Please don't provide the usual answer to what is the difference between Auto and Program modes. I understand the difference of operation, and I prefer the use of P over A for better control. I have recently "graduated" from a D7200 to a D850. The 850 has no Auto mode...no problem, I won't miss it. But I was unhappy with the color and exposure of several shots under certain conditions in P mode, so out of curiosity I performed a very simple experiment:

I grabbed my trusty 7200 and took 2 shots of in indoor still life without flash. One in Auto and the next in P mode. I expected them to be pretty much the same, but they were not. Surprisingly the shot made in Auto mode was had color and exposure much closer to the actual subject, and I think anyone looking at the two shots would agree.

So I'm left wondering why, and wondering what would need to be done in P mode to match the color accuracy of the shot made in Auto? In my mind any difference between the two should have been in exposure, but not color. seems to me that any of the several different combinations of exposure and shutter speed that I could have selected should not have any significant effect on color. Am I wrong about that?

Please don't provide the usual answer to what is the difference between Auto and Program modes. I understand the difference of operation, and I prefer the use of P over A for better control. I have recently "graduated" from a D7200 to a D850. The 850 has no Auto mode...no problem, I won't miss it. But I was unhappy with the color and exposure of several shots under certain conditions in P mode, so out of curiosity I performed a very simple experiment:

I grabbed my trusty 7200 and took 2 shots of in indoor still life without flash. One in Auto and the next in P mode. I expected them to be pretty much the same, but they were not. Surprisingly the shot made in Auto mode was had color and exposure much closer to the actual subject, and I think anyone looking at the two shots would agree.

So I'm left wondering why, and wondering what would need to be done in P mode to match the color accuracy of the shot made in Auto? In my mind any difference between the two should have been in exposure, but not color. seems to me that any of the several different combinations of exposure and shutter speed that I could have selected should not have any significant effect on color. Am I wrong about that?