Do you use what you pay for?

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I prefer auto focus when it works, so that I don't have to worry that my eyes have gotten less reliable, but sometimes I have to switch to manual focus to get exactly what I want. I used variations of the auto modes for six years on my DRebel, generally, which allowed me to focus more on composition as well as gave me an education on how "right" and "wrong" exposure settings affected the final picture. Auto settings are a lifesaver in high-action situations. But manual settings allow so much creative control, and there are plenty of situations where I would never imagine switching over to auto. I shoot mostly manual nowadays. IS is great too, but I've switched it off a few times. So for the most part I use what I paid for.

I do neglect some of the more obscure settings within the camera's menu, since I've never sat down to figure out exactly how to use them. I suspect that will change with my 5D, since I plan to use this camera to its fullest extent. It's just going to take me some time, as this old memory doesn't retain information as fast as it used to.