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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> To manual or not to manual...
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 06/30/2003 06:19:26 AM · #1
It's fantastic to be able to just point and shoot without having to think much, but is this getting the best possible result? Do professional photographers use manual only settings or do they let their camera be the judge of the shutter speed and aperture. Not just in shutter and aperture, but white balance, ISO, sharpness etc. Its just that I can't seem to get a perfectly balanced picture if I rely on auto. Very often hot spots and I rekon I could have done better manually. I'd just be interested to know if that's the done thing - manual for every shot.
 06/30/2003 06:31:15 AM · #2
It completely depends.

Program mode is great for photojournalism shots where the light changes rapidly, and you feel you can trust your lightmeter.

Aperture mode is fabulous if you want to make sure you are always shooting on the fastest possible shutter time (set it to your largest aperture), or for artistic purposes (blurring the background) and vice-versa.

Tv mode I hardly use - If I want to set the shutter time, I usually go to fully manual mode and set everything manually.


06/30/2003 06:32:40 AM · #3
.. Still lifes and landscapes - or basically whenever you have enough time:

-Shoot fully manual.
-Use a tripod.
-check your histograms.

HJ
 06/30/2003 06:35:22 AM · #4
Personnally, I try both. I am not great at the technical stuff, which is one of the reasons why I decided on digital in the first place. Digital enables me to play as much as I want. For my DPC shots (and these days photos in general) I take hundreds of shots of the same subject, using all the different auto and manual settings, trying out just about everything I can. Once I've then taken as many shots as I can stand (or more often when my assistant, ie. my wife, gets fed up with me), I start the laborious process of sifting through the shots, normally selecting 5 to 10 which I then do some processing on. These shots are then compared and the best chosen for submission, or sometimes, none of them came out like I imagined, which means I go back to the drawing board.
06/30/2003 06:59:54 AM · #5
All of my recent photos have been shot on full manual mode. I started shooting on full manual about a month after I got my G3 and haven't looked back since. Only rarely do I switch back to non-manual mode. I find I've learned more about proper exposure and how to control DOF. This is especially helpful with studio shots. Of course, the G3 shows what the final picture will look like on the LCD screen prior to pressing the shutter. It makes it really easy to shoot on full manual mode.

-Matt
 06/30/2003 09:45:47 AM · #6
The only modes i use are Manual and Av where i set the aperture and the camera determines the appropriate shutter speed. Have no need for Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Tv modes.
 06/30/2003 10:46:06 AM · #7
I typically use aperture priority or manual.

Almost never use program, auto or any of the fixed parameters modes.

I only use shutter priority when I care about controlling subject blur (either to get really crisp shots of fast moving action, or to keep the shutter speed slow enough for pan shots)
 06/30/2003 10:52:18 AM · #8
Full manual. I've never taken a shot with this my 5050 in aperture or shutter priority. I've taken a few shots in program mode, which was basically worthless. I believe I will get the results that I want in full manual. If something gets messed up, then I am fully accountable. I don't want anything else to blame but me. On the flip side, I can take all the credit too :) I've gotten to the point where the only things I really mess up are the shots that surprise me and I forget to switch things but I'm getting more prepared of late.

Full manual full time. For me, the only way to go. - Bob
 06/30/2003 11:36:26 AM · #9
Originally posted by Journey:
The only modes i use are Manual and Av where i set the aperture and the camera determines the appropriate shutter speed. Have no need for Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Tv modes.


Exactly.

I do wish they would develop some nice digicams that gave us some better options. I have used the Portrait and Landscape modes exactly 0 times since I got my camera. Sure we need Auto (I don't use it, but if I MUST loan the camera to my wife I'm glad its there... for her sake and mine) we also need Av and Tv, and I can even suffer P, but the rest of that crud can go.

This includes the movie mode, the stitch assist, and any of the "artistic" modes such as B&W and Sepia. I'm of the opinion that most consumers never use these features. I'm sure they were designed for the average user in mind... The point and shoot person that pulls the camera out on special occasions and holidays. When in fact they would never bother to learn HOW to use these features, and instead would set the camera to Auto and leave it there forever. And the user that bothers to learn what they are doesn't use them either. They probably know a bit about photgraphy and read up on these modes only far enough to realize, "Hey, I don't need this... I'll just vary such and such and get better results on my own."

