Professional and Auto Mode?

[barb1686]

Do professionals ever use auto mode? Just curious. I would find it very difficult to set up every single picture, especially spur of the moment events.

[SpecialK]

Not likely shooting on full "auto" as that reeks of amateurishness though it can be as suitable as any other mode - in some circumstances. Many may choose "Program" which allows some control, such as exposure compensation.

Some people want a particular depth of field and therefore use Av mode where the camera chooses the shutter speed. Others want to freeze action or blur action and therefore use Tv mode and allow the camera to choose the aperture.

Many use M or manual and set both variables. This is good if the light is steady, or the color of your subject does change which would otherwise throw off the exposure (white T-shirt versus black T-shirt portraits.)

All meter readings require analysis. However, some readings are accurate, but others require compensation.

Experience will help you choose what mode to use for a given situation, and how to interpret the meter.

In a word (or two) "it depends".

[DonSchap]

I find the "automatic mode" perfect when handing the camera off to another person, when the flash is engaged.

"Foosh", perfect shot!

Also, using the Program (P)-mode can provide a nifty starting point for your images, when you first enter a room. The camera provide all the "basic settings" for what it believes the light and the subject need to work together. It sets the ISO, the aperture, the shutter speed and possibly duration of external flash. If AWB is set, it will also determine the heat of the available light (this is often forgotten to be checked before a shoot).

Like they say, "From here we build."

As "SpecialK" alluded to, depending on the demands of the environment (ie, action, portrait, candids, sunlight, indoor light, candlelight ... and what have you) ... you can select a mode (Av, Tv, M or P) and roughly know what you will need to render the correct exposure without having to run all over the dials to get it.

M-Mode is your where you will experience your real talent capacity. It allows you to completely direct how the camera will deal with and render the light you have. You select your aperture setting, your shutter-speed, your ISO, your White Balance temperature ... and if you use an external flash, even when and how many times during the shutter activation, it will go off.

Now, that's control!

No, don't ignore the "P-mode", it is often a fast and efficient way to get "into the ballpark."

PLAY BALL! :D

[mcenut]

I still use Program mode when I am just shooting snapshots in various lighting situations. Last weekends trip to the zoo is a good example of shooting in various lighting situations. I shot the entire day in program mode and never once had to adjust the exposure when I downloaded the final pictures.

The one thing I didn't do was shoot using "auto white balance." I used the preset settings on the camera adjusting between full sun and shade. I only had to adjust two pictures that were shot indoors to make the colors more natural. All the outdoor shots were perfect.