When I first got my Fuji Finepix S5600 I started off using Auto mode and the pre-programmed Landscape, Portrait, etc, modes. I also put the ISO setting to Auto and just got on with the business of taking pictures.
Like most people I want to improve the quality of my photos and so I started reading all sorts of photography resources; magazines, web-sites, and books. The vast majority of this literature gives the impression that you’ll never take decent pictures unless you turn your back on these auto features and use Aperture/Shutter priority and set your ISO manually. Some go so far as suggesting these features should not even be there (I expect they disconnect the ABS on their cars!). I, of course, fell for this hook line and sinker!
So I spent the next few months religously setting ISO, apertures, etc, before finally taking the picture. Were my pictures any better – of course not. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how different combinations of aperture, shutter, and ISO can give different effects, such as depth-of-field, motion blur, noise, etc, but why set this all manually when most of the time one of the scene modes will get it right for you.
With all the compact zooms noise can be a problem when using the larger ISO values, even with the good low light features of the S5600. Because of this most of the time I want the camera to use the lowest value ISO for the available light. The best way to get this is to set ISO to Auto. The next thing I usually decide on is there a single feature in the picture I want in focus such as a person or animal, or do I want as much as possible in focus? For the former I use the Portrait mode which always gives an wide open aperture and for the latter I use the Landscape mode which selects a narrow closed aperture. Want to freeze the action? There’s no sports mode but selecting the anti-shake mode has the same effect, i.e. it selects a suitably fast shutter speed. I can do this in the full knowledge that the camera will make suitable adjustments if I zoom in or out, and all with the turn of a single dial!
I’m not saying that this works all the time or is right for everyone (each to his own) but for at least 90% of my photos this gives me what I need. What this does is let me concentrate on composing and taking the picture I want and let the camera get on with the rest of it.
When you look at a picture what’s the first thing you look at? I’m sure it’s not the EXIF data to see what mode the photographer was using. You look at the composition, the subject, the colour, does it make you smile, etc, etc. So I say don’t be ashamed to let the camera help you out – be proud of your pictures whatever mode you use.
Phil's Photos 