mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

P mode stands for Program Mode in the Canon and Nikon worlds. It has only been called professional mode as a joke or by those who don't know better. For you to suggest that professionals call it Professional mode because that's the mode that they use is the most ridiculous thing I've read in this thread. And, quoting Ken Rockwell as proof of anything does not help your case. Shoot in P mode if that is where you're most comfortable. Many of us want more and only use P mode on those rare occasions where we don't have the opportunity or interest to play with settings, are shooting casually, and are less concerned about the end results we capture.

Bill_de Loc: US

Nikon's flexible program mode can actually give you the same control as any other auto mode. But you do have to keep an eye on the information in the viewfinder as lighting conditions change. I mostly use aperture priority as a carry over from the 'old days' when one would usually have their left hand around the aperture ring while supporting the camera.

The only mode I would stay away from is full (usually in green) automatic.

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adm

I actually figured out the advantages of Manual mode by trial and error. I do not know if this accounts for cult-like status but I prefer it because it gives me full control and because I get to see exactly what the picture looks like at various exposures. It is very easy to tweak the exposure a half-stop or two before pushing the shutter button. I probably use Manual mode 85 percent of the time.

Angmo

I use manual and a hand held meter. TTL is too easily fooled. Much of the time with strobes. Fast and efficient. Perfect exposure first time.

Hand held meters rock. Depends on your usage. Perfect for me. Flash and ambient or mixed. Extremely useful. Beats in camera metering most all the time. Incident vs reflected metering. Look it up.

RRS Loc: Not sure

So congratulations, you are now an honorary member of the manual shooters club but to advance you will need to up your usage to 90%. You should receive your badge and other awards in the mail by next week. I got started in the club in the mid 50's with my first camera, not one thing auto on that camera, to tell the truth it didn't slow me down. When I was doing wedding photography, with film, there was hardly anyone else tagging along and trying to take the same pictures that I did, most didn't have an understanding of the basic concepts to attempt it. Then came digital and everybody was now a professional photographer. Digital has changed the world of photography and I feel for the better and each to their own as to what works for them. It's a shame that some people think that those of us that use manual are snobs, I don't consider myself one and will be the first to recognize that there are lots of photographers out there that do wonderful work and may never use manual. I do feel that my "tool box" has more tools available to me if I should need them. I've tried Av, TV and auto ISO but feel more in control using manual, I guess a lot depends on what you are shooting. At the end of the day we can look at each others pictures and see what we captured, if it's good I don't care how it was done. If your's are consistently better then mine then I do have an open mind and would ask you to help me out and show me what you are doing differently then me. I read and watch a lot on "You Tube" to advance my knowledge of photography and PP. It's been a life long love relation and I have enjoyed the ride, I sure hope you all can too!

Rebel 1 Loc: Woodbridge, New Jersey

Shoot in what ever mode you want as long as you are happy with the results.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

Derek Forss, British landscape & architectural photographer, uses it (program mode) a lot -- with pride. Sells a lot of books and calendars, I understand.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

I don't see any argument here. There is a time and a place for everything.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Thanks for the link.

Diocletian

I don’t care how you did this shot...wonderful. And I don’t necessarily like b&w-but I loooovvvvveee this.

Diocletian

Being blind as the proverbial bat my entire life, when Auto focus came out I was so happy I had twinkle toes for a week!

throughrhettseyes Loc: Rowlett, TX

Well...sometimes just getting your camera out and playing with all the buttons until you find the settings that work for you. Taking an art form and trying to turn it into scientific jargon is confusing at best. But, overwhelming to most of us. I am an component level electronic technician by trade so I understand the physics of it all. The physics is not the art of photography it's the modern marvel of what make our cameras work. So trying to explain the physics of photography to a newby would and has scared the hell out of them. The art of photography is inherent and takes practice to hone your talent to make beautiful art. This is why I tell a newbies to learn FILM photography first (darkroom included) to better understand the art form. Once they know how a picture is made then they will become more comfortable with the camera. Once they stop worrying about all the buttons they can concentrate on the art form such as lighting, composition, and color.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

The way I use manual mode is not terribly precise by professional standards but works fairly well for this amateur. I got the habit with older SLRs after reading about zones. I would use closest the camera offered to spot metering, then center the frame around various parts of the scene to see how it affected the meter, meanwhile adjusting the shutter speed or aperture as needed. It lets me approximate where the exposure will end up. Sometimes I meter the highlights and adjust the exposure up three stops or so to avoid highlight blockup, sometimes called clipping or blowout in digital speak.

zzzynick Loc: Colorado

You people are so funny. You are snobs. You just won't admit it.
The whole concept of your not a photographer if, you don't shoot raw and if it's not manual, is bull shit.
The only complex I may have is, one that I find dumb people annoying. Really annoying. Seriously annoying.
Or maybe I have complex that makes me repeat myself, when dealing with stupendously annoying people.
A large percentage of people who use a camera, use some kind of mode other than manual.
Get over it.
I will bet American money, that they produce pictures as perfect as you tremendously annoying snobs do.
It seems I do have a repeating complex.
If I have hurt your little feelers or insulted you in any way... aw.

Diocletian

Huh

Unusual phrasing....Is American money somehow better than money money? Did you forget Real American Money? That might emphasize more that you are Real Serious.