Thoughts on AUTOMATIC mode

[Chilli]

debs, its true who cares how you shoot.
But I feel that by entering into creative modes you become the artist and develop a more personal
relationship with your camera and more satisfaction long term. Nothing wrong with a good challenge.

[debs]

I agree with you Chilli , but the op asked if it's a waste of time uploading photos taken in auto. We all have different levels of experience with our cameras and I don't think that a photo taken in auto is any less "worthy" than a photo taken in manual mode.

[kiwi]

so, let's put into perspective creative control

to me auto on a camera chooses two main settings automatically, the shutter speed and the apperture

you still get to control :

light
timing
composition
sharpness
post processing

To be truthful, shutter speed and appeture for he majority of shots aren't even that important (relatively)

[Clubmanmc]

so, let's put into perspective creative control

to me auto on a camera chooses two main settings automatically, the shutter speed and the apperture

you still get to control :

light
timing
composition
sharpness
post processing

To be truthful, shutter speed and appeture for he majority of shots aren't even that important (relatively)

soooooory

but thats not true...
if the camera is automatically setting the speed and aperature, then you dont have a control over the sharpness (possible shaky hands with a long exposure) or the light (a bright spot in the shot over compensates the rest of the shot)... as it has decided what is "best" in the situation...

at least in Program mode, you can shift the exposure compensation...

M

[Judd]

I still consider myself a newbie at this, and very much use the auto mode, but when i have the time, i try to learn a new bit with the manual mode, today was about shutter speed and trying to slow the motion down, but I still mostly use the auto to get the shot, then play with manual if I have the time.

All the best

[Analog6]

And remember, when you look at those photos in your post processing program you can look at the shutter/aperture etc used and that gives you an idea of what type of settings you can set in Manual mode. Then you can experiment with bracketing etc

[simonw]

I am a beginner too but i decided to skip using auto mode and start on programmable mode. It is basically the same but forced me to take a little bit of control over settings such as flash and iso.

Then I moved on to semi auto motes (shutter priority) and took plenty of crap photos photos at first but I think it really helped me get a grasp of what everything means. I am now confident using manual mode for still life photos that dont matter if I stuff it up, but still often take a shot in programmable mode first to see what the camera would do in the situation.

[Scree]

Having more control over settings can be great, but a photo isn't less beautiful, wonderful, or worthy of praise because you used an automatic setting. Show it off!

I got to work at a charity teaching photography to groups that wouldn't normally get a chance to learn it. Some amazing works came from people with down syndrome. They were utterly, utterly stunning, and they were all taken on auto settings. You can have the most advanced camera on earth, but complicated isn't everything. Sometimes the best shot comes from auto, because those people so busy trying to organise the settings miss out on the shot.

[Kym]

I'll say it again... The AP NTP learning plan say to start with Auto mode !!
The plan then incrementally introduces other modes.
At the end someone who has completed the self paced plan will know which mode to use and when.

[NikonNellie]

I certainly think that Auto is the best way to start until you are comfortable with all of your buttons and knobs. I personally didn't stay on Auto for very long as I was doing a photography course at an evening college and was encouraged to start using manual mode. I found that using manual mode taught me the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO that I wasn't understanding when using Auto. I very rarely use Auto now but there have been a few times when I have missed a photographic opportunity fumbling around trying to get my exposure right.

[juezznin]

my opinion is that as an amateur photographer (myself) pictures taken in auto mode usually turn out better for me than ones taken in manual modes. hopefully as my photography skills increase i can take better pictures in manual.

[mikew09]

Never consider what mode was used but more the setting, ISO, aperture etc. Used auto for about 1 week I think, but to be honest, I learnt much more going to AV prioty, shutter priority and manaul and suggest to not waste too much time on auto.

Mike

[David]

I'll say it again... The AP NTP learning plan say to start with Auto mode !!
The plan then incrementally introduces other modes.
At the end someone who has completed the self paced plan will know which mode to use and when.

I certainly think that Auto is the best way to start until you are comfortable with all of your buttons and knobs. I personally didn't stay on Auto for very long as I was doing a photography course at an evening college and was encouraged to start using manual mode. I found that using manual mode taught me the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO that I wasn't understanding when using Auto. I very rarely use Auto now but there have been a few times when I have missed a photographic opportunity fumbling around trying to get my exposure right.

Have to agree with both thought patterns here:

I started in AUTO mode and focused on composition rather than any of the techy stuff just to try and make interesting shots then went to a workshop or 2 and gradually learnt about M and AV and TV over time. Incremental learning worked for me and allowed me to have some fun (jagged a couple of nice shots along the way) at the same time..

You won't learn much about creating a shot in AUTO but it will get you started on the journey..

[Zac]

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

Great idea, P mode also unlocks -/+ EV which allows you some control while still keeping the camera in auto mode....

If auto works for you there is nothing wrong with it. As time progresses you'll become more comfortable with the other modes which allow you to get shots even in situations where auto would not do what you want...

[pgbphotographytas]

Use which ever mode you find produces the images you want. Having said that don't stay on auto for too long, the semi auto modes give you much more control.

Paul

[vitagen]

i've always gone P&S on auto!... since trying my brother's SLR... i'm hooked, so much to learn!

[clickclick]

ha ha thank god for auto until learn how to use those manual buttons

[Mile]

im new to photography and i used auto sometimes to see what the camera sets itself to and them put it on manual and adjust the setting to get different shots.

its also great for when i hand it to my partner, she can just snap away and not have to do any adjusting.

[axler8]

Hey,

I know this thread is about the viability of using auto mode, but I wanted to extend it a little and suggest that most 'pros' would classify Av (aperture) mode as auto. What do people here think about that? I am not a pro by any means, but I find that I only dip into manual mode for long exposures or things of that nature, and use Av mode for everything.

David

[ricktas]

Hey,

I know this thread is about the viability of using auto mode, but I wanted to extend it a little and suggest that most 'pros' would classify Av (aperture) mode as auto. What do people here think about that? I am not a pro by any means, but I find that I only dip into manual mode for long exposures or things of that nature, and use Av mode for everything.

David

Nope. I call AV/A more and Tv/S mode 'Semi-Auto'. Note that Av mode is only Canon, other brands call them A (aperture) and S(shutter) modes