Comments on: Abolish automatic settings!

By: Karl Baxter

Karl Baxter — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:27:51 +0000

P is for pedestrian – it’s the walk about mode, the I need this now and I need it right mode – P is for perfect for street shooting. It serves NO other purpose.

M is for meter properly, M is for move slowly, M is for mindful. M is my friend.

Other than the VERY occasional use of Aperture priority mode, I only know P & M. In doors, I only know M.

By: Samantha Decker

Samantha Decker — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:43:56 +0000

The only modes I use are aperture priority, since I generally want control over the dof, or manual if I am feeling very finicky or I don’t like what I am getting with aperture priority. I think the creative modes are useful for those who aren’t keen on how a camera works though, I got by on them for years but now that I know how to use my camera’s manual modes I am getting much better results!

By: Beate

Beate — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:53:54 +0000

Thanks for the great info. I just got my DSLR out of the box and I was a bit overwhelmed with all the manual settings, so this was helpful for me. I shamefacedly admit to knowing what the ’suppress flash’ mode is for. But, armed with info, I will be venturing into my manual modes with gusto!

By: Royce - YourPhotoVision

Royce - YourPhotoVision — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:37:30 +0000

What a great article! Don't think I've seen anyone else blog on this subject. Manual in is the best way to take lightning photos

By: Life with Kaishon

Life with Kaishon — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:22:06 +0000

Really great advice!

By: Øyvind Nordhagen

Øyvind Nordhagen — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:16:29 +0000

Great article, Haje! I concur completely and I will spread the gospel!

I actually didn’t know about the difference in flash calculation in aperture priority mode. Nice tip!

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:56:02 +0000

Awesome! I agree no more auto mode, learn to use your camera..

By: Ben Simo

Ben Simo — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:21:29 +0000

When I learned to shoot photos, Program mode was the new-fangled automatic mode. I didn’t have any creative automatic modes.

I still miss being able to spin a ring on the lens to set the aperature. I could feel my settings without having to look at an LCD screen.

I’ve never understood why some cameras require that I disable automatic flash each time I turn them on — even in non-automatic modes. I want to be the one that tells the camera to use a flash.

I occasionally use the new automatic modes on my cameras — but only when I’m in a hurry to capture a fleeting moment and not creating art. I’m finding that these automatic modes disappoint me more often and am using Av and Tv instead. With my DSLR, I’m getting better at quickly setting the camera as I like. I have a couple smaller digital mega-zoom cameras with M, Av, Tv, and P but the user-interface makes them difficult to use.

I love that digital gives immediate feedback. I don’t have to wait and go to the darkroom to see how my tweaks impact the images I capture.

Thanks for a great overview of the more-manual settings that I fear many people overlook.

Ben

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:51:58 +0000

Stefan – aw, mate, that’s the best compliment I’ve had in a while :) You’re most welcome!

By: Ariful Islam S'uhas

Ariful Islam S'uhas — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:33:38 +0000

Nice artical. I’m in love with “M” mode for the very first time I use a DSLR. Cause I think I should use my brain before taking any photograph. I like to focus manually too.

Manual is the setting that give me the full freeness to be a photographer.

By: James

James — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:18:59 +0000

i prefer use M for all kinds of shot…
just don’t like Auto..its like everything has been set up for you :(
nice topic~
p/s: Great idea to dry socks in oven XD

By: MikMik

MikMik — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:40:29 +0000

I once read about a use for Auto mode which can make sense: as a “safe” standard mode. Suppose you’ve got your camera set for some “fancy” photograph, and you suddenly need to take a “normal” photo, and don’t have time to tweak all the setting back to normal. With auto mode you get a standard set of settings just by turning the dial.

By: Stefan

Stefan — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:45:09 +0000

Thank you for reminding me why I wanted a dslr in the first place.

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:13:48 +0000

Hehe – ikke bekymre deg Erik, det er ikke noen konkurranse :-)

By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:59:47 +0000

Ok, I stand corrected. Good to get cleared up!

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:28:38 +0000

First or second curtain flash is not really that relevant in this case, I think – although if you want the trails of the person you’re photographing to be at the end of the trails, then yes. I believe night-time portraiture on most cameras is first-curtain, though, so go figure :)

By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:14:32 +0000

A good read as allways! But half the deal about night-time portraiture is second curtain flash sync, isn’t it. Important to keep in mind when switching to Av…

By: snowmantle

snowmantle — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:00:16 +0000

I always shoot in aperture priority, and switch to manual for my 50mm lens. i definitely think i’ve learnt more about exposure since i started using manual, but i sometimes have to make adjustments in software :-s. BUT i’ve learned that a correct exposure isn’t necessarily the best one, and i wouldn’t have learnt that if i’d just stuck to auto :)

By: Danferno

Danferno — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:05:51 +0000

Personally I always shoot in aperture mode and adjust exposure as needed using the EV wheel.

By: Jack Fussell

Jack Fussell — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:54:58 +0000

Great article. I left the auto settings behind last year when I bought my 50mm 1.8 and I haven’t gone back. I don’t always nail exposure, but I’m learning how to think through the shot and make the proper adjustments. If I had stayed in auto I never would have understood how to do this.

Thanks!

By: Jacob

Jacob — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:25:41 +0000

Hey! You have some great tips there! I liked your description “sexy little 50mm prime lens”. They are great lenses!

Another thing about the landscape, portrait modes etc. is that I think they automatically change the picture styles for you also. ie. Landscape mode would use the landscape picture style.

Although I only use Av (what does V stand for?) I have used A-Dep a few times and it doesn’t seem so bad, it just uses the smallest aperture necessary to get everything in the frame looking sharp.

My 40D also has 3 Custom modes. I have only set one but I use it a bit. I set it for fireworks with bulb shutter etc.

Are you doing any more of those critiques any time soon ;) The ones you have done already were very useful to my own photography!

Great job!