waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

I wasn't being sarcastic, The auto settings on my camera don't turn out very well, if you have a camera that does I'd like to know. I'll probably buy one. Thanks

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

my camera does not have an "Auto" mode"

Jim Bob

Yeah, really. And my camera models and subjects are irrelevant. But to humor you, I shoot everything and own several Nikon models from the D3300 up to the D500 andD750.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Thanks, I need to check out Nikon auto setting compared to my Canon. Obviously the Nikon is better or I have a bad Canon.

advocate1982

You would need to replace the finger on the shutter button.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

What good would that do?

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

I shoot in all the modes, including Auto because life can come at you fast. When I have the time, I use A or sometimes S, and every once in a while, I will shoot in manual, when I want some specific setting.

I've been shooting with an SLR for close to 50 years and while I could maneuver the aperture and shutter speed like nobody's business back then, I find it much more difficult to do with my D5200; the buttons are small and the display viewfinder is small and my eyes are not what they used to be.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

I have a Canon SX50 and had a Canon T4i, they both shot great pictures in full auto, that is the only mode that I shoot in. All my Nikons are set on AUTO.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Yea I know the Canon SX series is good. My wife has a Canon SX160 and she only shoots in full auto and her most of her shots look really good.

pic375 Loc: Rosehill TX.

WHAT ????

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

As long as the camera gives you what you want, that's all that really matters. The results. I've seen some lousy images shot by people who claim to refrain from anything other than full manual mode, as I've also seen some fantastic work by people who only use auto mode.

SS319

I want to thank everyone who responded to my questions. I have discovered the length and breadth of this forum.

For the record: 80% of my shooting is in Program mode. I will use Shutter or Aperture Priority to achieve effects and I will use Manual if I need to prevent my camera from thinking and exercising its artistic freedom. I tend to use Av and Tv backwards - If I want to control the shutter, I will shoot in Av, If I want to control DoF, I will shoot in Tv - I do this for a reason; IN Av, the thumb wheel controls the Aperture value and when you look through the viewfinder, you change the Aperture to gain the shutter speed you want - and it forces you to consider the total effects on the photo. If you just set the shutter for 1/250, and shoot, shoot, shoot, typically, you will not know what Aperture you are shooting at as the camera decides all that.

I typically set the ISO at the lowest possible value and don't change it unless I run out of light. I see a lot of pictures on this forum that show ISO settings above 800 - If I use >800, the sun will be shining on China and I will be shooting stars. I seldom bump up exposure. I always shot Ektachrome one step slower to gain saturation. I try and obtain the technically best photo in Camera and do all my effects Post. In scenes with strong lighting, I will set up and automatically bracket +/- 1 stop.

I used all those basic setting (portrait, landscape, sports, and CA) when I got my camera so I know what they do, but I would rather directly control the settings of the camera and know what it is doing to me and for me.

DoF I normally estimate DoF or, if it is critical, I will preview the DoF in camera with the DoF button (or Stop down metering button if you will)

I am done with this topic although I may check back here next week in case there are stragglers or kibitzers.


Thank you all for your responses - even those that though these were stupid questions.