Nikon D3300: Can anyone with a Nikon D3300 explain the difference between the P setting and Auto? They are both automatic but give different readings.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Can anyone with a Nikon D3300 explain the difference between the P setting and Auto? They are both automatic but give different readings.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

In P mode you are in control of a few of the exposure settings. Read your manual to see what they are. It's different from make and model.

Mode P (Programmed Auto)
The camera automatically adjusts aperture and shutter speed for optimal exposure, but the photographer can choose from different combinations of aperture and shutter speed that will produce the same exposure. This is known as flexible program.

Full Auto you are along for the ride and can't adjust a thing.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

jeep_daddy wrote:

In P mode you are in control of a few of the exposure settings. Read your manual to see what they are. It's different from make and model.

Mode P (Programmed Auto)
The camera automatically adjusts aperture and shutter speed for optimal exposure, but the photographer can choose from different combinations of aperture and shutter speed that will produce the same exposure. This is known as flexible program.

Full Auto you are along for the ride and can't adjust a thing.

What jeep said.

One of my best photographic purchases was my copy of Darrell Young's book about my Nikon camera. I don't know whether he has one for the D3300 but he does have one that would be helpful to you, Beyond Point-and-Shoot: Learning to Use a Digital SLR or Interchangeable-Lens Camera

IBM

viscountdriver wrote:

Can anyone with a Nikon D3300 explain the difference between the P setting and Auto? They are both automatic but give different readings.

If you read Ken Rockwell , he says it stands for the pro. Mode, and he says it's the only mode he useses, and I believe him

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

jeep_daddy wrote:

In P mode you are in control of a few of the exposure settings. Read your manual to see what they are. It's different from make and model.

Mode P (Programmed Auto)
The camera automatically adjusts aperture and shutter speed for optimal exposure, but the photographer can choose from different combinations of aperture and shutter speed that will produce the same exposure. This is known as flexible program.

Full Auto you are along for the ride and can't adjust a thing.

i
That's what I thought but can't see how to change the settings in D mode.Sirry to be thick.

Saycheeze Loc: Ct

They are both automatic modes but one of the biggest differences is auto will use the flash when appropriate but in p it will not. You have to raise the flash yourself if you want to use it

Jim Bob

viscountdriver wrote:

Can anyone with a Nikon D3300 explain the difference between the P setting and Auto? They are both automatic but give different readings.

Short answer: in P mode the camera selects the aperture and shutter speed depending on subject and lighting conditions-everything is totally automatic; in A mode, you select the aperture and the camera selects the shutter speed.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Jim Bob wrote:

Short answer: in P mode the camera selects the aperture and shutter speed depending on subject and lighting conditions-everything is totally automatic; in A mode, you select the aperture and the camera selects the shutter speed.

Sorry, but this answer is wrong. The OP asked about "Auto" mode, not "A" mode, otherwise known as Aperture mode.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Without getting into why they give you different readings:
Auto mode - the camera sets everything and you don't have an option to change it. The pop-up flash will engage if it's needed.
P mode - this is Program mode. The camera sets an initial choice and you can then manually change shutter speed, aperture, or ISO and the camera will adjust the others accordingly. You have to engage the pop-up flash if you want to use it. I use this mode almost exclusively.

Jim Bob

gvarner wrote:

Sorry, but this answer is wrong. The OP asked about "Auto" mode, not "A" mode, otherwise known as Aperture mode.

Oops, my bad. Most humbly apologize. Please disregard my earlier post.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

gvarner wrote:

Without getting into why they give you different readings:
Auto mode - the camera sets everything and you don't have an option to change it. The pop-up flash will engage if it's needed.
P mode - this is Program mode. The camera sets an initial choice and you can then manually change shutter speed, aperture, or ISO and the camera will adjust the others accordingly. You have to engage the pop-up flash if you want to use it. I use this mode almost exclusively.

hok,thanks but can you tel me how to change settings in P mode?I have tired but can't see a way. I understand about flash but not changing settings.

CraigZ58 Loc: McNeal, AZ, & Newport, OR

You use the dial on the upper right corner of the back of the body. By turning the dial, both the aperture and shutter speed change. The same dial you use to change the aperture in the A mode. The ISO I set manually, didn't change.

tkphelps

In P mode change the command dial and get different combinations that have the same EV. You can change from f2@1/1000 to f7.1@1/80, all giving proper exposure but varying the DOF and shutter speed. SO you can blur motion or stop motion, get large DOF or shallow. Your choice. In auto, the camera chooses whatever it wants.

bkblaw

Great responses - I was confused by the same issue - thank you

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

CraigZ58 wrote:

You use the dial on the upper right corner of the back of the body. By turning the dial, both the aperture and shutter speed change. The same dial you use to change the aperture in the A mode. The ISO I set manually, didn't change.

Sorry but the wheel does not change the settings.