What are the different camera modes and when to use them?

[usonian]

Confused? This might help.
https://m.dpreview.com/learn/7563272470/what-are-the-different-camera-modes-and-when-to-use-them

Enjoy.
HTH

For newbies: old lenses did not have and still don't have auto-aperture setting nor auto-focus. They will outlive us all - unless we drop them!

[George McGovern]

1. There's a lot to be said in favor of old lenses. Now -- Wherever did you find this photo?

[usonian]

2. Sir, that is Burgess Meredith, in one of the greatest Twilight Zone episodes ever.

Last edited Mon Sep 22, 2025, 12:55 AM - Edit history (1)

“Time enough at last”.

As far as lenses go, older lenses seem to use far fewer elements than modern ones. I mean 5 versus 16 or more. Having done optical engineering, I know they are to to correct lens aberrations that the older ones couldn’t, but by golly, that old glass is wonderful.

In astronomical photos, you’ll notice that modern autofocus lenses will focus past infinity, no stop, to allow for slop (they don’t use that term). I was griping when taking comet photos, so I got out the old glass, especially the 180mm f/2.8 and it was a “snap” to focus. I’ve learned a bit more about focusing modern lenses.

Anyway, one thing that Nikon Z does very well is that there’s always a ring to turn that immediately drops you into manual focus mode. Voila. It’s just a little hard to focus on a 5th magnitude star, nonetheless. The infinity stop on manual focus only lenses is great.

The reason for the simpler older designs was that many were created from hand calculations of optical ray tracing, or very early computers to optimize the designs. Also, with old single-layer coatings, you really had to keep the number of elements down to prevent light going where it ought not to go, creating flare and reducing contrast.

A great and not too technical book is “Photographic Optics” by Neblette. It goes over the history of photographic optics from “day one” up through roughly the 80’s, IIRC. If you have any old lenses, you’ll recognize them from their diagrams.

Famous cameras like Rolleiflex and even Leica used 5 element “Tessar” lenses. Max speed f/2.8.
The days when lenses and lens designs had names.

Now, “We’ve given you a number, and taken away your name”

[George McGovern]

3. Secret Agent Man (Live At Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, CA / 1966) · Johnny Rivers

?list=RDi7UlwJDavGI

[usonian]

4. The original!

Got to watch out for those other secret agents.



And Patrick McGoohan was later “Number 6” in The Prisoner.