I was reading through some of the forum posts at dp and came across this one that had over 80 replies:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19948201

Besides being surprised at the harshness of some of the comments, (y'all aren't like that here - I much prefer the friendliness here), I am curious about how folks feel about using DSLR's. I'm saving up to upgrade to a better camera. I've enjoyed my P&S (nikon 7900), but would like to get better images than I am getting. I know I'll never be able to achieve the level of quality that I see in many images here on RR, but I'd like to try to learn to do better, as I really do enjoy photography.

Some folks seemed to indicate that if you are going to buy a SLR, it's a waste of money to shoot in auto mode. To quote them, it's like buying a Ferrari and never going over 50mph and that the poor camera will lead a meaningless life if it isn't used to it's full potential, i.e. manual mode. Some indicated that the image quality is much less if you use auto mode, while others said that is not the case, but you just get better images by learning how to use the manual mode. Some indicated that if all you want is to use the auto mode, then just buy a cheap P&S, and forget spending money on a good SLR, because you don't need more MP and capablilties, and don't need to bother to spend that kind of money.

I couldn't help but feel like that was a slap in the face. I don't know squat about setting aperture, light, DOF, and the other things it takes to get a real quality image. I gather from what I read here at the forums that the better Canons or the D70 are very complicated. There are so many settings, and preferences, plus using the manual mode for each image, that I know it's going to be a real stretch for me to learn all of these things. Heck, I probably use less than a tenth of the capability of my computer. I just do what little I am comfortable with on a pc. And to start out with, I would have to use the auto mode whilst trying to study on how to set the manual modes for the kind of picture, setting, time of day, etc. etc. It's the only thing I have ever done and it's a bit intimidating to think of all the things I have to learn about manual mode. For instance, I know that RAW is the best quality possible, but these folks said it's a waste of time to think about using auto mode with RAW. So it leaves me shaking my head and wondering if most photographers consider those who use auto mode and cheaper cameras as complete dunces.

I'm not trying to start a great debate or argument here. I just wonder what you folks experienced as you upgraded from your earlier, simpler cameras to the more complicated and professional cameras. I wonder how many folks here use auto and how many would never use auto, and whether it's because of quality or because they have many years of experience under their belts and know the settings they want immediately without a doubt. Surely some of you were once unfamiliar with the professional techniques you now use with ease? I don't plan to always use auto mode. But I'm sure it will take me many months to wade through the manual, search the net for tutorials, buy books or whatever, and begin to even understand what they are talking about, and literally years to learn how to take really good photographs! I know I don't need the cameras and lenses that cost many thousands. Y'all have already given me some good advice on cameras and lenses, and thanks for that. But we all have to start somewhere when upgrading to better cameras, don't we?

Any thoughts on this?

Maria