topic I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out. in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:11:13 GMT

If I put my camera in P mode, put the white balance in "cloudy" (even in sunlight) ISO setting "100", Picture style to "landscape", My pics look better, have more color saturation, more to my liking. Guess my question is, is there any way to make adjustments in auto mode, to attain the results in my pics that I get when using the "P Mode"? It seems to be the same for any lens I use, though usally use my Canon 18-55mm kit lens. I've taken samples of the same scene in Auto, then P mode and the difference looks dramatic. Is there any way to change default settings in Auto Mode to resolve this? And if not, why would canon set the default settings to get such poor results?

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

cicopo — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 23:47:04 GMT

Think of it this way. Auto is the most useless of modes because it takes a photo according to the softwares interpretation of the scene. You have no say in what settings it will use because they can't be fine tuned. Auto is the mode you set the camera to when handing it to someone who knows nothing about photography or your camera but who can press the shutter button & take your photo because you've explained how to do it. Program is for you to start with, experiment with & expand your skill sets from. You have the manual, it explains all the stuff the stranger didn't read nor understand but who could take a photo using Auto.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:21:54 GMT

Thanks for your input cicopo. I agree with what you've said. I'm a newbie with DSLR'S and just starting to get into manual settings. But guess I was'nt totally clear in my question. I was wondering if my results in auto mode is normal, or does it need some adjustment. I do intend to start doing more manual settings. I have always had Canon gear over the years and this T3i is the 1st Canon Camera that I'm disatisfied with in auto mode in every picture no matter the scene. Since you say settings in auto cannot be changed that's a rap on that. My camera is fairly new and I was wondering if it's defective because of the sorry results in auto. Thanks for your insight cicopo.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:27:45 GMT

Forgot to say............My camera is still under warranty, and I was wondering if I should send it to Canon for repair if it is defective, that's why my question.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

cicopo — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:41:25 GMT

Because I gave up on Auto a very long time ago for the same reasons you're having troubles I don't know whether or not they've improved how well it works. IF you get better results in PROGRAM mode (which you can also fine tune to be even better results) then I suspect it's working as designed. IN MY OPINION Canon shouldn't give buyers of a DSLR the Auto setting. Most first time buyers spend a lot of time earning the money needed to buy their first DSLR & think they can skip learning how to use it by choosing the Auto Mode. To me that's a foolish move. Spend 10% of the time it took to earn the money reading the manual & practicing the things it's trying to explain.

One other thing that may help is to watch this a few times

http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 15:34:29 GMT

Hi cicopo.

I'll take your suggestion and work with my manual controls and assume for the time being my camera is ok. Far as you wishing Canon would'nt make "auto settings" in their DSLR's....I probably would'nt have bought one if they did'nt. I suppose many others newbies would'nt either, and Canon would lose many sales. I always had the intentions to graduate to manual settings, but wanted to use auto during that ongoing process. To many newbies like myself, SLR's were intimidating. I've used point and shoot Canons camera's for many years. I now own the Canon SX60, and have owned the SX50, and the SX40 before that one. Had lesser quality P&S before those. I wanted to get into SLR's years ago, but felt they were too much of a hassle with developing film and stuff. Then came DSLR, SD cards, instant access to pics, Pc's and printers, and I decided to take the plunge. Through suggestions to go manual from you and others I'm making that move now. I do understand your point of view and I agree I should take the manual route and will. It's the only way to progress in photography. But I'm not sure I would have bought a DSLR at all had it not had auto mode I could start off with.

Thanks cicopo, I'll be reading you.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

cicopo — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 17:53:39 GMT

As long as they include Program Mode the jump from a P & S is still just a baby step. I shot film SLR's & switched to DSLR's in 04 and have a lot of money tied up in Canon gear & use Tv, Av & manual for lots of stuff but I also use P mode & Exposure Compensation just as often. It really doesn't take very long to get a handle on which mode suits a situation.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 23:12:09 GMT

Hi cicopo.

I agree with what you're saying here. I'm into Program mode right now, and will be working with manual and other modes from here. I'm learning, and I'm also using my Canon SX60 Bridge Camera, as well as my Canon G20 Camcorder. Also just getting into video editing. Would be faster learning my Rebel DSLR, if it was the only gear I was using right now. But it is what it is, and I'm going along best as I can. One thing, you and others here are giving me much needed help, I thank you guys. One thing I'm realising is here everyone is only talking about Canon gear and solutions. On the other sites I've been trying to learn from there's way too much debate over what's the best brand camera, best brand lens, best mm, etc. They debate tests, charts, and other electronic testing, hands on test also, about the virtues of whatever brand each one has and try to promote. For me that's really not what I need right now, guees threre's a place and time for it though,. Canon is my brand of gear, least ways for the near future, and i mainly want to learn how to get the best from my gear and sharpen my skills.

I'll be reading you cicopo

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

cicopo — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 23:27:32 GMT

A good mechanic always gets the best from his tools. The brand of camera or tools aren't the deciding factor in what can be accomplished when you know how to use what's available at the time you need them. I shoot Canon because it has the lenses & accessories to fit my needs better than the other brands but I can make any brand work once I understand it's controls & menues.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:11:52 GMT

cicopo

I follow you my friend, loud and clear.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

ClearWaterBidet — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:04:32 GMT

New to the forum! Greetings all and thanks in advance for the info.

My wife has had a Rebel EOS XT for years and always shot on Auto with good/great results, inside and out. We bought a Rebel EOS T3i a year+ ago and it is horrible in Auto mode. All outside pictures are washed out.

