Manual, and semi auto

I

ianclegg135

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Ian
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Im still new to photography, however i find using semi automatic more difficult than just all auto.

Is this common, or is it simply a case of my pics have needed manual adjustment more than a cameras ability to assess the scene?
 
I found the easiest way was to concentrate on 1 mode at a time for a while until I'd got used to them. I started off with aperture priority and shot allsorts for a few weeks until I was used to getting the shot I wanted, then I moved onto shutter priority for a similar time and then eventually went onto manual to try that. Most of the time I still go for aperture or shutter instead of manual as it suits what I'm shooting but I use manual when needed. Keep reading your manual while your practising and you'll get the hang of it soon enough.
 
You don't say what/why it is more difficult or what problems you're experiencing in semi-auto. To add to what Stuart said, I would suggest setting the camera to a fixed ISO to start with (maybe 100 for decent light, 800 for low light) and then you only have two sides of the exposure triangle to play with instead of three - makes learning easier imho. I don't know how much you already know so please excuse me if the below is pitched wrong for you.

When you're in a semi-auto mode, basically you have control over one part of the exposure 'equation' - and to change that one part has particular effects/consequences. So, without going into too much analysis, if you go in to aperture-priority, you control the depth of field and if you go into shutter-priority, you alter the amount of camera-motion blur and/or subject-motion blur. Of course, when you change one, your camera will change the other to compensate - so always keep this in mind (but depending on available light, this might not always be an issue).

So when you're practising in aperture-priority mode, think primarily about controlling depth of field (whether you want all the subject in focus - blurred background etc.) and secondarily about shutter-speed and when you're practising in shutter-priority, think primarily about 'freezing' the scene or introducing motion-blur and secondarily about depth of field.

Sooner or later, you will start to get a feel for what you want to achieve and what you need to change to get it - you will also be aware of the consequences and trade-offs to get there with the correct exposure.

Take a look at this link for the basics of exposure:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-exposure.htm

And here's a link that explains how things work and affect each other but in a lot more detail:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=440126
 
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Hi Ian can see exactly where your coming from,spent years in auto but really trying to get into semi mode ap to start with,i have found in ap mode I either get 1 pic that is better than auto or 20 that are a lot worse,I will get there in the end,and so will you,just try ap mode and try to get used to that first.....good luck
 
As has been said you do not say exactly why the Auto shots are better than the Semi-Auto ones.

The previous answers regarding exposure are all valid but, as with many answers to this type of query, no-one has mentioned the other settings that the camera changes when in Auto mode.

Depending on what the camera decides it will not only pick the shutter speed, aperture and ISO, it will also pick the contrast, saturation and sharpening that it decides is best. I am not familiar with your camera but I know that if my camera is set to Portrait, for example, it applies slightly less sharpening, saturation and contrast than if it is set to Child.

These settings are not normally mentioned when people are discussing Auto v. Semi-Auto v. Manual but have a large effect on the finished photo - which is why many people shoot raw and adjust these later.
 
Sorry, i think some are misunderstanding what i am saying.

i shoot it manual. I find that easier than semi auto- ive never clicked my camera to Auto.

In semi auto i find it more difficult to achieve the desired affect. I have had a think, i think it may be down how much time i take in taking the picture. In semi auto - i rush, assuming the cameras doing the work for me, in manual, im thinking about my picture more.

Practice practice practice.

Thanks for help tho folks!
 
Quote: i shoot it manual. I find that easier than semi auto- ive never clicked my camera to Auto.

:shrug::help:
 
He means he uses manual not the semi auto modes like Av, TV etc.. He doesnt use "green square" auto.

Dont get how you can find the semi autos hard.. either dial in your shutter speed on tv or your aperture in Av.

Are you just lining up the needle in the middle on M mode or actually adjucting the exposure yourself to suit the scene?
 
snipershooter said:
How do you shoot with semi auto on my camera. ?
Click to expand...

Just use shutter priority or aperture priority. They are semi manual becuase you are manually selecting the shutter speed or aperture size and the camera is automatically selecting corresponding shutter, aperture or ISO to produce a correctly exposed shot.
 
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