Shooting in manual mode

Phil V said:
See my post, that may not be true for your camera.

With your camera in Manual and in Raw mode, turn the mode dial to 'sports' mode and see if the camera switches to JPEG. All my Canon's that have the mickey mouse modes will switch to JPEG.
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Oh. K, I will check as soon as I get home :/
 
gadgeteer said:
I think it's partly because of the elitist attitude from some photographers that only those who can shoot in manual are 'real photographers'.

I've tried to shoot in A mode but gave up as a bad job because it wasn't always metering how I wanted to and worse still sometimes it would pick a crap shutter speed and I wouldn't notice. At least in manual I have to consciously choose my shutter speed/aperture. So generally I know what it's on and have noone to blame but myself if it's wrong.
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the metering calculation will be the same regardless of the mode it is in (allowing for some cameras selecting CW/spot etc)

Presumably it's the exposure you're not happy with and if that's the case you need to make an appropriate adjustment regardless of the mode your using.

Manual v auto ranks right up there with RAW v jpeg for useless "debates" as far as I'm concerned. Use whatever is appropriate for the job in hand.
 
Phil V said:
Also, a question, if I may ...

If there were a beautiful sunset,
In manual, with a low f-stop, a fairly quick shutter speed, and if it wasn't all that bright so maybe an ISOthat isn't very high... Would I be able to achieve a nice shot ?
How would you set your camera and why ?
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To be honest I shoot whatever mode suits the type of shot I want best. I get people who say they only ever shoot manual are trying to be elitest, they always seem to think they're better than the people who don't IMO, and I get the same sense in the numerous raw vs jpeg debates. Who really cares what anyone is using to get the photo they want as long as they get the photo.

Telling someone they should only ever shoot in manual or raw or jpeg or whatever else really isn't going to change anybody's mind, let them shoot what they want and how they want is the way to encourage people to shoot. Then when they post a photo asking for help, explain why they would be better off doing it one way or another.

Dod, it seems like I need to type faster instead of watching the TV at the same time lol.
 
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dee1985 said:
Phil V said:
Also, a question, if I may ...

If there were a beautiful sunset,
In manual, with a low f-stop, a fairly quick shutter speed, and if it wasn't all that bright so maybe an ISOthat isn't very high... Would I be able to achieve a nice shot ?
How would you set your camera and why ?
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You need to understand that there's no such thing as 'go to' settings, the only guidance you can get is what and how for technique. For sunsets we generally meter the sky. It doesn't matter what mode you use, as long as you understand what you're metering and how you use that metering. For multiple similar shots M might be the best option, but for keeping your options open for different effects, AV would be quicker (locking exposure as you go).

So for your example, I'd shoot a sunset at a fairly large aperture, unless I was after foreground detail (then I'd perhaps stop down to f8), a shutter speed that'd allow me to handhold comfortably, so the ISO would be dialled in to suit that - always looking for the lowest ISO possible.

I'm in the midst of a blog post to show the difference between 'using a camera' and photography based on a recent sunset shoot I did. Just to show there's no such thing as 'right', because it's about creating the image you want to create, not simply something that's in focus and well exposed.
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Im a Pro. I recomend using the best mode for the job in hand...

Often for me that's usually A, or M or for me sometimes S

Depends on the lighting set-up and what I'm shooting, there is no right answer
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm happy with the results I get in A and S modes, so am happy to stick with them. Was just wondering what if anything I was missing by not going full manual and the replies about consistent lighting etc have helped me with that.

Odd thing is I shoot full manual with film, and generally use sunny 16 rule as my camera does not have a light meter.

It just seems to me that my thought process for digital is very different to film
 
I have a Nikon D7000, and on its dial is two user presets. I have these programed to bring up a selection of settings decided in advance.

Now, is using these really any different than using the preset modes?
 
I use aperture, to me it is about getting the photograph and not sitting fiddling with settings for ages. I have no desire to take photos entirely manual methods (unless I am underground, in the dark, using a torch), the exposure meter on the D7000 works perfectly for what I want out of photography.
 
HMansfield said:
I have a Nikon D7000, and on its dial is two user presets. I have these programed to bring up a selection of settings decided in advance.

Now, is using these really any different than using the preset modes?
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I don't use the U1/U2 setting as yet, but I've seen a few people on here who mention they've set up for a particular type of shooting, say when using a telephoto, they'll set one of those user settings so they have a minimum shutter speed (say 1/500th) and a set aperture (say f/5.6) and then compensation is dealt with via auto ISO.
 
I think the problem comes from people who know no better assuming that being able to shoot in manual means you have reached a certain level of photography (and to some extent that is true).
The word 'auto' has a lot of connotations with it and not just in photography (driving for example)

The key is learning all the aspects of exposure to then allow you to choose what mode to use based on which is best at the time.
I personally have never needed to use manual and get by with generally using aperture priority along with exposure compensation and keeping any eye on shutter speed. I could get the same results using manual but it wouldn't be any quicker or any better so I don't.
 
SimonH said:
I find it funny that people who assert that you shouldn't use auto mode don't seem to consider for a moment that this should extend to focusing.

I mean really.. what's more fundamental to "owning" the image than manually ensuring that focus is correct?
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Apart from conditions where autofocus can be fooled it will do a better job of achieving accuracy than manual focus. DSLR's are not usually fitted with the aids that film SLR's once had to achieve accurate focus, i.e. focussing screens with a fresnel lens and split image. (BTW, the absence of these aids in DSLR's is why pressing the preview button to check focus is not nearly as useful as it is in SLR's with focussing aids).
 
Steve said:
I agree with the consensus that you shouldn't use auto mode.

But why does everyone say you should use manual mode only.

