Do any of you ever use the Automatic mode?

[hank1105]

I hate to ask this, I might get flamed, but do any of you ever just use the automatic setting on your Canon? I have only been using the camera for a few days and have taken a few pics with automatic and they come out great. If you need to take quick pic do you have time to set up everything? I am still new to this whole deal, so it is harder for me right now to get the concept down, but I am working on it.

Hank

[Olegis]

Na, I shoot mostly in Av mode ... 8)

[mttmrphy]

Only when I have other people take my picture with it.

[robertwgross]

I admit to using "Green Box" mode on my D60.

I do a lot of nature photography, and quite often I find myself hiking up some high mountain to shoot the wildflowers that exist far above timberline. When I arrive up there, I am generally breathing hard. It is difficult to think very clearly about camera settings, so I will just flip the camera on and shoot.

If it is an important stationary subject, then I will think about what I just did, then catch my breath better, and then try some better settings.

If it is an important moving subject, like elusive wildlife, then the first shot is probably the only one that I'll get, so using something mildly foolproof, like Green Box, is better than nothing at all.

Sometimes I carry my camera set to Sports mode if I am expecting wildlife, but the Green Box is more common.

---Bob Gross---

[Alan Neilson]

I mainly use P mode and use the dial to get the shutter speed aperture that I want

[hank1105]

The M mode is to set all 3 options, right? Out of 3 options (shutter speed, apeture, iso) which is most important, if there is such a thing? As always thanks for any help.

Hank

[cmM]

I don't think I've ever used automatic mode on my rebel. Mostly manual mode for me.

Out of 3 options (shutter speed, apeture, iso) which is most important, if there is such a thing?

There isn't. They all work together. You double one of them, you'd have to half one of the other 2 to get the same result. They're inversely proportional to each other.

[ejwebb]

Mainly Av mode.

[mttmrphy]

The M mode is to set all 3 options, right? Out of 3 options (shutter speed, apeture, iso) which is most important, if there is such a thing? As always thanks for any help.

Hank

Well, this depends on what you are trying to say with your photograph.

Look at it like a math problem...

(Aperture+ShutterSpeed+ISO)=Great Photo

Depending on what you are taking a picture of and how you want it to look will set the values for each seting. If you want to freeze a hummingbird, then you want to use a really fast shutterspeed. But this means you will have to adjust your aperture to get the correct exposure. Another example would be if you want a very small DOF, the you would widen your f stop to f/1.8. This means you have to adjust your shutterspeed for the correct exposure. It all depends on what you are trying to achieve.

On top of this you have ISO. The lower the better unless you want noise in your photo.

I usually confuse people more when trying to explain stuff... I hope this helps.

[Jon]

The M mode is to set all 3 options, right? Out of 3 options (shutter speed, apeture, iso) which is most important, if there is such a thing? As always thanks for any help.

Hank

Do you want:
Low noise (ISO)
Depth-of-field control (aperture)
Stop-action and reduced camera motion (shutter speed)?

Pick 2; unless you can control the light as well, you'll have to accept whatever the third falls out as.

[roanjohn]

No........"P" mode is the only alternative.....otherwise I'm on AV.

Ro1

[msvadi]

Av (50%) and M (50%) for me

[Penguin_101_1]

I only use it when I am taking pics at Christmas or a birthday party when I really don't have time no set it up the way I would want it. Of course the X-700 if full manual so no because there isn't one.

[hank1105]

Very interesting, now I understand what each one means. I just have to figure out which one to double which one to divide and all the rest. Believe me I plan on getting a idiots guide to photography book a.s.a.p. Thank you for all of the help.

[sGu]

never, M mode all the way, occasionally Av/Tv, only if shooting condition is timing critical to adjust settings.

[Conk]

I always use "m". I didn't know my camera came with an auto mode. :shock:

[Mark Kemp]

I just press all the buttons and cross my fingers :D

[steven]

Use M all the time.

End up with some bad picture some times when I forget to set something :x
but I fugure that is part of learning. You can vary your exposure more in M and so I want to be able to do that quickly. And the only way to get quick is with practice.

So M all the way :wink:

[ron chappel]

Very interesting, now I understand what each one means. I just have to figure out which one to double which one to divide and all the rest. Believe me I plan on getting a idiots guide to photography book a.s.a.p. Thank you for all of the help.

Welcome to the simplicity of exchangeble shutter speed and aperture and the options they offer! :D :D :D :D
(while ISO and density filters could be said to add to the flexibilty of choosing one of the first options)

Personally i can't think terribly straight most of the time so i use P mode quite alot.
...with P mode you can instantly change the shutter speed/aperture variable by turning the dial behind the shutter button.It's like having program mode ready all the time with AV or Tv ready at a moments notice with the absolute minimum of fumbling :D
...and there's also the good side effect of avoiding the 'damn i left it in the wrong mode!' syndrome :oops:

At other times i use Av for depth of field effects
or use Tv when i want something either frozen or with motion blur,etc

[HJMinard]

When attempting to be creative, I utilize mostly AV and M ... occasionally TV.

I use P for family snapshots (birthday's, etc.) and quick shot situations where I don't have time to analyze.

Since I have a DRebel and can't force Servo (yes I've hacked but I don't enjoy the workaround), I occasionally use the Sports mode for sports.

Never use the green box.

[Digital Prophet]

When I first got my Rebel I used the Auto mode. But I wasn't that impressed with it. I mean it took good pictures. Just not $1000 worth of good.

