Anyone actually use scene modes?

[btuner]

Like the title says, does anyone actually use the scene modes on their DSLR's? I never do, I just have my P set to all the settings that I have come to love and use that for most shots, I know exactly to expect with my settings. I also use shutter speed mode and aperture mode aswell, but never the scene modes. Do you guys share my thoughts? or do you throw it on scene mode and get consistently good shots?

[ssil2000]

i didnt use the scene modes on my UZ sure as heck dont go anywhere near them with my dlsr :)

a s or m for me :)

on a serious note, i think learning is easier when you go a/s, maybe painful learning curve but when it starts to make sense you see the difference immediately :) at least i have :)

[griptape]

I never shoot anything but manual. I guess I just don't like machines telling me what they think is right.

[downtrodden]

From the get go when i started photography with my S3, I NEVER used any sort of AUTO mode. ONLY M. I decided early on Iwanted to make all decisions I could for the camera. I think learning what effect shutter and aperture have on exposure are more easily learned on a point and shoot like the S2/3/5.
moving up to dSLR i still only use maunal mode, however I was forced to use the auto flash TTL settings because I can't figure out how to change the flash output to manual- but that's ok- I've had great success with the auto flash, so no complaints!!!

[Visual Reality]

I found out through some reading (yes that manual does come in handy sometimes) that the scene modes, at least on my D80, do more than just change aperture and shutter speed. It also can change some AF and metering options, some of which you normally have to go through the menus to change yourself.

That said, I still stick to Aperture Priority. I pick the aperture I want based on how much light I have to work with, and how much depth of field/sharpness I want (is this a portrait or landscape?). I set the ISO to the highest I'm willing to tolerate as far as noise goes and let the camera choose the shutter based on those variables. It exposes properly at least 90% of the time and I really can't be bothered to mess around with different shutter speeds while missing photo opportunities. Pick the aperture and ISO based on available light and let the camera do the shutter I say.

Certain exceptions do apply...such as shooting hummingbirds. Those need full manual intervention ;)

[JTL]

Excuse me for asking, but, what's a "scene mode"? Never scene it! :p:D:p

[tim11]

I am not sure if there are any scene modes on my D80. :confused::confused::(:):p:o
I use mostly Aperture mode and when M when I have time to mess around.

[TNB]

Like the title says, does anyone actually use the scene modes on their DSLR's? I never do, I just have my P set to all the settings that I have come to love and use that for most shots, I know exactly to expect with my settings. I also use shutter speed mode and aperture mode aswell, but never the scene modes. Do you guys share my thoughts? or do you throw it on scene mode and get consistently good shots?
My main camera doesn't have scene modes and I don't use the "P" mode. I mostly shoot in shutter priority since I'm usually shooting action outdoors and want to show some motion. However, in low-level lighting action (indoors or outdoors), I may shoot in either aperature priority or manual with a higher ISO usually. Bascially, it depends on what I am shooting and the available lighting.

[cdifoto]

Anyone actually use scene modes?

Only out of curiosity.

[Rooz]

From the get go when i started photography with my S3, I NEVER used any sort of AUTO mode. ONLY M. I decided early on Iwanted to make all decisions I could for the camera. I think learning what effect shutter and aperture have on exposure are more easily learned on a point and shoot like the S2/3/5.
moving up to dSLR i still only use maunal mode, however I was forced to use the auto flash TTL settings because I can't figure out how to change the flash output to manual- but that's ok- I've had great success with the auto flash, so no complaints!!!

if you are using the cameras light meter when in manual mode and adjusting to middle that, then you're letting the camera do the thinking for you anyway, but moving the dial manually.

unless i am using flash or am looking for a particualr effect, i see no need at all to use fully manual exposure mode.

[nqjudo]

Never used them once because I prefer to have more control but they may be appropriate for some.

[toriaj]

if you are using the cameras light meter when in manual mode and adjusting to middle that, then you're letting the camera do the thinking for you anyway, but moving the dial manually.

unless i am using flash or am looking for a particualr effect, i see no need at all to use fully manual exposure mode.

Right, of course. I use manual, S, and A pretty equally. S if I'm handholding in low light, A if I have enough light, M if I want to adjust the exposure (although I could just as easily dial in +1 or whatever, I'm just not that great with "stops." Somehow it works better for me to adjust the settings myself and know for sure what they are.)

[JTL]

if you are using the cameras light meter when in manual mode and adjusting to middle that, then you're letting the camera do the thinking for you anyway, but moving the dial manually.

unless i am using flash or am looking for a particualr effect, i see no need at all to use fully manual exposure mode.Wow...good way to put it in perspective. Very few of us are running around with hand-held light meters! ;)

I agree...for me, full manual is for specialized situations.

The reason I was originally shooting manual on my XT was because it had a tendancy to overexpose. Then, one day I woke up and said DUH! That's what exposure compensation is for! Now, I have my EV set to -1/3 and shoot in Av or Tv (but mostly Av) as the situation requires and the vast majority of the shots turn out exactly as intended...