I use aperture priority if depth of field is my primary concern, and shutter speed priority if movement is my my primary concern.

I check the other setting chosen by the camera to make sure it is reasonable.

If I need to over or under-expose, I just use +/- EV

Am I missing something by not using manual mode?
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I think most people advise LEARNING in manual mode. That's different. If you know what you're doing, then there's nothing wrong with aperture or shutter priority.

As for AF... I always switch it off in the studio, and use manual focus and live view, as it's massively more accurate.
 
SimonH said:
I find it funny that people who assert that you shouldn't use auto mode don't seem to consider for a moment that this should extend to focusing.

I mean really.. what's more fundamental to "owning" the image than manually ensuring that focus is correct?
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I would love to meet someone who could focus manually and take these three images


PortraitPhotographerCheshire001 by JoeBoyMan, on Flickr

shot at 85mm f/1.4 = dof of 16cm and a moving target. In fact the last one has a DOF of 7cm

manual focus and manual exposure are completely different beasts you cannot talk about them in the same way
 
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joescrivens said:
I would love to meet someone who could focus manually and take these three images
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I ahve pictures shot in semi auto mode that you couldnt take in manual mode.. I ahve pictures in manual that you couldnt take in auto.

this is why cameras have so many functions.. and focus modes..
 
Phil Young said:
Being able to shoot in manual mode is important.

I don't see why you "should only" shoot in manual. Perhaps (probably) there's some snobery involved.
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do you still shoot in manual most of the time phil and just calculate exposure with your eyes?
 
If you showed a photo to a regular Joe they wouldn't once think about the settings used to capture the image. They would only comment on what they thought of the photo. It's only because we're into photography that we hanker over settings.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter if you're in full manual or full auto. Use what ever gives you the best results or what you enjoy using. It's the image that you've captured/created that's important, not how you achieved it.
 
I always shoot manual on my 1100D to be honest i cant get my head round the other programs on the camera and love shooting manual
 
SilveR_172 said:
I always shoot manual on my 1100D to be honest i cant get my head round the other programs on the camera and love shooting manual
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you have never been in a position where manual wont work..so your happy wiht manual.. but what works for you wont work for all.

and thats why people should not reccomend a way of always shooting

I know you wern't.. just saying :)
 
SilveR_172 said:
I always shoot manual on my 1100D to be honest i cant get my head round the other programs on the camera and love shooting manual
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I'm intrigued by this. What metering mode do you use?

Are you just centring the meter on your subject or measuring the light in other ways?
 
If you like Fish then eat Fish but if you like Sausage then Sausage it is.

There does seem to be a bit of snobbery from the purists, get over yourselves.
 
I'm starting to open up to Aperture Priority a little more with the improved matrix metering in the S5, but my happy place is still manual and spot metering.
 
"A" mode unless i'm going the off camera flash route, then it's manual.

I honestly don't think it matters what mode you shoot in if you're happy enough with the results.
 
Phil V said:
Most camera's will shoot Raw in AV, TV, M and P (3 of those are 'auto modes').

It's only when you're talking about the mickey mouse modes* that the camera will choose JPEG. But as has been said above, those modes aren't for photographers at all. It annoys me that they exist on mid range SLR's, But then, allowing the camera to pick a random focus point is the single most useless 'help' a camera can give.

*sport, landscape, macro etc.
at least plenty of Canon's will. Not sure about the rest.
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At last! Someone who realises that A and S are as much auto modes as P! The only difference being that in A or S mode, the camera remembers the chosen aperture or shutter speed when it's switched off while in P, it'll revert to chosing whatever it deems suitable every time the camera's turned back on. With P, the user can still choose their desired parameter, whether it's a wide aperture for shallow DoF, small for greater DoF, slow shutter speed for subject blur (panning etc) or faster to freeze action.

Manual slows things down and I'll bet that many (probably most) use their camera's meter to determine the exposure needed (or at least get a baseline from the in camera meter) then deliberately over or under expose if they feel it necessary. Rather like dialling in any wanted/needed exposure correction in any of the automatic modes!

Scene modes are another subject entirely and are probably of use to beginners who have yet to learn more of the craft involved. TBH, the only time I've ever used any of the scene modes was to use the Fireworks setting (on an old compact) to force a long exposure since there was no other way to choose a longer shutter speed.

As with pretty much everything else, there's a time and place for pure manual - IMO, that time was the late '70s when it was all I had! Metering was out of camera too and focus was only available by turning the ring and getting the images to match up in that split (and later multi) prism.

Long live P mode and (large, fine) JPEG!!! (And any way others want to shoot!)
 
I used to shoot all the time in manual mode. But having spoken to some professional wildlife photographers who all agreed that aperture priority mode was clearly the correct choice I have converted.

Wildlife is so unpredictable, subjects move in and out of different lighting settings. Adjusting manually each time means you miss a lot of opportunities!
 
WillNicholls said:
I used to shoot all the time in manual mode. But having spoken to some professional wildlife photographers who all agreed that aperture priority mode was clearly the correct choice I have converted.

Wildlife is so unpredictable, subjects move in and out of different lighting settings. Adjusting manually each time means you miss a lot of opportunities!
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Will.

Just the person!!

Get yourself to the talkbusiness section and add some input to my thread lol
 
Have always used manual personally for everything - with wildlife I use manual as if you're at a location with say two places where the subjects might go to, then just lock in a shady setting and a sunny setting in the custom modes (C1, C2 etc) on the dial and flick between the two if needed. I can always put in some settings and if the light changes, accurately change them to correct exposure without checking. There's never been a time when I've had the wrong settings even with unexpected action.

Will give Av a go though on my next outing to see how it is

drew
 
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