Do you use Auto modes?

[Disastrous]

When I started out, I was all 'manual is king' and got very snobby about auto modes, thinking that 'proper' photographers wouldn't look at it (my background is video) so neither would I.

Gradually, as I've read more and more on the subject and taken more subjects, I've become quite fond of the Auto modes and just wondered if anyone else uses them?

In particular, I think the process of learning has made me consider what I find important about my pictures and that's almost always the 'moment' or a DoF effect. As a result, I've become very partial to leaving the thing in Av mode with Auto ISO most of the time, switching to Tv when I need a particular shutter speed.

The Auto ISO 'seems' wrong, but actually, it gives me results I'm very pleased with and my photography seems to have benefitted from understanding manual and working back towards auto.

Any thoughts?

[RobDickinson]

I used to shoot in av mode a lot but almost exclusively in manual now

If light is changing rapidly or if shooting an event or something I'll switch to an auto mode

[davepoth]

Auto modes have got a lot better. That said, my camera is nearly 15 years old so I use manual all the time.

[JustinMinns]

I shoot in AV about 95% of the time

[Kermit power]

JustinMinns said:

I shoot in AV about 95% of the time

Same here, on a 7D

I generally keep the ISO on manual and as low as possible. I've not really tried auto ISO.

[RobDickinson]

My shooting is probably a little unusual though.

Mostly on tripod with live view and magic lantern showing me a spot meter and zebra marks to control exposure, also shooting tilt shift means dodgy standard metering

[Disastrous]

Funnily enough, the bit I prefer to be 'old fashioned' is the metering, and normally like spot or at least centre-weighted best. I've also disabled most of the AF points so I just work off the centre one and find I like to use back-button focussing and the exposure lock button to compose.

[Simpo Two]

I normally use aperture priority AE and EV to adjust from there as required. Sometimes I use Program when I need results fast and don't have the brainspace to work out other ways. What's important to me is timing, often split-second, and getting the shot in the exposure ballpark. How I get there isn't important.

NB: Never Auto ISO though; I like to know what ISO I'm on otherwise it would be like nailing jelly to a wall.

[Craikeybaby]

90% of the time I use Av or Tv depending on if I want to control depth of field or motion. I keep the ISO low and only up it if needed.

[GravelBen]

Craikeybaby said:

90% of the time I use Av or Tv depending on if I want to control depth of field or motion. I keep the ISO low and only up it if needed.

Same here for most stuff, I only really use manual for macro. I've taken to using auto white balance a bit lately though, epecially with macro where I'm working with several different types of light source. Easy enough to adjust WB later but auto seems to be getting it right most of the time.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 12th March 04:32

[covmutley]

I nearly always use auto iso but manual ss and dof. My rationale being that you can be creative with those 2 whilst exposure is mostly ok in auto and you can so easily get so much control of exposure from easy edits of raw files.

Judging by responses here, perhaps I need a rethink?

[rottie102]

covmutley said:

I nearly always use auto iso but manual ss and dof. My rationale being that you can be creative with those 2 whilst exposure is mostly ok in auto and you can so easily get so much control of exposure from easy edits of raw files.

Judging by responses here, perhaps I need a rethink?

Why would you?

Auto ISO and Manual is the best choice. You control two factors which affect what the photo looks like, ISO is only about quality. In Av or Tv camera sets wrong either shutter speed or aperture most of the times.

[4Lmike]

rottie102 said:

In Av or Tv camera sets wrong either shutter speed or aperture most of the times.

I agree. I've always shot in manual mode and always will. Whenever I (occasionally) try using auto, shutter, or aperture priority modes I'm never totally happy with the results.

[markmullen]

For my landscapes I shoot in manual (on one of my cameras it is really really manual, I have to cock the shutter by hand and stop the lens down).

For events, weddings etc I use a combination of manual (if I am using flash) and Aperture Priority.

[K12beano]

Hmm!?! Letting the technology take control ..... Dangerous! Have you not seen all the films???


Apart from macro and getting hyper focal distance, I mostly like autofocus. Very controllable on these modern bits of kit. Fast too.

On my current body I love the choice to go auto-ISO. Can be really handy.

Auto exposure: I nearly always want to control aperture first (and preferably with a proper aperture ring on the lens )

Sometimes when using Speedlights I'll let them take control too.

And I'm usually happy to let it auto-WB (unless there's obvious mixed light sources or fluorescent lights)

So yes! Auto everything, please!


(Just need to get to grips with the auto-frame function and we won't need to be present to actually shoot anything ...)

[covboy]

K12beano said:

Hmm!?! Letting the technology take control ..... Dangerous! Have you not seen all the films???


Apart from macro and getting hyper focal distance, I mostly like autofocus. Very controllable on these modern bits of kit. Fast too.

On my current body I love the choice to go auto-ISO. Can be really handy.

Auto exposure: I nearly always want to control aperture first (and preferably with a proper aperture ring on the lens )

Sometimes when using Speedlights I'll let them take control too.

And I'm usually happy to let it auto-WB (unless there's obvious mixed light sources or fluorescent lights)

So yes! Auto everything, please!


(Just need to get to grips with the auto-frame function and we won't need to be present to actually shoot anything ...)

^^^ A man out of my own heart – Except I vary between Av & Tv depending on what I’m shooting.

[vanordinaire]

I've got a wee Pentax Q which I keep in my pocket almost all the time to catch ad hoc opportunities. It's almost permanently on Auto and unlike my EOS which is never on auto, I've never taken a dud yet.

[Zod]

I use auto when I'm in a hurry, but otherwise Tv or Av to check and see for the shutter speed or aperture that I want what the camera think best for the other , and it's assessment if the exposure. Then I go into manual and play around.

[pilbeam_mp62]

My analogy for this is golf. It's not what you wear (within reason !) or what colour your shoes are, or what make your clubs are, or how you swing the club - the end result is all that matters - What was your score ??

In photography, the equipment that you use, and the way that you use it, is irrelevant - the image that you produce is everything. (IMO)

[markmullen]

pilbeam_mp62 said:

My analogy for this is golf. It's not what you wear (within reason !) or what colour your shoes are, or what make your clubs are, or how you swing the club - the end result is all that matters - What was your score ??

In photography, the equipment that you use, and the way that you use it, is irrelevant - the image that you produce is everything. (IMO)

Absolutely, and a photo with the same aperture, shutter speed, ISO and focal length will look the same regardless of whether the photographer chose all the settings, some of the settings or none of the settings.