Davesurfer wrote:.

I use manual mode all the time. Is this what everyone else does? Ifeel that sometimes I miss pictures because I'm trying to quicklyadjust shutter speed for the apropriate exposure. What do the pros do?.

Well depends on what you mean by "Manual". Many consumer cameras have "manual modes" that give you more options than auto, but aren't fully manual..

I'm going to assume manual means that the user must manually define aperture, shutter, and ISO..

Being a photojournalist, I use manual on occasion, mostly for shoots where I want the exposure to stay absolutely constant, and when there are varying levels of light in the frame that may affect results dramatically. An example might be sports, with constant lighting, where I pre-define what the exposure should be and never deviate from that. An automatic exposure mode leaves open the posibility of the exposure shifting if a player with a white jersey enters the frame, for example..

Most of the time though, I'm using aperture priority, so I can control my aperture and let my shutter speed (the parameter I'm least concerned about) float around to whatever the exposure needs. Seeing a lot of photos in the newsroom, there are a lot of photographers who try using manual, but simply don't know what they're doing, or are too slow to react to changing exposures, or forget to change their settings, so in general I'd avoid manual exposure, unless you have a very compelling reason to do so...

Davesurfer wrote:.

I use manual mode all the time. Is this what everyone else does? Ifeel that sometimes I miss pictures because I'm trying to quicklyadjust shutter speed for the apropriate exposure. What do the pros do?.

Pros do whatever it takes to get the picture..

Manual mode has some advantages it makes you pay conscious attention to the exposure settings and therefore make conscious creative choices about them, there are some types of lighting that automatic metering just can't handle well, and there are some types of shooting where you can and need the kind of precision in exposure that you can only get by careful manual metering..

On the other hand, automatic modes have their advantages too..

There isn't any one single "right" mode. The different modes all have their uses. The technically competent photographer will know which one to choose for which situation, and then work that mode to get the best possible results..

/Petterihttp://www.prime-junta.net/http://www.flickr.com/photos/primejunta/..

Manual mode...use it all the time for best results?.

Define "best results". As others are pointing out, there's plenty of situations where Manual will be the least optimal mode to use..

Davesurfer wrote:.

I feel that sometimes I miss pictures because I'm trying to quicklyadjust shutter speed for the apropriate exposure..

And you're probably right .

I don't think manual mode is what you use for "best results" all the time - BUT if you are going to get the best out of your camera, and use the other modes more effectively, it's probably a good idea that you are able to use manual mode competently..

And then know when not to use it..

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window..

It's mainly a question of knowing the camera and remembering that they have better programming some of the time....

F'instance I (try to remember to) put the thing back in the case set to "P" mode, auto WB and AF etc. That way I can grab a shot quickly when the chance occurs and then a considered shot afterwards or not..

Some of my cameras are much better than me at judging exposure etc and compensating and some aren't; trouble is it's not always obvious. Also when the light is bad the camera may not have the aperture you want; try for f/2 on a digital zoom at the equivalent of 85 or 90 mm (in 35 mm film terms) and you won't find it on a lot of cameras yet that was a very useful set-up years ago..

Regards, David..

Davesurfer wrote:.

I use manual mode all the time. Is this what everyone else does? Ifeel that sometimes I miss pictures because I'm trying to quicklyadjust shutter speed for the appropriate exposure. What do the pros do?.

As you've read, there's no one answer and no set definition of "best" results. As a previous poster suggested, it's about getting the exposure..

The one thing that hasn't changed in these modern marvels (autofocus, digital imaging, multiple shutter speed and aperture settings in between the classic mechanical ones) is the shutter action. It still opens and closes at a constant speed and doesn't dodge and burn as it goes. (One of my photo teachers used to go for long exposures on his 8x10 camera because he DID dodge and burn during exposure but that's a separate matter.).

So the choice of manual vs. aperture priority, vs shutter priority vs a programmed mode is subjective..

'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'..

Because I will have pre balanced things like lighting, WB, exposure and shutter speed to ensure I get consistant results again and again..

For everyday use, in good light I tend to stay in Av mode with a low ISO, switching to higher ISO as the light fades..

Regards.

Steve..

You don't say what camera you are using but I think from your posting history it must be a 400D..