[Visual Reality]

Right, of course. I use manual, S, and A pretty equally. S if I'm handholding in low light
This is interesting, because I use A. I figure the camera will hold the shutter open long enough to make a bright enough picture. If I wanted it to go any faster and use M, the pictures would be darker. I have the shutter speed maximized basically by using F3.5-5.6 (depending on focal range with this lens) and ISO 800 which is the highest I'll go due to noise.

[erichlund]

I am not sure if there are any scene modes on my D80. :confused::confused::(:):p:o
I use mostly Aperture mode and when M when I have time to mess around.

Assuming you are not kidding...look at your mode dial -> you see AUTO and P, A, S, and M. There there are a bunch of other symbols. Those are the scene modes. You have to buy a D200/D300 or one of the pro cameras not to have those on the camera.

Even the Canon 40D has scene modes, which I simply don't understand. When I got the D200, I said to myself, "Finally, a camera without training wheels". I guess it makes sense though. I think Canon sees the 20/30/40D more as a bridge cameras between amateur and pro models, where Nikon sees the D200/D300 as pure enthusiast cameras. You also see that in the pricing. Being a bridge, it has feet in both worlds, where the Nikons are on an island between amateur and pro models. (OK, some of that is changing with the D300, moving more toward the pro feature set.)

If anything, the D70/D80/future D90 are the bridge cameras from amateur to enthusiast.

For Canon, the one I don't know how to categorize is the 5D. It somewhat defies categorization. It's build quality is less than sturdy than the 40D, but it has the full frame sensor and amazing image quality. Still, if I recall, it also has scene modes, but it's priced more like a junior pro camera. It seems like Canon couldn't make up their mind what they wanted it to be. If they had built it like a D200/D300, we'd probably all own one, and the only thing we'd have to talk about is our images.

[cdifoto]

Still, if I recall, it also has scene modes

No scene modes. No poop-up flash either. ;)

http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS5D/Images/inhand02.jpg

[T06]

No scene modes. No poop-up flash either. ;)

http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS5D/Images/inhand02.jpg

:D:D:D... I see the dark side eating away at your resolve there ...:D:D:D

[cdifoto]

:D:D:D... I see the dark side eating away at your resolve there ...:D:D:D

Huh? :confused:

[T06]

Huh? :confused:

dark side equals nikon / hence your sig.:eek:

[toriaj]

This is interesting, because I use A. I figure the camera will hold the shutter open long enough to make a bright enough picture. If I wanted it to go any faster and use M, the pictures would be darker. I have the shutter speed maximized basically by using F3.5-5.6 (depending on focal range with this lens) and ISO 800 which is the highest I'll go due to noise.

You're right, A works well and gives you control over the aperture in this situation. I use S when I'm handholding in low light. Because, say I set my aperture to f/8 for a sharp photo. But it's pretty low light, so the camera sets the shutter to 1/30 sec. But I'm shooting at 55mm. If I try to handhold 55mm at 1/30 sec., my pic will turn out blurry.

So, to prevent this and to compensate for my camera's 1.5x crop factor, I often use the S mode at 1/80 sec in low light. That way, I know I can zoom my kit lens anywhere in its range at hand-holdable speeds. The camera will choose whatever aperture will best expose the pic. If there's just not enough light to expose well at 1/80 sec., I can either bump up my ISO or get a tripod :)

It works for me, we all have our pet settings ...

[cdifoto]

dark side equals nikon / hence your sig.:eek:

I knew dark side = Nikon but I didn't see where you were getting the idea that it's "eating away at [my] resolve."

I like my Canon gear. Calling it crap is sarcasm. No plans on going to Nikon. D3 looks good, but nothing else impresses me. I can't swing a D3 and the price premium required to swap glass/flashes/etc. Not worth it.

[tim11]

Assuming you are not kidding.....
I was kidding about not knowing D80 has scene modes. I used some scene modes on my FZ20 when I first got it but found they don't give me what I wanted and I never touch them with D80.

[great_guns]

I shoot mainly on the aperture priority mode but I often take a test shot in the A mode and then change over to M and adjust the scene according to my liking. I know the exposure compensation is a way to do it but I somehow don't feel like using it. Besides, you have to go into the menu and set the exposure compensation in my XTi whereas you can switch to the M mode with the flick of a finger and rotate the main dial to change settings. I guess its only personal preference here on.

I hardly ever use the shutter priority mode though unless I am looking to freeze motion (often when I shoot waterfalls).

I've never used the scene modes on my DSLR yet and I rarely, if ever, used them on my Lumix. I prefer to play around with the white-balance besides the aperture/shutter-speed settings to get the variation.

[GaryS]

Besides, you have to go into the menu and set the exposure compensation in my XTi whereas you can switch to the M mode with the flick of a finger and rotate the main dial to change settings. I guess its only personal preference here on.

Just a note for everyone, you don't need to go into a menu to use EC on the XTi. Push and hold the +/- button (top one on the right side of the screen) and turn the dial.

[great_guns]

Aah, nice tip. Thanks.