what constitutes shooting manual mode? (Page 2): Whoo Hooo!, 😀😀😀. I LOVE shooting manually,... But there's auto (or Ap,Sp...) We oftentimes forget: It's the PHOTO we're trying to...

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

tdekany wrote:

You are correct, but does it really matter? You can find work of art taken on AUTO and snaps using manual control. The end result is the key not how we get there - in my opinion.

Whoo Hooo!, 😀😀😀. I LOVE shooting manually,... But there's auto (or Ap,Sp...) We oftentimes forget: It's the PHOTO we're trying to get!

Photography is a science And an ART (your EYE is what matters,not your gear...). Whatever "mode" gets the image is the thing. If I record an album, AND IT'S GOOD, No one gives a sh*t if it was mastered on 4 or 16 tracks! It would be for the "ears" to decide, wether I use a big deal studio,or made it in my attic.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bull drink water wrote:

I see a lot of post touting the purity of shooting... (show quote)

Yes, going "full manual" can be difficult because of so many "assisted" features. If you use a light meter, you're getting electronic help. People seem to brag about shooting in Manual mode. I don't see any advantage to Manual. I don't disconnect the power steering in my car, either.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

tdekany wrote:

You are correct, but does it really matter? You can find work of art taken on AUTO and snaps using manual control. The end result is the key not how we get there - in my opinion.

Agree!!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

russelray wrote:

My definition of manual is, "Oooops. I missed the picture."

https://digital-photography-school.com/benefits-shooting-auto-mode/
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/benefits-using-auto-modes-your-digital-camera
http://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/26572/do-professionals-use-auto-mode

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes, going "full manual" can be difficult because of so many "assisted" features. If you use a light meter, you're getting electronic help. People seem to brag about shooting in Manual mode. I don't see any advantage to Manual. I don't disconnect the power steering in my car, either.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

bull drink water wrote:

I see a lot of post touting the purity of shooting... (show quote)

I shoot fully manual! Select my shutter speed, apiture, and ISO.
If taking snap shot of kids/grandkids, apeture.

Duane

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

rmorrison1116 wrote:

I often see folks post that they only shoot in man... (show quote)

"I often see folks post that they only shoot in manual mode, as if that is some sort of badge of honor."

I wonder if they also never use an elevator, microwave oven or automobile? I shoot Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority,Full Auto and everything in between. There's no 'pure" Photography, People also complain about Digital "P.P", .No matter how much we've manipulating prints in the darkroom for 150 years!

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

Manual- anything that you need to take control of to get the artistry you are looking for in a photo.
Auto - when you are ok to let the latest technology decide for you.

With that definition:

Aperature (bokeh),
Shutter speed (blur/freeze/panblur/water-milk)
Iso - proper exposure when the light in the frame is bright to black
AF - not MF BUT selecting the kind of AF (spot mostly). Only need MF in low light where the technology is limited or you own a Sigma Art50mm 1.4 that cant focus on a Canon...lol
...and ETTL from flash....unless running and gunning....thats always manual.

Net: you can get lucky on auto and take great photos. But in manual you can choose to create the photo you want.
Auto technology will never be able to guess the artists intentions. ...yet...

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

If the owner's manual says your camera has a manual mode setting, then THAT'S manual mode. If you disagree, take it up with the manufacturer.
In other words, WHO CARES what you call it or what options are taken care of by the camera????? Just learn to use your equipment properly.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

bull drink water wrote:

I see a lot of post touting the purity of shooting... (show quote)

I know I'm really going out on a limb here, but I have always assumed that the definition of manual control is, "the condition when the exposure mode dial is set to M." As many other posters have indicated throughout the years, if camera assist is desired the setting is "P" on most DSLR cameras.
I once had an Argus C-3, but I could never find the exposure mode dial. After a while I realized that it made a great paperweight.
A 40 mph wind couldn't move that thing. >>> Alan

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

A great photo is not going to be discounted because it was taken in Program as opposed to Manual, on a crop sensor as opposed to a full frame sensor camera, or with a DSLR as opposed to a mirrorless or a smart phone.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes, going "full manual" can be difficult because of so many "assisted" features. If you use a light meter, you're getting electronic help. People seem to brag about shooting in Manual mode. I don't see any advantage to Manual. I don't disconnect the power steering in my car, either.

In tricky lighting situations, such as backlighting, or with large areas of bright or dark light, taking manual meter readings can be better than letting the camera determine the exposure, especially with static subjects and plenty of time to take readings. When shooting in changing lighting, or if there is no time to do manual readings, today's cameras do a very good job with exposure.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

bull drink water wrote:

I see a lot of post touting the purity of shooting... (show quote)

Shooting manual is:
1. you set the shutter
2. You set the aperture
3. You set the focus
4. You set the ISO
5. You guess at the exposure or use an external meter at worst, but that is still sort of cheating, no cheating using the in camera meter as that would be no different than just setting the camera to P as you then let it determine the exposure automatically and you blindly copied it.
In other words think of Mathew Brady of Civil War fame and he set all those parameters and had no meter and did it all manually. Anything else is using some sort of automation and is therefore not manual inspite of what is said.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

aellman wrote:

I know I'm really going out on a limb here, but I ... (show quote)

Wait, Whoa, waitasec..There wasn't a PASM dial on the "brick"... Damn, I thought mine was defective!😜

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Perhaps everybody has there own definition, and as above it doesn't matter. The only thing that counts is the image. Full manual to me means exactly that. The photographer make ALL the decisions. Some use all the auto stuff as a crutch, because they are "afraid" of making mistakes. Nothing wrong with crutches. I used a crutch each time I had a joint replaced.