Originally posted by madison_wi_gal Thanks, this was literally "see if the thing works since Amazon appears to have hurled it into an unpadded shipping box and sent it to me". I hadn't even opened the manual yet, so AUTO was the only option.
---------- Post added 05-12-22 at 07:58 ----------
It was simply to test if camera was OK after suspected shipping damage. I guess I expected more of a wow even on Auto. Thus the thread.
There's no shame in using Auto Mode. Use it until you're comfortable with all the controls, menus, handling, etc. It's a lot to take in all at once without the added pressure of feeling you need to go full manual, or one of the other semi-auto modes. I spent probably a year shooting in auto mode when I first got back into photography with a K-50 before I ventured out to take more control.
When you have time to waste then play with Av and TAv, exposure compensation, ISO's, zone focus, highlight settings, raw vs. JPEG, and more. Work with one thing at a time to understand what it does, do a bit of reading what the for that setting do, and why it's good to use them before moving on to another thing. Then you'll go out one day and do an "Oh My Gosh these photos are GREAT" when you get more familiar with your pro-grade Pentax and start using it to your advantage.
Photography should be fun and so do the parts that are fun for now. You'll know when you are ready for a bigger challenge.
In the meantime, there's a whole community here to help you on your journey. No question will be too dumb ao so don't be afraid to ask, we've all been there.