To Manual or not to Manual

[DCBarner]

Has there ever been a poll done of those who predominantly use Manual mode?

People talk about using P or A or whichever. I just wonder what percentage want to control everything.

I have only switched the mode on my camera when handing it to my wife. I'm not saying I'm good at it, it's just my choice.

Let me know what you think.

Dane

[outamyway]

For Studio, Macro, Still Life, lit Portraiture and anything else I have time to set up the shot I use Manual. Walking around, Candid, Street Portraits, and anything else I may have to shoot on the fly I use Aperture or Shutter Priority.

[RichardTaylor]

Manual focus:
(1) When autofocus has problems.
(2) Night photography
(3) Macro

Manual exposure.
(1) Night photography
(2) Difficult lighting conditions.

Otherwise it is shutter priority or aperture priory, possibly with a bit of exposure compensation if need be.

[Elmo]

It is sort of like fixing a car. You can fix a car with a pair of pliers but to do it right you need a set of tools. The different modes are your tools.

[OsmosisStudios]

Manual focus? almost never. Manual mode? always.

[JACOBY]

Complete manual for me but I'm old school

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Manual focus:
(1) When autofocus has problems.
(2) Night photography
(3) Macro

Manual exposure.
(1) Night photography
(2) Difficult lighting conditions.

Otherwise it is shutter priority or aperture priory, possibly with a bit of exposure compensation if need be.

Exactly this for me. Your camera is a highly evolved bit of electronics -- use it!

But, understand that it's imperfect, and be prepared to tweak it when it fails. But I'd much prefer to decide only one variable (usually aperture, for me) and let the camera pick the rest.

[Doug Pardee]

Generally full manual.

1: I'm old skool. Manual exposure and focusing just 'comes naturally' to me.

2: The type of photography I do—vacation/travel—generally involves subjects that aren't moving and lighting conditions that are fairly stable. I have plenty of time to consider the exposure and to get the focus just right.

[teaking]

I think it is very useful learning manual and why it works the way it does... but if the camera wants to do a lot of the work for me and give me a dial to tell it when its wrong and by how much im all for that difficult lighting conditions or when using flash then switch to manual other wise one of the auto modes im not proud il admit to my laziness

[Photosbykev]

Manual exposure always. Manual focus when I want pin point accuracy which is probably 90% of the time