Beginners: How to Use your DSLR in Manual Mode
There are dozens of great tutorials on PhotographyTalk on shutter speed, aperture and ISO and how they all work together to control the exposure of a photo. We've covered the Exposure Triangle from one point to the other, to the other. One of the things that doesn't get much coverage is how to set and operate your camera in manual mode.
When you think about it, there's one very good reason that you don't see a lot of tutorials on the subject. How many major camera manufacturers can you think of? Three should immediately come to mind and if you've been involved with photography for any length of time, you probably know that there are man y more that don't get as much press as the top 3. Now, consider how many individual models have been made by those manufacturers over the years and you can see that is would be a lifetime-sized task to cover how to run each of those cameras in manual mode.
(Success Tip #1: How even hobbyists can earn money with their photos)
Nevertheless, there are some commonalities among all those cameras, and having a good idea of how it's done with one or two well-known DSLR cameras will get you started in the right direction, even if you're using another brand. The basic controls you'll need to find will be similar, and when you've exhausted all the other possibilities, you can always resort to the owner's manual, right?
What may surprise you is just how easy today's digital cameras have made the process of shooting in manual, once you've “learned the ropes”. With ultra-fast metering and readout, live views and other technological advances, you'll wonder why you waited so long to get out of auto mode. It's a “brave new world” out there in terms of technology, and it's photographer-friendly.
(Success Tip #2: Learn photography techniques when you don't have much time to spare.)
Adorama and Mark Wallace did us all a favor by creating a good video tutorial that covers basic manual operation, using 2 cameras and a live monitor attached so you can watch the whole process from start to finish. Like all of Mark's videos, it's quick and informative and if you don't have a clue how to use your camera in manual, you will when you're done watching it. Enjoy!