain1 Loc: Dayton, Oh.

You do what you want and I'll do what I want - that way I won't either loose control or lose control. And I also will be neither precious nor precocious.