Auto Modes

[DUCeditor]

One of the things that made me slow to buy into a digital SLR system is the very thing that probably makes them attractive to many others: The plethora of auto modes.

In the 'good old days' the first thing that amateurs struggled with mastering was getting the "correct" exposure. And the bane was "pictures that didn't come out." I.e., they were over or under exposed to the degree that the subject was not clear.

Step two in the growth of the photographer was coming to understand that "correct exposure" could be reached with any of a number of shutter speed/aperture openings and that the choice greatly influenced the final picture.

The various auto modes are designed to help the camera user get the typical desired effect without too much thought. "Sport" mode -- typically indicated by a running person icon on the dial -- for instance, leans toward faster shutter speeds to prevent subject motion blur. Close up mode on the other hand -- typically indicated by a flower icon -- biases toward a smaller aperture because there is only a very small area of sharp focus when the subject is very close to the lens.

I have three problems with this approach: The first is that the best photos are often those that go against the "typical." A shot of a runner straining for the last inch to get ahead of the pack and break the ribbon for instance is often improved when there is blur - at least of the legs and arms. Then the sharply rendered ribbon and the focused expression of the runner have more meaning and the image as a whole has more impact.

My second complaint is that choosing the appropriate mode often requires more work than simply setting the shutter speed and aperture does, and what's worse, that said "work" focuses the photographer's mind on the camera, and not the thing that really matters: The image itself.

And my third negative feeling towards such "auto modes" is that reliance on them seems to prevent many talented and enthusiastic people from every making the final steps in growth needed to reach their full potential as photographers: That of learning how their control of their equipment can help those viewing their pictures to see, not just the subject, but a new way of seeing that subject.

Of course the camera makers are just as aware of this as I am and thus many of the better cameras -- those that are designed to appeal to the more serious photographer -- also have full manual mode(s) available. My own Canon T2I for instance has a main control dial split into two sections: the auto modes mentioned above (and many more) plus what is called "creative modes" that allow the photographer to have a significant number of choices.

I am still not convinced that these modes really make things easier or quicker than just understanding how shutter speed and aperture effect the image and making a well thought out choice on one's own, but I also understand that my developing years were spent mastering those things when in truth I had no other choice! People learning the craft of photography today have choices aplenty.

And that brings me to the point of this posting... Among the many capable image creators posting here how many are making those choices? And/or how many here find that they can get the images they want by just using the provided modes and letting the camera do the mundane work?

Indeed... how many even care?

-don

[MTScott2]

I just bought a DSLR Canon D60 to go along with my drawer full of "obsolete " cameras and lenses...[I also picked up a Canon Pixma Pro9500MarkII Printer very reasonable price ,if you bought a Canon DSLR body...]

Done my research within my budget ,(well I went a little over as always) with the thought that I could have spent a LOT MORE...

I asked the salesperson about all the stuff you are talking about and they said that it is all done for you with the COMPUTER in the camera...

I agree the excitement of seeing your results for the first time after waiting for the slides to come back or photos to develope was hightened with the wait time...

People now are picture takers and not photographers, as we considered ourselves back in the pre digital days...

2 or 3 cameras with different films strung around the neck rolls of different film or slide film Projectors screens...

I sort of miss my Pentax Spotmatic and the zone one got into when a scene worth capturing was near and we had to hurry and make decisions for the expected outcome...

Hell 4-8 and more frames per second ??? How much Skill is involved with that???

How many modes will not get used?

Make the best of what equiptment you have and go on a photographic expedition , that is a lot of the fun just being there when the scene happens...

[SS904]

A well discussed subject on many photography forums! It has somehow become a badge of honor to boast "my camera is locked on M mode, and / or I only shoot RAW format"... Truth is, when pressed, we discover most of these folks are simply "spinning the dials" in manual mode to match the needle. Basically doing what the camera tells them to do, just the hard way! For most everything, I use AV mode as I prefer to control the aperture. I use a combo of ISO and EC (keeping an eye on the shutter) to set the EV as I like. This along with Center Weight Average for a metering mode works for me. I only use Manual mode for the indoor sports stuff, especially hockey as the ice and lights can really screw with the camera’s metering if left in a program or auto mode.

