REALLY dumb question about Auto

[BEGM83]

Ok so all i keep seeing on here is you can't take a good photo or class yourself as a photographer if you refuse to take your camera out of auto - or words to that effect.

Why?

If the technology is there why not use it?

What is the actual advantage to taking your SLR out of auto mode? Im trying to get out of auto mode - and do manage occasionally to do it - but slip back into lazy mode when i know ive only got a quick chance to get the shot i want.

So how do you go about getting out of the habit of shooting in auto and getting consistently good shots?

I stopped using auto about 10 minutes after getting my first DSLR because it wouldn't do what effect I wanted it to.

Simple as that.

You always have to be 10% smarter that the machine your using.

[BEGM83]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I stopped using auto about 10 minutes after getting my first DSLR because it wouldn't do what effect I wanted it to.

Simple as that.

You always have to be 10% smarter that the machine your using.

I got no chance then...this bloody thing is a clear 10% smarter than me

[Sterling]

If the technology is there why not use it?

Because for many situations the technolopgy isn't there.

For example, try using Auto when taking a night shot that requires a 60 second exposure or try taking a picture on a ski hill on a sunny day. In most of these cases (and many others) the camera just can't do it properly by itself.

[Nicole]

I think that often times auto can be fine. But like Max said, if you reach a point where your camera isn't giving you the shot that you want, odds are good that rather than say, getting a new camera, moving to a more manual mode will be useful. I also think it depends on what you're taking pictures of in some ways. Like, do you have the time to set up your shot or is it a once in a lifetime, if I don't take this shot now nobody will ever see this quite like this again, sort of shot where it may be more important to get the shot?

More than anything, I think the decision to move from auto mode is a bit of a learning curve because not only do you have to know the basics of how to move from auto, you also have to see the benefits of doing so.

That being said, do I use auto? Nope, haven't in ages. But, I do remember moving from auto to the more manual modes and the fact that I didn't do it right away. It took probably to 6-8 months before I even moved to Aperture priority mode (and I highly recommend moving to the A / Av or S / Tv modes on your camera and being comfortable with those before moving into fully manual if you're just getting started).

[sk66]

I use auto frequently. It's Program mode on a nikon. Program mode also has the ability to be "modified". By using the command dial I can switch between various setting combinations which give the correct exposure as determined by the camera. I can also use the exposure compensation (+/-) to adjust what it thinks is right for overly biased scenes where the program get's it wrong.

But, there IS a difference. When I'm using program *I* am still deciding on the settings the camera uses. What I'm trying to say is, it's fine to let the camera make the decisions as long as you agree with what it's choosing. The "key" to being "a photographer" is knowing when to take control and what to change to get the results you want.

[eNZee]

dont be afraid to leave that mode #1.
you spent all the money on equipment why not learn how to use it fully? dont let yourself succumb to the "easy" way out.

as like max - i too have left auto extreemly quickly after getting my camera. i just wasnt happy with what i was seeing and the interesting thing is ive never owned a dslr before that so its not like i really knew what i was looking for. i just knew this wasnt what i liked and then moved to my good ol' readers manual for the camera and learned what everything means and putting all that together i now shoot fully manual. you have alot more control over your outcome and much more variety.

i think the issue is that you dont want to get crap shots once you switch but you'll never get better at it if you dont pratice with the settings.

[disappearingmist]

I still use auto every so often, but only for unimportant shots, or ones where I just need something quick. Otherwise, I'm in Aperture priority or Manual constantly.

Just start playing with it I can't go back now that I've learned how to use manual settings!

[ollie]

When I got my DSLR in June, I used Auto for about a week, then made myself learn full manual mode. Now I don't shoot in anything else, unless, like Nicole said, there is a speccy shot happening RIGHT NOW and I haven't got time to change my settings. Then I will use auto, but I'm still never happy with the result.
This comes down to auto metering, auto exposure, and what is the camera focussing on? Often I find the focus is on something NOT in the middle of the picture (canon 9 point focussing), and it can be frustrating at the least.
Try & learn full manual, it sounds scary, but with practice you'll find yourself slowly picking it up. I have no background in SLR photography, but I'm managing to take some good photos now, ones that I can say I'm proud of. So, if I can do it, I reckon most anyone else could as well.

[kgb224]

It is there to be used.If a photography opportunity aris suddenly there is no time to do setting is Aperture or manual mode as it consumes time.My opinion is it can be used.