Program mode: I always shot in either aperture or Manuel modes. How does program mode differ from the automatic setting?

Mickey Mantle Loc: New York City

I always shot in either aperture or Manuel modes. How does program mode differ from the automatic setting?

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

http://www.naturalexposures.com/photography-using-nikons-flexible-program-mode/

Mickey Mantle wrote:

I always shot in either aperture or Manuel modes. How does program mode differ from the automatic setting?

Mickey Mantle Loc: New York City

Now I understand. Will give it a whirl

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

In auto mode the camera does everything, you have no control over the anything.

In program mode the camera sets the shutter speed and aperture only. You set the AF mode, drive mode, exposure compensation, flash compensation, metering mode and many other functions. You can change the shutter speed and aperture that the camera has chosen. But there relationship to each other will stay the same. Example: if the camera says 1/125 @ f4 you can change the aperture to f5.6 but the shutter speed will fall to 1/60.

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

In auto mode the camera does everything, you have no control over the anything.

In program mode the camera sets the shutter speed and aperture only. You set the AF mode, drive mode, exposure compensation, flash compensation, metering mode and many other functions. You can change the shutter speed and aperture that the camera has chosen. But there relationship to each other will stay the same. Example: if the camera says 1/125 @ f4 you can change the aperture to f5.6 but the shutter speed will fall to 1/60.

anotherview Loc: California

The P Mode on a Canon camera allows the user to set the ISO. I generally set the ISO to Auto when shooting in the P Mode.

wayne-03 wrote:

In auto mode the camera does everything, you have ... (show quote)

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

anotherview wrote:

The P Mode on a Canon camera allows the user to set the ISO. I generally set the ISO to Auto when shooting in the P Mode.

Yes, the ISO is one of the many other functions mentioned above.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For me, the two benefits likely to be used most often by someone less experienced, who generally shoots in auto: to change the ISO or set an exposure compensation.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Mickey Mantle wrote:

I always shot in either aperture or Manuel modes. How does program mode differ from the automatic setting?

P mode, or (sarcsam) "Professional" mode (/sarcasm) converts any camera, on which that setting appears, to a point and shoot.
==Bob

fantom Loc: Colorado

rmalarz wrote:

P mode, or (sarcsam) "Professional" mode (/sarcasm) converts any camera, on which that setting appears, to a point and shoot.
==Bob

Here is a nice non-picture of a bear crossing the bend of the road. Missed becuz the camera was not set on P and had to be switched from manual.

A good example of the usefulness of P and that it is easier, more timely and more efficient to switch from P to M etc. in order to not miss a quick easily lost shot rather than vice versa. P has its uses and it is naive to not use it in many situations.

missed the bear shot cuz camera settings had to be changed

(Download)

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

fantom wrote:

Here is a nice non-picture of a bear crossing the bend of the road. Missed becuz the camera was not set on P and had to be switched from manual.

Nice response. Most of these modes are useful to some people, some of the time, and some of us can even choose between them occasionally!

I don't think my camera has a Manuel mode option. I got the English language version, although I may be able to change the language settings come to think of it. :D

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

fantom wrote:

Here is a nice non-picture of a bear crossing the bend of the road. Missed becuz the camera was not set on P and had to be switched from manual.

A good example of the usefulness of P and that it is easier, more timely and more efficient to switch from P to M etc. in order to not miss a quick easily lost shot rather than vice versa. P has its uses and it is naive to not use it in many situations.

I'd have probably gotten the photo because when I go out my camera is set for the correct exposure, hyper focal setting for focus. If the lighting changes, I simply set for that lighting. Of course, I don't take all of my photos with those settings. That is just the settings I use when travelling about and might run into some incident, like you did, and need to take a quick photo.
--Bob

fantom Loc: Colorado

rmalarz wrote:

I'd have probably gotten the photo because when I go out my camera is set for the correct exposure, hyper focal setting for focus. If the lighting changes, I simply set for that lighting. Of course, I don't take all of my photos with those settings. That is just the settings I use when travelling about and might run into some incident, like you did, and need to take a quick photo.
--Bob

Nope. Notice pic is taken from a moving vehicle. Light and subjects are changing constantly, from bright meadows to black timber, to yellow/white aspen stands, to cloudy or bright skies, from snow patches to other dimly lit features etc. Its not practical to try to change settings several times per minute---especially while steering with your knees, consulting a map, eating a sandwich and drinking a cold one.

Your method of turning your camera into a a P&S, or better yet, a Kodak Brownie with preselected settings would be hit or miss at best. You could get lucky or not, flip a coin. But why worry when P will make the appropriate setting selections for you instantly, or when time permits the settings can be changed manually?

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

fantom wrote:

....or better yet, a Kodak Brownie ....

Hey, I liked my Kodak Brownie 127 when I was 7 years old!

:-D

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

There are a lot of "P" mode snobs around. Your explanation of Program mode usage is great.

fantom wrote:

Nope. Notice pic is taken from a moving vehicle. ... (show quote)