The Icon modes show up on most semi-pro and consumer models as an option for newer SLR buyers, I believe. It can be intimidating to set an SLR up to get a good shot with no prior experience. Many posts on the DSLR forums from new folks start off with something like “I just came from an XXX P&S to the XXX DSLR and I used Manual mode because I have read you have to do that to be good at this... Well all my pics are all dark and look like crap! What happened, I though SLRs were better than P&Ss???” I think the Auto modes let those interested in learning get a good idea of what’s needed to get a shot. They can grow from there. Some buyers (probably most) just wanted an expensive P&S in reality, and will be happy to use the Icon modes forever! Personally, I think I would be fine if all that was on the camera was AV and Manual…

[scott]

Here is my simple thoughts on the subject... First is economics, if there weren't auto modes they wouldn't sell enough cameras.
Second, so many people can be introduced to the joy of photography by having the various auto modes to get started and "if" their interest grows it is a wonderful transition to understand how they can create better photos with f stops and shutter speed control. If they had to be forced to learn this then they really aren't a very passionate person anyhow.

[Chuckracer]

I shoot everything on the various auto modes on my Nikon D50. I used to know all that crap, but have forgotten and frankly don't care.
To me, it makes no difference how I shoot, it's what I shoot.

[Bill_Anderson]

I keep two cameras with me. The Rebel XSi + 18-55 zoom is for for landscape, sunset, and wide angle shots. I usually use Tv or Av mode except for sunset shots, which I have to shoot in full manual (M) mode to get the desired effects. The Rebel also travels with me on the motorcycle. On day rides and multi day road trips I will use full auto (P) for "tourist shots" so that I will not blow any shots or spend a lot of time playing with the settings when I stop to take photos.

For nature photography (primarily birds), I use the 7D + 100-400 zoom. Unlike the Rebel, the 7D has an auto ISO feature. I shoot birds in M mode with default settings of auto ISO, f/11, and 1/1,000. I am constantly adjusting the aperature and shutter speeds to fit the circumstances.

I think if someone is really serious about getting specific effects out of their photos (like my sunset shots), they will start to see the limitations of using the full auto setting and start to expore the other modes. If on the otherhand they want to just record the scene and move on (like my tourist shots), full auto is fine.

One great advantage of digital cameras is the instant feed back to see how the photo turned out.

[Juice355]

I shoot everything manual, camera and flashes/lights. I took the time to learn the craft and don't want a computer thinking for me. That is how I learned and plan to stick with it. I can walk into a given situation and have a damn good idea of what settings to use for a good exposure. It also depends on what you have in your head. I think out everything I shoot before I touch the shutter release. I will agree that the camera companies have to incorporate all these options to sell product, especially now that everything is digital. Digital has opened the door of photography to everyone, which is a good thing, I just wish that more people would invest the time to understand and learn the craft as it can be extremely rewarding to have an idea, the knowledge to execute that idea, and then produce it visually to share with others, instead of just pointing and clicking until you get a "good one." I'm tired of going to weddings and having someone who "loves photography", holding a newer & more expensive camera than I, asking me how to use it. Just my two cents...

[MTScott2]

It is amazing how much stuff there is to learn...
When someone post a photo one really likes and another picks it apart (constructive critism) does it take away from the joy of photography...
Sort of does one have to explain the photo or just simply like it..
An exercise in self improvement....
sort of like riding better or just go have fun...

[MTScott2]

Yousuf Karsh...
I think everyone has seen his Work
yet few know who he was or what he did..

[tonered]

It was funny when I bought my first 'decent' camera, which was an early digi P&S. I tried to capture a sunset and was scratching my head as to why it looked like high noon with the sun on the horizon. That camera had the ability to fix the situation, if the user had the knowledge to get it out of auto and make some adjustments. The user never did.

Later a second P&S came along that was near perfect for what it was. Since, we had kids. We needed to capture images faster. The P&S wasn't cutting it. That and, like SS904 mentioned about rinks, we have skaters. It was a very rough learning period with the DSLR, but we were able to get some keepers of the kids on ice.

I mainly use the Aperature mode for most pictures and go full manual at the rink. Only now do I apprectiate the art that photogs had back in the day. To setup and get a great shot, but not known for hours after the event.

I'm a rapid fire shooter, as with most things in life, there just isn't time to set up for the shot with monkeys that change expression faster than shutters can move. The funny part is when you think you got a shot, the LCD tells you you got, then you go home and see it on the 'puters, and realize what you missed. Good stuff.

Have a good one.