Shooting in M mode

[bookloveraz]

If this is in the wrong spot, please let me know or move it. Wasn't sure where it would go...

I've started shooting in M mode almost all of the time, but I was wondering if I should sometimes resort back to AV, TV, or P because I'm not that fast at getting the settings right yet and don't want to miss some good opportunities... What do you all do?

[lputman]

Absolutely continue to use Av and Tv mode. You pay money for these features and there's no reason not to use them. Learn the advantages of each of those modes and how to adjust as needed when using them and you'll be very happy.

[Henry Wilt]

I totally agree with Iputman, don't miss shots just because you are learning. Also, there are times where Av or Tv modes will definitely be better for shooting anyway so you certainly don't want to disregard them.

[curelightwounds]

Depends on where you want to go with your photography.

Do you plan to stick with your p&s? Then absolutely go with exposure modes. Exposure modes are what p&s cameras are designed for, it's what they do best.

Do you plan to switch to an SLR? Then start learning how to use manual. If you want to get the most out of an SLR you're going to have to learn how aperture, speed, and ISO work together.

Always play to your camera's strengths.

[ElCapitan]

If you are still learning, then by all means, use other modes, but keep working at full manual.

Once I realized that I could get a better exposure shooting full manual than relying on the in camera metering, I switched over to full manual pretty much all the time. But before that, I needed to use Av and Tv to get the better shots. Just keep working with M when you can, but use Av or Tv when you absolutely need to.

[Peapod Photo]

I think it just comes down to what you're most comfortable using. I always shoot in M mode and don't even think about switching to another. But that's just me. I think it's just up to the individual.

[BigFuzzy]

I think the key is learning how to use all modes so you can choose what you want to do instead of being limited by what you know how to use. It's kind of like flash, people often say they're a "natural light photographer" just because you don't know how to use flash instead of knowing how to use all types of light and choosing to use natty light.

So, learn all modes that way you can choose what to use.
I've lately been into very shallow DoF, so I use Shutter priority so that i just leave it on 1.8 or 2.8 (depending on lens) and simply change the shutter speed.Yes, before anyone says it, I can just put it in M and do the same.. but I'm trying to illustrate a point.

Also, AV/TV modes help you learn the relationships between shutterspeed and aperture better than many things (at least for me).

[bookloveraz]

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Originally Posted by curelightwounds

Depends on where you want to go with your photography.

Do you plan to stick with your p&s? Then absolutely go with exposure modes. Exposure modes are what p&s cameras are designed for, it's what they do best.

Do you plan to switch to an SLR? Then start learning how to use manual. If you want to get the most out of an SLR you're going to have to learn how aperture, speed, and ISO work together.

Always play to your camera's strengths.

Yes, that's a good thing to think about. I will probably get a DSLR eventually, but since my P&S has M mode, it might be a while...

Originally Posted by Peapod Photo

I think it just comes down to what you're most comfortable using. I always shoot in M mode and don't even think about switching to another. But that's just me. I think it's just up to the individual.

I'd love to get to that point. Right now I'm pretty comfortable there unless people are waiting on me. Then I get flustered... :-p

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

I think the key is learning how to use all modes so you can choose what you want to do instead of being limited by what you know how to use. It's kind of like flash, people often say they're a "natural light photographer" just because you don't know how to use flash instead of knowing how to use all types of light and choosing to use natty light.

So, learn all modes that way you can choose what to use.
I've lately been into very shallow DoF, so I use Shutter priority so that i just leave it on 1.8 or 2.8 (depending on lens) and simply change the shutter speed.Yes, before anyone says it, I can just put it in M and do the same.. but I'm trying to illustrate a point.

Also, AV/TV modes help you learn the relationships between shutterspeed and aperture better than many things (at least for me).

I think learning to use all the modes is really good to do, but it will take time... I LOVE shallow DoF! My camera can go to 2.8 and I find myself using it a lot. :-D

Thanks again to everyone who responded.

[kirbinster]

I never quite understand the facinaiton with manual mode - that is what we were forced to use before technology entered photography. Typically you will either want to control the shutter speed to freeze or blur motion or you will want to control the f/stop to give you a desired depth of field. You then in manual are "guessing" what the other should be. Some will be better at guessing than others. Why not let the camera determine the one you are guessing at by either using aperature mode or shutter speed mode? If you don't like what it is doing you can always dial in some exposure compensation. Maybe the manual thing is a macho thing to be able to claim you are smarter than the camera, but really the camera is very smart at picking the non locked value.

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

I never quite understand the facinaiton with manual mode - that is what we were forced to use before technology entered photography. Typically you will either want to control the shutter speed to freeze or blur motion or you will want to control the f/stop to give you a desired depth of field. You then in manual are "guessing" what the other should be. Some will be better at guessing than others. Why not let the camera determine the one you are guessing at by either using aperature mode or shutter speed mode? If you don't like what it is doing you can always dial in some exposure compensation. Maybe the manual thing is a macho thing to be able to claim you are smarter than the camera, but really the camera is very smart at picking the non locked value.

I personally am not "fascinated" by manual mode. I use it because I can get better images with it. We aren't really completely guessing either. After a little while you start to know which shutter speeds and f stops work together. I like using it because I can make the camera do what I want to get the image I want. There are times that I wouldn't be able to do certain things with the camera because it thinks it knows that I want, but it really doesn't.... I suppose it's all a matter of preference. I hope that all made sense...