I'd like to see some more useful options. For instance, Canon have been including a neutral density filter in their latest G series cameras. What a nifty feature! What a nifty feature I would use a few times a year! How about including some truely useful built in filters like a circular polarizer or even an infrared. Now that would be interesting.

Message edited by author 2003-06-30 11:40:00.
 06/30/2003 11:43:57 AM · #10
Good Morning.

I have the same cam as you P_Johns. I use a studio strobe and I have no choice but to use all manual. The only thing I do use in auto is focus. The results are always better when you use Manual because you can build up the shot around the settings. Have a wonderful day.

John (TurboTech)

Message edited by author 2003-06-30 11:48:17.
 06/30/2003 12:06:22 PM · #11
If Canon/Nikon/Oly/[Your Brand] didn't include the Portrait/Night Scene/Sport/[Name it] modes a lot of these cameras would not sell. You have to remember that a lot of these cameras are bough by people who are looking for that cool gadget that'll do it all for them and they want as many modes on that dial as possible. They are also usefull when you let other people take a photo for/of yourself, because you can just tell 'em: "Halfpress, see greed box/light and then press all the way". In 50% of cases you end you with a decent photo. 50% accounts for camera error and more often user error. I've had people frame shots in such a manner that people heads were cut off, while being sober and using G3's LCD ... So yes, some users need every little Auto Mode there is.

I personally find Panoramic/Stitch Assist Mode quite usefull since it allows to see the preceeding shot (especially usefully when not using a tripod), which helps framing a lot. Personally, I use M, Av and P most of the time. Tv is not used nearly often enough, unless I am doing night exposures or something.
 06/30/2003 12:35:15 PM · #12
Originally posted by alexmfin:
If Canon/Nikon/Oly/[Your Brand] didn't include the Portrait/Night Scene/Sport/[Name it] modes a lot of these cameras would not sell. You have to remember that a lot of these cameras are bough by people who are looking for that cool gadget that'll do it all for them and they want as many modes on that dial as possible....


Quite true.

In fact, it won't be long before we start seeing the "Ultimate Gadget" on the market. This unit will be the size of a folding cell phone and contain (in addition to the phone) a PDA, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a GPS, and, of course, wireless internet access. (feel free to add any other gadget I'm forgetting.)

This is not a joke... I fully expect to see such a device soon : )
 06/30/2003 12:55:45 PM · #13
Originally posted by mcmurma:

In fact, it won't be long before we start seeing the "Ultimate Gadget" on the market. This unit will be the size of a folding cell phone and contain (in addition to the phone) a PDA, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a GPS, and, of course, wireless internet access. (feel free to add any other gadget I'm forgetting.)

This is not a joke... I fully expect to see such a device soon : )


You mean you haven't seen them yet (posted from a PDA using the built in wireless internet access) while listening to an MP3...
 06/30/2003 02:31:40 PM · #14
Since I've become serious about digital photography I have forced myself to rely more on me for my shots. For the past few months I've been shooting 99.9% full manual (except for manual focus, which my camera doesn't offer). My camera, like many has an histogram feature which allows me to determine quite easily, the best aperture/shutter speed combinations to use in most normal shooting situations, albeit with a little fumbling at times. Sometimes though I have found that the histogram isn't always correct, so I need to tweak the aperture or shutter appropriately. If nothing else, it has taught me the limitations of my camera and helped me find ways around it.
 06/30/2003 03:29:04 PM · #15
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by mcmurma:

In fact, it won't be long before we start seeing the "Ultimate Gadget" on the market. This unit will be the size of a folding cell phone and contain (in addition to the phone) a PDA, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a GPS, and, of course, wireless internet access. (feel free to add any other gadget I'm forgetting.)

This is not a joke... I fully expect to see such a device soon : )


You mean you haven't seen them yet (posted from a PDA using the built in wireless internet access) while listening to an MP3...


Aha! But where were you... exactly. GPS coordinates please : ) And can it take a picture and phone home?
 06/30/2003 09:57:44 PM · #16
Originally posted by mcmurma:

In fact, it won't be long before we start seeing the "Ultimate Gadget" on the market. This unit will be the size of a folding cell phone and contain (in addition to the phone) a PDA, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a GPS, and, of course, wireless internet access. (feel free to add any other gadget I'm forgetting.)

