Why would I use Manual mode?

[BurningArrow]

Hi all

I am still learning about exposure and how to find out the right exposure settings.

I use AV mode most of the time and dial in a + or - exposure compensation when needed. That's the mode I feel most comfortable using.

My question is, when and why would I need the manual mode setting? If I were to use Manual mode I would set the aperture first and then match the shutter speed until the meter shows the correct exposure.
That's not much different than using the AV mode except for the shutter speed being set automatically.

Any help or recommendations welcome.

Matt
Canon 10D

[RichardtheSane]

Manual mode is best for situations where the indicated exposure would not be correct for the subject. Strong backlighting is one situation where the meter gets fooled, also subjects with a very high contrast can send it off target - and those are just two of a LOT of situations.
In these situations you would either use a seperate light meter to measure the light falling onto a subject (not the light reflected off, as the 10d measures) or you meter off a grey card using the 10D meter. Either way, once you have a reading just dial those settings in on manual and shoot with confidence :)

Basically what I am saying is the 10D meter is good in most situations, but can be easily fooled :)

[Vegas Poboy]

Another good reason is total creativity, If you have the time and really want to do something out of the norm manual mode is the way. You can take shots and recompose each one at different settings and see a difference in your pics. TV mode is another great mode that can help stop or blur the moment. AV is just DOF. If you get a chance take a look @ a book by Lee Frost named A-Z of Creative Photography and it will give some good ideas on using manual mode. I used to be one of these guys who put it one mode and left it there until I started taking classes and it has improved my shots a great deal. Now I decide what I'm trying to capture and decide on what to do from there.

[Canuck]

Hi!
I'm by no means an experrt on photography, but here goes my 2 pence...I like to shoot a variety of nature scenes ranging from sunsets to rivers/streams and the like to rolling hills like in the Cotswolds of England, and flat wide open vast fields like found in the Fens of England. There are other times where the program mode will not hack it. Case in point, you want to slow down the water to give a misty, dreamy like appearance, that's simple in manual mode, thought it may take a few tries to get what you're looking for. This is the beauty of digital! I'm sure you can find what I'm talking about on the net. As for another case, sunsets, the auto modes are easily fooled by the bright sun, or reflection off the clouds and I find it far better to shoot manual. Another case, you can control the depth of field completely w/ manual setting. That is you controld what is/isn't in focus completely. If you have a lens capable of f2.8 (large opening) or less that's a real short depth of field compared to f32 (small opening) Although, as F stop goes up more time is needed for correct exposure. Therein brings another idea...I shot a sunset here full manual and RAW and I'm offloading the pics as we speak to the other computer. I really need to install ACDSee, or something other than the Adobe/Canon software for fast viewing of pics on the other computer. I am looking at some of them and they are about 36 MB a pop! That 2x120GB RAID hard drive will com in real handy! Enough of this and this has been more like 20 pence than 2 pence.

Cheers!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I tend to use AV mode,. or even "P" a lot.

But Manual does come in handy. Although with the ability to roll the dial and alter the exposure in any "creative' mode,. you are correct, the need for full manual is less than it would be otherwise.

But there are still times whaen full manual will be helpfull. Long night exposures,. ghosting,. lightning,. meteor showers,. etc.

[Mark Benavides]

Photography is NOT my dayjob, however, I use MANUAL mode a fair amount to increase the depth of field, select my shutter speed, and compensate for the lack of light by increasing my EC, even when bouncing my flash.

FWIW,
Mark

[defordphoto]

It's great to have all those choices isn't? The Canon (d)SLRs can be the simplest or most compliated cameras to use. You can throw all your creativity at it, adjust it however you see fit, and then turn around, place it in full automatic mode, hand it to Grandma and she can shoot a snapshot of the family at the latest reunion.

I love these cameras!!

[BurningArrow]

Thanks for the replies guys!

[Dave I]

I use Av almost exclusively. Exposure compensation is very easy on the 10D when it 'guesses' high or low. I really can't imagine a situation where I'd want to use manual, since the only exposure meter I ever have with me is the one built into the camera.

The exception is flash. I always use manual with the flash.

[lightandlife]

burningarrow wrote:

My question is, when and why would I need the manual mode setting?
Matt
Canon 10D

In short, you need it when you think you know more than the camera in a nonstandard situation.

Personally, I rarely use it. If there is a problem in a particular shot, you can always correct it with Photoshop, although purists will advise against it.

[Andy_T]

I often use manual mode if I'm not 100% sure about which f-stop/timing to use and if the picture on the LCD/histogram might be misleading (e.g. night shots).

Then I can just take a photo several times, and modify the parameter I'm not sure of. That way I later have some versions to choose the best from.

Regards,
Andy

[justme_dc]

Two words......Studio Strobes!

Other than that I won't restate the great information stated by those above....

[Webster]

Coming in this late, I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned panoramas. If you're going to take several frames to stitch together in a panorama, manual control is essential, because you do not want the exposure changing from one frame to the next (unless, of course, you do want it to).

[Deadlus]

I would say if you are new to photography and have time to use manual on your subjects do that, becuse you learn alot about photography in the meantime.

I do still try to use manual alot becuse even i been ingame for 20yrs im still a newbee and i can always learn new stuff.

But otherwise i agree with all the other about manual.
Photography are in the eye of the beholder.

Deadlus