Thoughts on AUTOMATIC mode

[elGrando]

Hi again. Hope this doesnt sound like too stupi a question. As an extremely amateur photographer I was curious to think what people here thought of photos being posted here that were taken in AUTO mode? Do the experienced people think its a waste posting them here? ( not saying that you think amateurs are useless)
For me it is a great way to learn and get a good quality shot without taking a load of crap ones to get use to positioning and angles, light etc.

[kiwi]

I dont really care of you use auto, manual, sport mode, alien mode, whatever

ITS THE PHOTO THAT COUNTS

[ricktas]

Auto mode has its place. Firstly when you are starting out, trying to learn all the features of your camera at once is stupid. Start on Auto, learn where the buttons are, get a good feel for the camera, and then if you want start looking at ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture. Try to learn one at a time by using semi-auto modes.

Many years ago a wise man (not that long ago and not one of those wise men, how old do you thing I am ) also told me when you finish your shoot, put your camera on Auto before heading home, or putting it away.

His reasoning, you are driving home and suddenly a yeti crosses the road in front of you, you grab the camera, and snap a shot off..but you have left it on manual from your waterfall shoot and the shutter speed is set to 10 seconds. Nice blurry mess of a shot and not an identifiable yeti in it anywhere. At least if you put it back on Auto when you finished your shoot, you would have a reasonable chance of getting something that proves you saw a yeti (or some guy taking a short cut to a fancy dress party).

[Dylan & Marianne]

auto definitely has its role!
in fact, for most, it takes a long time before using manual or other priority modes results in better pictures than what the camera decides for you !

[etherial]

I'll add my support here, it doesn't matter what mode you used or even what you used to take it, it is the end product and the experience that matters. Take photos on Auto or on your P&S or mobile phone for that matter, there is a lot more to master in photography than using a manual setting.

I just had a look at the picture you have posted and noticed that all of Ricks CC relates to composition of the image. It's quite ok to shoot Auto and develop other skills.

Look forward to seeing more of your work!

[castaway]

Every professional photographer was where you are at some point in there career.
The only place for you is where you feel comfortable.Auto-cool . Try something new awesome.
Join in, learn something, but most of all have fun. We look forward to seeing your photo's.
Mike

[Xenedis]

I dont really care of you use auto, manual, sport mode, alien mode, whatever

ITS THE PHOTO THAT COUNTS

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Furthermore, I don't care what camera or lens was used; it IS about the image.

I'd never use auto mode myself, but that's because I get a bit control-freak-like about photography and insist on being the decision-maker rather than letting the camera call the shots (so to speak).

[kiwi]

You know what, I actually find auto refreshingly carefree to use at times, I feel sort of guilty using it, strange huh


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[draco]

we all have to start somewhere don't we? i know I have photos taken by my Oly C740 in auto mode that i like more than some taken by the 40D

[amexav]

I have only had my DSLR for 2 months now. I read here and various other websites prior to getting my camera, then when I got it, there was the studying the manual (which I am still constantly going back to) before I switching to manual and played around for a few days, trying to set up shots and play with aperture, ISO etc. I began to get frustrated with myself for not 'getting it' right away or having a great shot out of focus. I just think there is so much to learn and I am a bit of a perfectionist!

I had to remind myself that photography should be fun and I bought my camera to take nicer photos of my children, so if I have to use auto, I use auto. I would prefer not to miss the shot than stress with dials and settings when I am trying to catch a gorgeous smile of my 3month old.

[Chilli]

I was pleasantly surprised the other day when i had to quickly take a photo of something and was
too tired to think. For the first time since I own my DSLR I went into auto mode and then went wow when i saw the shot..
damn, all this time ive been messing about with av, tv, manual etc and it was so easy in auto...

[OzzieTraveller]

G'day elGrando & others

As I have noted on other threads, I travel thru rural / eastern Oz running Digital Photo Workshops. In these workshops I find that 70% of students are using Auto for all their picture taking. The first thing I get them to do is to go to Program mode

elGrando - I suggest that just for a start, set Program immediately ... the camera uses the same settings as Auto but the camera now shows you the exposure settings in use (whereas in Auto mode, you do not see these settings). As you take your pix, you will now see the various shutter speeds and lens apertures that the camera is selecting for you

Give it a little while and then you will have a better idea for the Aperture settings to go for (when you want more or less Depth of Field) OR the Shutter speed settings to go for (when you want to freeze motion or show motion)

And all of it will help your improved picture taking

Hope this helps a bit
Regards, Phil

[yarnella]

After 30+ years of using totally manual film cameras I finally got a DSLR in 2007 complete with all its automation. My camera has 9 shooting modes and only one of those is manual. I use manual when I need to but the rest of the time I use the other modes.

