DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

My goal when I started out in July was to be able to shoot in Manual Mode in order to have complete control over my D7100. Now that I understand, somewhat, I am finding myself switching to Aperture very often and even Shutter Speed once in a while but, never in Auto. There are many great photographers within UHH and I find myself wondering how each of you shoot or your mindset regarding Modes. I do use AFC mostly and back button focusing. It bothers me that, while I understand the triangle, I cannot seem to master only shooting in Manual. Please share your thoughts.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

While a far reach from a great photographer, I also wonder what everyone else uses.

I use Manual with Auto Focus and Back Button Focus. 99% of the time hand held.

MsLala Loc: Kingston, NY

I began with auto in December when I got my 70D and immediately began reading, watching videos, following posts on the Hog, and any other forum I could digest to get off auto. I've succeeded somewhat. Although I wish I could say I shot in manual, I do occasionally, but I mostly shoot in Aperture Priority. I try not to get discouraged because I know I'll get there sooner than later. I seem to freeze up when shooting in manual, I know the triangle also, but it seems to disappear when I want to take a shot. I wish you all the luck in achieving your goal. I'm sure it will click in the near future.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

No expert here but: I shoot about 80% in manual and the other times it is split between Aperture or Shutter Priority and Auto on occasion. I very seldom use Program mode. Actually, shooting in full manual helped me learn what the settings do, and what things the various modes do better than others. I don't like auto ISO so I keep ISO under direct control. My camera is almost always set to single point auto focus+manual adjustment so I have the option to adjust what AF decides on. I have just started using BBF and like it so far, but not for everything. I have a separate set of settings that I can switch in and out of quickly that allows for BBF.

Some people swear by A Priority for almost everything. You have to find the approach that works for you.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Looks like we are nearly on the same page. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by switching to Aperture or Shutter Speed for most of my shots but, they do seem better to me. I just don't want to stall my growth.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

In the studio with studio strobes, which is where I do more serious shooting, I use Manual with Auto Focus and Back Button Focus. With people I hand-hold. With demanding product shots and still lifes I use a tripod. With simple product shots and still lifes I hand-hold.

For snapshots I leave the camera on program and usually ISO 200. If things don't look good, like the light is fooling the camera, I'll go to manual.

I set custom white balance with studio strobes. Outdoors if it's serious work and I have time I'll set a custom white balance. If I'm in a hurry I'll set it to one of the settings like shade or overcast day or sunny.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

I am no expert but I'll offer my approach. I shoot ALL my landscapes in manual mode. When I shoot wildlife I switch between manual and aperture and the situation demands. Don't think I ever set the camera to program mode.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

David, shooting in manual is not necessarily a badge to wear. Manual has a great place in shooting, and one certainly needs to master it, but not at the expense of missing a shot.
Just this morning, I was shooting an add that involved CA. poppies, mixed with some purple flowers. I realized there were some really pretty butterflies landing on the purple flowers, and would be a pretty fleeting moment. I was shooting auto focus, otherwise, full manual. I knew since I was shooting into the sun, my setting would blow the shot. So guess what I did? That's right, I know perfectly well where my little green square is, and on it, my camera knows exactly what to do. So I took a half a dozen shots on auto, and they where gone. I them but it back on manual, and went about composing my poppy shots, right where I had left of, thirty seconds earlier.
My point, practice mastering your manual shooting, it's a great skill to have. Your camera has a lot of capability, eventually you need to master them all, as they are all equally important in photography.
My advice is use the mode that works to YOUR advantage, and sometimes it's full Auto. No shame in using auto and getting a shot, as opposed to struggling with a shot on manual and blowing the shot, and it's gone, forever.
Not everything is landscape, and still life, those are easy on any mode, but to know what to use and when and land the shot.
I guess I didn't really give you any advice, but it's what I live by, photographically speaking. Good luck with your manual shooting. ;-)
SS

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Many times I find either shutter mode or aperture mode more important and select that mode accordingly. If I select shutter mode, for instance, I can also affect the aperture by my choice of ISO.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

I consider myself an amateur and novice photographer. I was able to take a basic DSLR class through our local university OLLI program 2 years ago when I got my first DSLR. The first night, the instructor came around and set all our cameras to manual, f8, awb, and iso 100. We were instructed to not change those settings until instructed to do so. We used various shutter speeds as part of our assignments for the first few classes.
Because each assignment had to be in manual mode and absolutely no pp allowed, I basically learned to use my Nikon DSLR camera from the beginning in manual mode. And that is still where I am most comfortable with it.

When I bought my canon sx50, I immediately started in manual mode and found out rather quickly, I could not use it as I did my Nikon dslr. For the sx50, I use every mode except manual and auto.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

David, what will stall your growth, is thinking any one mode is more important than another, including auto.
Take a college, for credit beginning digital class, not a community service class. That will do you more good than the next five years of shooting! ;-)
SS

Rbrylawski Loc: Tampa, FL

I'm sure pro's will always say Manual is the only way to go. I think whatever mode get's you a great shot is best. If you don't have the time to compose, and make manual settings, you'll lose a shot. So why not let your camera make split second decisions for you in those situation.

SS posted above some great advice and I'll chime in that I will use Auto when it's appropriate. I tend to use Apperture Priority more than any other mode, but there are time when I use Shutter and [GASP] Scene modes as well.

The reality is my camera is far smarter than I am. It's able to make decisions faster than I can. And it often can make a better shot than I can when in full manual mode.

It really comes down to the shooting situation.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Live view.(landscapes)
Manual and Aperture Priority. Spot metering.
Auto focus centre spot, back button focus and manual focus.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Ellie, good for you. You must be one of the smarted people on this forum! :thumbup:
Most just won't do the time in a college class, and rely on the internet(it's free afterall). College classes a fast passed and VERY demanding. And it's all about the critiques. ;-)
SS

liv2paddle Loc: Wall, NJ

I setup my U1 mode to manual.backbutton focus,auto ISO,Auto white balance,plus A-3, AF-c on release mode,centerweighted metering. I use this on 90% of my shots. I will pointt out that I do mostly wildlif., If I do a landscape,portraits, I switched to non auto ISO by holding down the ISO button by turning the front control knob which takes the camera off Auto ISO. If I am doing a landscape handheld I can use this mode by simply pushing backbutton once and letting go which sets the foucs and holds it. I recently watched a wedding seminar and the photograher uses P mode for all the candids..crazy but his name is Joe Bussink..so I would not argue against him..