This is not a joke... I fully expect to see such a device soon : )


Just wait. In 40 years or so humans will be implanting electronics into their bodies. You could capture images with just your eyes, and play music from inside your head. Don't believe me? Read this book.
 06/30/2003 10:31:54 PM · #17
I'm trying to learn more and more about photography. In general I use Aperature priority and manual, but there are moments when I just don't have the time to think about it. I have a 2.5 year old daugher, and she won't stay still long enogh for me to get my settings right. Fortunately for me my wife bought a relatively capable camera. I used the P (program mode) this weekend while we were at the park which allowed me to worry more about composition and catching that critical moment. I have some more cropping to do when I get my main computer back up, but I must admit that I'm happy with the results:

//www.pbase.com/narliss/day_in_bcommon

Message edited by author 2003-06-30 22:41:07.
 06/30/2003 10:53:56 PM · #18
Some really nice shots there Noah. Mostly straight from the camera?
 06/30/2003 11:14:40 PM · #19
Originally posted by narliss:
...I used the P (program mode) this weekend while we were at the park which allowed me to worry more about composition and catching that critical moment.


I think this is a valid point with a lot of consumer / prosumer digital camera's. I have a camera which provides complete freedom when required (such as my Speed) challenge, but it's slow to change settings some time. For some situations this is fine - I have plenty of time to fiddle and think about the effects of what I'm doing, but there are situations where you don't have time to fiddle. I believe this is the weakness of many digital cam's and the strength of DSLR's - the ability to configure the camera very fast.

Aperture priority and shutter priority are good compromises - you can fix a particular setting and let the camera handle the rest. Of course wierd lighting situations tend to force me into full manual mode still.

In terms of white balance I try to get this as close as possible in the camera. In daylight the Nikon is very good in full auto whitebalance, for indoors shots I normally set a custom whitebalance using a grey card. My biggest risk then is forgetting to change it later - but it becomes obvious with the first shot taken.
07/01/2003 12:18:09 AM · #20
Originally posted by mcmurma:

Aha! But where were you... exactly. GPS coordinates please : ) And can it take a picture and phone home?


GPS is fully supported (I just haven't bought the plug-in card for it), the camera is there and I can use VoIP to call any phone you like...
 07/01/2003 12:24:51 AM · #21
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by mcmurma:

Aha! But where were you... exactly. GPS coordinates please : ) And can it take a picture and phone home?


GPS is fully supported (I just haven't bought the plug-in card for it), the camera is there and I can use VoIP to call any phone you like...


But can it bake a pizza...
 07/01/2003 01:27:59 AM · #22
Originally posted by greenem2:

But can it bake a pizza...


I can order em from pizzahut.com...
 07/01/2003 09:29:09 AM · #23
Originally posted by orussell:
Some really nice shots there Noah. Mostly straight from the camera?


Yes most of these pics are right from the camera, some rotation and cropping and sharpening (I don't sharpen in camera anymore) was done, and of course changing the colors for the duotone.

-N

Message edited by author 2003-07-01 09:36:55.
 07/01/2003 11:35:47 AM · #24
Mcmurma, i would happily forego all these features and modes that i don't use anyway in return for much reduced shutter lag. Then, i don't mind having to buy glass for polarizers, infrared and such. If the G3 also gives me a teleconverter that's a real zoom and twice the focal length that i'm getting now, i would be really happy with the G3 for a long time (probably will be ditto on the wide-angle but i haven't gotten that one yet).
 07/01/2003 11:42:01 AM · #25
I shoot in fully manual mode only when I can't accomplish what I want in one of the other modes. 95% of the time, I can get exactly what I'm after in one of the priority modes, or simply in the point and shoot mode.

I particularly like aperture priority mode. I use this mode a very large majority of the time. I could use full manual mode instead, but it would not accomplish much other than taking a little more time to setup the exposure. I would have to adjust two settings instead of one. If I'm shooting in aperture priority mode and I want to slightly under or over expose, I can do that with a simple exposure bias adjustment rather than switching to full manual.

Being able to shoot in full manual mode is a good thing, but I personally choose to save time and shoot in priority mode when possible.

In still life photos that I do, I always shoot in fully manual mode. When I have complete control of the lighting and environment, I usually choose to take complete control of the exposure as well. When I'm shooting in any environment where things are moving or light is/could be changing, I never use fully manual mode.


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