It's not necessary to use M mode to have full control of the camera. Even in P mode, you have both exposure compensation and 'program shift' to alter the exposure as needed. This is every bit as powerful as Manual mode - yes you can let the camera have full control if you wish, but you can also shift the exposure up or down, or you can alter the balance between aperture and shutter speed. It's kind of like manual control but with the camera taking you to roughly the right place first..

I think I probably use Av mode more than any other, and this is very much like using P mode except that the camera will always use your chosen aperture. But changing the aperture in Av mode is very similar to using program shift in P mode..

Same goes for Tv mode, but for most people there are fewer situations where a certain exact shutter speed is required. Even when you are shooting fast action and need a high shutter speed, this is often achieved by choosing an ISO speed and an aperture that results in a fast shutter - but letting the camera make the final choice..

I think people sometimes forget that in M mode, you are still using the camera's metering system and it works in exactly the same way. If you choose an aperture in M mode then adjust the shutter speed until the meter shows correct exposure, that is no different from choosing an aperture in Av mode then letting the camera pick the shutter speed...

I use aperture priority as the default. A handy trick that I like is to use center-weighted metering and couple the exposure lock with autofocus lock when the shutter is half-pressed. So pointing the camera at the subject and half-pressing the shutter gets both the focus and exposure correct; then recompose of necessary and shoot.Best wishesMike..

I tend to use aperture priority, perhaps because that was the way my FE2 worked. In any case, I set an aperture for reasons of depth of field, sharpness or whim and see the shutter speed the camera wants in the finder. If I don't like the speed, I revise either the aperture or the ISO setting (or get out a tripod...). If what I'm shooting is particularly light or dark, I set exposure compensation up or down..

Or I put the dial on the green square and obliviously shoot away. Results usually look the same..

I distinctly remember using manual once about a year ago but can't remember why..

Leonard Migliore..

Thanks for all your suggestions people, really helped! I think I'll be using aperture priority much more now...it does make sense. And I do want control over aperture as I couldn't care less about what shutter speed it needs..

However, in cases where I'm doing portraits, astrophotography/moon, or macro work, I think I will still stick with manual. Everything else like candids etc...Av mode..

Thanks!..

I use whatever mode the scene and conditions call for. there is no right mode; there is what works to get the image the photographer wants. I have used every mode my dslr has got on one ocasion ot another, it just depends on the circumstances...

Leonard Migliore wrote:.

I tend to use aperture priority, perhaps because that was the way myFE2 worked. In any case, I set an aperture for reasons of depth offield, sharpness or whim and see the shutter speed the camera wantsin the finder. If I don't like the speed, I revise either theaperture or the ISO setting (or get out a tripod...). If what I'mshooting is particularly light or dark, I set exposure compensationup or down..

Or I put the dial on the green square and obliviously shoot away.Results usually look the same..

I distinctly remember using manual once about a year ago but can'tremember why..

What manual is good for is repeating the exact same exposure for a series of shots, like if you do a number of small parts against the same background, or if you want to set up a panorama to stitch.Leonard Migliore..

Just putting manual mode to feel good wont surely get you pictures all the time. It depends on lot of things. Personally I use P/auto if I dont have time for anything but shoot, else depends on what/when/where I am shooting and how I want the final shot to be..

Http://budding-nature-photographer.blogspot.com/..

Dave:.

By the looks of your screen name, I'll take a wild guess and assume you're a surfer. .

I'm a sports PJ, and about 50% of my work is shooting surfers. Since there's obviously a lot of movement and changing light to capture when shooting surfing, I generally use a Speed setting, and let the aperture take care of itself..

If I'm shooting scenes that are pretty constant, I'll move to Manual, after using Program mode to get a general idea for settings. If you're using a decent camera, Program mode is usually a pretty accurate starting point. But when things get iffy, like at and after sunset, I'll go right into Program..

To give yourself more latitude with settings, try shooting in RAW (if your camera has that opition), rather than JPG mode. With RAW, even if your settings are totally whacked, you'll have enough extra info in the image file to fix it in your processing program. (I only shoot RAW images for that reason).

Another way to learn which settings work best is to go to the galleries at PBase.com and check the EXIF (camera setting) information that appears below most of the images posted there. To see images shot by the same camera you use, when you get to the PBase.com main page, click on the "cameras" link, then find your model camera, and click that link. You'll see a series of thumbnails that have been shot with your model camera by users all over the world. Click on those thumbs to see the full images and the setting info..

'If they're not screaming at you to get out of the way, you're not close enough' http://www.ChuckLantz.com..