Now I shoot mainly in AV. But one day (when I learn to take a good picture) I am gonna set it on Manual and take that knob off. Then there will be no going back! :lol:

- Digital Prophet -

[Kabz]

I shoot:
AV and TV- 39%
M - 60%

the other 1% some preset just to see how the auto captures the image.
I use Auto when I rarely let someone use my cam. But I have never shot 2 consecutive images in Auto ever I don't think.
You don't buy an expensive piece of equipment to not utilize its different capabilities.

[NILOLIGIST]

I don't have one but when I did I didn't use it. I use manual or AV mostly. Sometimes I use shutter priority but rarely.

NiL,

[blinking8s]

when its for me...Av...for class and to learn...M

[DieselGirl]

I just press all the buttons and cross my fingers :D

Me too, and all at the same time too!

:lol:

[Perfect_10]

Only when I'm asleep .. when I'm awake, I like to have control over what I'm doing and use Av

[Jim_T]

I use P most of the time..

I always glance at the aperture and shutter speed settings in the viewfinder.. If P isn't doing what I want, I switch to Av or Tv..

I can't see using M all the time.. P generally chooses the settings I would have selected anyway had I been shooting in M.. Fastest possible shutter speed at the middle f/8 sweet spot..

Why take the time to set the shutter and aperture separately and adjust by meter.. Obviously there's a need for M.. But ALL the time.. Every shot you take ?? Seems like a lot of unecessary work....

.

[JABACo]

TV, AV or M

[Big_B]

I mostly use app. priority.... However if I see a shot that will only be available for a fraction of a second then it sometimes pays to switch to auto mode - by the time I'd set up my camera correctly using manual, the photo would be long gone. But that's me, I'm not proud :wink:

[chris.bailey]

I call it wife mode :lol:

[ron chappel]

[quote="Digital Prophet"] I mean it took good pictures. Just not $1000 worth of good.[quote]

haha.Great quote! :D :D

[hank1105]

Again thank you for the replies. I guess starting out I will mess with P and go from there. I definitely did not spend a 1000 bucks for camera to only do Auto mode, I wanted the flexibility of changing various options.

If you do select the P mode, and look through the viewfinder, does the camera automatically select what apeture and shutter speed is right for you?

I know I need to definitely spend some time with the camera, just wondering. Are there particular modes that are better for certain shots (portraits, landscape, etc.)?

Thanks again.

Hank

[Perfect_10]

Isn't that the same as DFU mode ??

[robertwgross]

Hank, you wouldn't be wasting your time if you downloaded the PDF instruction manual for the camera. It explains what you can do in each shooting mode. Read it about two or three times until it sinks in.

---Bob Gross---

[hank1105]

Good point. I plan on doing so this weekend, I should have a good amount of time to test pictures out.

[Lamplight]

I mostly use AV mode and manual. When I first got my camera I had it in P most of the time, but now I enjoy adjusting everything myself. :) If I had to take a shot really quickly I might use P or full Auto, but that rarely happens.

[Mark Kemp]

I just press all the buttons and cross my fingers :D

Me too, and all at the same time too!

:lol:

Its not an easy technique, it takes real skill to press the buttons with your fingers crossed :lol:

[HJMinard]

If you do select the P mode, and look through the viewfinder, does the camera automatically select what apeture and shutter speed is right for you?

Yes. However, you can "shift" the settings using the dial behind your shutter button. When you shift, the shutter speed and aperature will both change to maintain proper exposure. It just allows you greater flexibility in prioritizing shutter speed versus aperature ... depending upon your desired result.

[Canuck]

full maual, even manual focus. I have tricked the camera way too often and find that manual is the only way to go. As for AF, I'd be happy if they did away with it. I find it redundant. I seem to have a lot more oof pics in af than going at it full manual. That way I can only blame myself for a crap pic; not the camera.

[Big_B]

full maual, even manual focus. I have tricked the camera way too often and find that manual is the only way to go. As for AF, I'd be happy if they did away with it. I find it redundant. I seem to have a lot more oof pics in af than going at it full manual. That way I can only blame myself for a crap pic; not the camera.

Do you take many pics of moving objects and if so how do you acheive focus when the object is moving so quickly? I'd be interested to know because I too am often disappointed with AF and only one of my cameras has that feature anyway.

[Canuck]

full maual, even manual focus. I have tricked the camera way too often and find that manual is the only way to go. As for AF, I'd be happy if they did away with it. I find it redundant. I seem to have a lot more oof pics in af than going at it full manual. That way I can only blame myself for a crap pic; not the camera.

Do you take many pics of moving objects and if so how do you acheive focus when the object is moving so quickly? I'd be interested to know because I too am often disappointed with AF and only one of my cameras has that feature anyway.

Yes I do, and fighters are my favourite...they are really challenging. Lets see here I have the F/A-18 Super Hornet, EuroFighter (Typhoon), F-15s, Saab Gripen, F-16s, and a lot more. I can't remember them all! I have 2 ways I do it, on the fly tracking it as it flies past, and adjust as needed, or have it preset up to be in focus at a given spot and click as it crosses into the field of view. It seems awkward, but it is rather easy once you get the hang of it. Commercial airliners seem to me to just hang around in one spot forever compared to fighters. You might try starting with commercial airliners at an airport if you have one nearby. That is where I started, or at least in the digital world. Prior to this, I had shot an airshow in Arizona, one in Nebraska, and one at Duxford (England) all with 35mm film. I found the panning with the aircraft is the best practise.