I just did an experiment with "P" mode vs. "Auto" and the "P" mode produced 'okay' pictures. I need to start investigating why the Auto mode on this camera is useless.

So I concur with Jazzman1 that "Auto" mode has worked beautifully in the past and I feel, should also with this new camera.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

RobertTheFat — Sun, 03 May 2015 19:02:49 GMT

@ClearWaterBidet wrote:
New to the forum! Greetings all and thanks in advance for the info.

My wife has had a Rebel EOS XT for years and always shot on Auto with good/great results, inside and out. We bought a Rebel EOS T3i a year+ ago and it is horrible in Auto mode. All outside pictures are washed out.

I just did an experiment with "P" mode vs. "Auto" and the "P" mode produced 'okay' pictures. I need to start investigating why the Auto mode on this camera is useless.

So I concur with Jazzman1 that "Auto" mode has worked beautifully in the past and I feel, should also with this new camera.

Make sure you have the camera set to use the right color space, if that's an option. For viewing on a computer monitor, you probably want "sRGB" (not "Adobe RGB", which certain printers prefer).

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

ClearWaterBidet — Sun, 03 May 2015 19:24:02 GMT

Thanks Bob! It's set to sRGB. I just upgraded the firmware to 1.0.2 and hoped that would change things... it didn't.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Mon, 04 May 2015 01:34:48 GMT

@ClearWaterBidet wrote:
New to the forum! Greetings all and thanks in advance for the info.

My wife has had a Rebel EOS XT for years and always shot on Auto with good/great results, inside and out. We bought a Rebel EOS T3i a year+ ago and it is horrible in Auto mode. All outside pictures are washed out.

I just did an experiment with "P" mode vs. "Auto" and the "P" mode produced 'okay' pictures. I need to start investigating why the Auto mode on this camera is useless.

So I concur with Jazzman1 that "Auto" mode has worked beautifully in the past and I feel, should also with this new camera.

Hey Clearwater. Yes, I had the same problem and I had my color set to sRGB also. I had to use P mode and also had to set my color balance to cloudy/shade. Pics had even more color saturation set to shade. I now have the 60D and still have the same problem with auto mode, though my 60D has a tad more color saturation. I've asked high and low for a answer with no solution. Only answer I get is use P mode or Full manual. I'm doing that now but still cannot for the life of me understand why Canon would set auto mode like that in their DSLR's. As I said, every Canon camera I ever had before I got a DSLR was great in auto. I have a Canon SX60 65X Zoom P&S (newest model) I got early this year and auto is fine in it. But nobody cares to give me a plausible answer for this. I even have to use "cloudy or shade" color balance, along with P mode, to get decent pics and the color saturation I like....go figure.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

RobertTheFat — Mon, 04 May 2015 16:33:27 GMT

@jazzman1 wrote:
@ClearWaterBidet wrote:
New to the forum! Greetings all and thanks in advance for the info.

My wife has had a Rebel EOS XT for years and always shot on Auto with good/great results, inside and out. We bought a Rebel EOS T3i a year+ ago and it is horrible in Auto mode. All outside pictures are washed out.

I just did an experiment with "P" mode vs. "Auto" and the "P" mode produced 'okay' pictures. I need to start investigating why the Auto mode on this camera is useless.

So I concur with Jazzman1 that "Auto" mode has worked beautifully in the past and I feel, should also with this new camera.
Hey Clearwater. Yes, I had the same problem and I had my color set to sRGB also. I had to use P mode and also had to set my color balance to cloudy/shade. Pics had even more color saturation set to shade. I now have the 60D and still have the same problem with auto mode, though my 60D has a tad more color saturation. I've asked high and low for a answer with no solution. Only answer I get is use P mode or Full manual. I'm doing that now but still cannot for the life of me understand why Canon would set auto mode like that in their DSLR's. As I said, every Canon camera I ever had before I got a DSLR was great in auto. I have a Canon SX60 65X Zoom P&S (newest model) I got early this year and auto is fine in it. But nobody cares to give me a plausible answer for this. I even have to use "cloudy or shade" color balance, along with P mode, to get decent pics and the color saturation I like....go figure.

A few weeks ago you asked about the Picture Style Editor, and I suggested that picture styles were a topic you could defer until later. But given what you say above, maybe you should look into them. New or modified picture styles are the way to change the behavior about which you're complaining. It's a bit of work; but if it bothers you enough, it may be worth the effort to learn how to do it. It should all be in your camera manual and/or the EOS Utility instruction manual.

Note that if you're shooting in RAW, you can get the desired effect in post-processing with any decent editor. But picture styles are arguably a more global solution.

Re: I have a Canon T3i and when I take pics in auto mode all my pics look a little washed out.

jazzman1 — Mon, 04 May 2015 22:28:18 GMT

Thanks for the reply Bob. It's really not a problem for me now since I've taken yours, Biggs, and others suggestion to go P mode and manual. My pics are fine now, I take all my pics in RAW as Biggs told me, and use DPP as you suggested. It's just a puzzle that has bothered me ever since I got my Rebel, then my 60D. But I compensate using manual settings so no problem now. I'm getting along fine and change my aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, picture mode, etc...to get results I want. It just bugs me to no end a top quality Company like Canon would do this. I know they're aware of the issue, and do nothing. I just don't understand their logic and rashonale. It'll bug me till I get a answer.

I'm still reading you and biggs and keep up with all you guys say. Thanks again.