Rongnongno Loc: FL

Depends.

Aperture priority is my main mode. Speed is usually locked and ISO set either at the camera base ISO or uses a ISO range, no more than 800. This leads to relatively low speed but I can deal with that.

Otherwise, shooting raw is a choice (I do) that implies post processing. It is not about ego but potential. There is no point having a great camera with loads of sensor information and reducing all potential that to the limitations of a crappy JPG created by the camera.

Do not get me wrong, JPG has its uses, just not for me.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Exactly! Also what Kuzano said. If you are shooting something that doesn’t move and you are also stationary, you have time, by all means shoot full manual. Unfortunately it will not help to create a more artistic result. Shoot any way you please. I could point the OP to unlimited snapshots taken in full manual mode and with full frame cameras. OP, focus on capturing better subject matters, do it at the right time of the day, which is most likely not early afternoon on a cloudless day. Most importantly, have fun.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

I don’t think you understand what kuzano is saying. Just look at the snap of some of those diehard manual shooters.

btbg

I shoot sports for a living. I carry my camera set on auto and ISO 800 because that means that I can point and shoot in most situations without having to worry about setting my camera.

This is important because I may be sent out by my newspaper to shoot a fire, wreck, etc... with no time to set up my camera.

Once I get to where I am shooting I generally grab a shot or two on auto while I check out the scene. I go to other settings once I know that I have time to set up and prepare for my shot. Those other settings include shutter priority, aperture priority, or full manual depending on the situation.

There is no reason to limit what mode or modes you shoot in. Pick the mode that will give you the most accurate results for the situation that you are shooting.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Please... your “raw” snapshots are the complete opposite of JPEGs taken by talented photographers.

The above post is another example of a huge ego.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Is someone out to lunch?

The EASIEST mode is the one that says: AUTO - all you do is press the shutter.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

OP, this is the info you want to pay attention to.

btbg

Raw isn't necessarily an ego trip. I shoot raw because I often have to shoot in low light at high ISOs and raw helps me to save photos that would otherwise be too underexposed to use.

One should always use the mode and format that gives the best chance of getting the results you need. If raw helps do that, that's not an ego trip. That's using the tools that you have appropriately.

I shoot sports, which means I often have a quick turnaround on my photos. That means that I sometimes shoot raw plus jpeg as the jpeg take slightly less time to process, but the raw gives more flexibility. That makes times that both may be better.

When I have to e-mail photos I e-mail jpegs. When I have time to take them to the office myself then I use raw converted to tiffs. We convert everything to a tiff before we print anyway, and if I start with raw and make a tiff from it I will get better results in print, and that's what it's all about.

If I could I would e-mail tiffs as well, but the files are just too large.

I don't judge you for shooting jpeg exclusively. Don't judge others because they make a different choice.

As far as controlling what you shoot there are a lot of ways to do that, including a lot of different ways that well known professionals employ their cameras. You are free to take control of your camera any way you wish, but you seem to think that those who disagree with you are control freaks that don't use good judgement, which is exactly what you are doing yourself.

btbg

Thanks

BIGRO Loc: NYC

Thank you all for the responses, food for thought

le boecere

FWIW; I know a professional travel photographer (probably been making his living in that profession for 30+ years) ~ who suggests that you shoot one on Automatic, as soon as you see what you want, then start fussing with your settings for the follow-up shots.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No, just the bold and the brave.

I went through two video courses from Joel Sartori, Nat Geo photographer. He said that he leaves his cameras set on Auto when he's at home so he can get that quick shot that pops up. I mostly use Auto and Aperture, and I use auto focus. In the 1970, I set either aperture or shutter and set exposure by matching a needle with a dot. Now, the camera can do that for me.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Manual control is by far the choice if one has time. Even with some sports and nature shots, there are photographers that manually preset their exposures off of their experience. But there are times that the other modes are not an option but a necessity. Changing light that varies on the subject quickly is one of those situation that sometimes makes the other modes desirable or a necessity.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I use a semi-auto option most of the time (aperture priority) but also use manual occasionally. I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to set the camera back to auto so you'll get that first shot of the day before you start fiddling around.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

The post you quoted was satire--a response to a post about "ego trip"s.
The original question asked by the OP was in regard to how many shoot in auto even though many shoot manual.

To be crystal clear, I shoot manual, shutter, or aperture priority--all in RAW.
I seek control of the image.
No ego, no judgement of how others wish to make images.