I rarely use the GREEN mode which is total automation. However, I use whichever other mode suits my purpose - HyperProgram, TV, AV, etc. All of them provide some level of automation. I might tell the camera what shutter speed to use but then it automatically sets the aperture and it auto focuses for me.

Nothing wrong with using an auto mode. I love them. By all means learn the technicalities of how it all works but use auto to allow you to concentrate more on the image you are creating.

[elGrando]

Thanks all for the great feedback, great to hear so many opinions. I will start to post some photos soon to get some CC.

[LJG]

Thanks all for the great feedback, great to hear so many opinions. I will start to post some photos soon to get some CC.

Good on you. Can't wait to see some. As a relative newbie myself I was determined not to use auto, but got stuck in the "P" mode rut. After some good constructive criticism on this site I have now been trying hard to get out of that mode and move into the more creative modes. I've had many many shots where I've cursed because I've botched what would have been a nice subject and probably good shot if I'd used "P" mode or auto, but I am trying very hard to stick to using manual, Av or TV. I realise at the end of the day when I finally get it right my images will be better, so feel throwing away lots of shots is worth it in the long run.

[Clubmanmc]

The only time I have ever used auto mode, was when i had a point and shoot film camera... as there was no other mode...

after buying the SLR and then consequently the DSLR, i have never used the green Square option.

here is a thought...

instead of using the Green Square (on canon) or full auto... use the P mode (on canon) it shows you more of the cameras workings yet is still in almost full auto mode, it wont pop the flash for you, but other than that it works like it was in full auto, the other advantage, is that it allows you to learn what the camera is doing, instead of just being a passenger..

I would liken it to the difference between the driver and passenger in a fast car ride...
The driver knows whats coming, and can lean into a corner and has the wheel to hold on to, the passenger, is looking for the arm rest to hold on to, digging his feet into the carpet, both are enjoying it, but the driver is getting all the feel...

please dont take this as a dig, if you have bought a DSLR, you really need to explore the bounds of the camera, and its abilities as well as your abilities, so with out moving away from Auto, you never will learn...

take the plunge, believe me in months you will be better in control of the out comes, and that will make you a better photographer...

M

[ving]

there is absolutely nothing wrong with auto mode! nothing!

its all about what works best.

I did a test shot recently because i was curious. I set the camera to landscape mode (auto) and took a shot of a sunset, then put the camera in manual and took exactly the same scene seconds after and i found that while both scenes looked good i had more control in manual mode and that shot turned out better.
had time been limited tho and i only had a few seconds window of opportunity then in manual mode i'd have been too late.

but that said i'll always encourage people to practice and learn to use manual mode. there is no better way to learn how the camera works

[elGrando]

To CLUBMANMC no offense taken. I have every intention of learning and using the manual modes otherwise id probably have bought a good point and shoot. I originally was just curious if members thought it a waste of time posting photos here that were taken in AUTO (as most of mine to date are) as they may think it pointless due to there not being as much skill involved ( not including the skill of angle, lighting and the thousand other things needed for a great shot.
One of the main problems i have is getting the wife to agree to me practicing on her ( portraits), i want to be able to get decent shots as it may be a while before she agrees again (im used to hearing get that bloody thing out of my face haha) so auto at the moment seems more logical.

[debs]

About 15 years ago I had a pentax film camera so I know I can learn to use a manual camera, but since owning my first dslr about 3 years ago I have been "stuck" in auto. I recently upgraded to a Canon 7d, I am still using auto but my plan is to do a tafe course next year and hopefully get to do a uni course, otherwise I feel like I have just bought a $3000 p&s camera. As said I think it's the end product that counts, who cares how you took it.

[Chilli]

LOL, I get that from my 5 year old nephew every time he visits......
STOPPPPPPP TAKING PHOTOS OF MEEEE