mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I've heard of P mode occasionally being described as "Professional" mode even though Nikon and Canon both refer to it as Program mode. Since it is, for all intents and purposes, an automatic mode with some relative adjustability to the shutter speed and aperture, I wonder if the term was intended for newbies to indicate that this auto mode gives them some manual control over the final image like a "Professional". Otherwise, the term makes no sense. I shoot mostly in manual mode, and often in Aperture mode. I occasionally will use P mode when I'm actively participating in some event and shooting casually rather than spending the extra time to adjust an image to my preference.

BebuLamar

As far as what P stands for I believe the first camera using such a term is the Canon A-1, the first 35mm SLR with P mode. It stands for "Programmed Auto Exposure". I also believe Ken Rockwell was the first to call the P mode "Professional Mode". Whatever it really means who cares. I do know exactly how it works on my cameras. I never use it.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

It would be amusing and characteristic of Ken Rockwell if he was the first to call it Professional mode.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There were several sites identifying the 'Professional Mode', beyond Rockwell. This one gives a good explanation of using P(rofessional) as 'ISO priority' as compared to the other two A(wesome) and S(uper) semi-automatic modes. Of course, to be 'ISO priority', you need to fix your ISO rather than let it float in Auto-ISO, something that happens naturally on my EOS film camera where P is my preferred setting.

OOPS ... I just learned there's UHH banned site list. Look for "why you need to shoot in program mode" on "photography talk" or google and investigate the results of "is program mode professional" to learn / dispel the negative connotation of the Professional mode.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Quite the contrary. The assertion suggests lack of knowledge. P mode is no different than A or S mode in control. But more elegant.

Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore uses and recommends it for walkaround.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

There was a time when it was considered "unprofessional" to use auto-anything, AF, A, S, or especially P mode...which was once considered the domain of amateurs ("enthusiasts") or point-and-shooters...but times have changed, and have been changing since the late 70s... But when you think about it, the real criteria that makes a pro a pro, is - getting paid for great images, no matter how they are captured! Clients don't care which mode was used to make an image, or even the brand of camera, or whether it was auto-focused or manually focused ... they just want great images for their ad, publication, billboard, wedding album, etc. Great lighting and composition is important, and sometimes, they may specify a format, image quality, etc...but beyond that they don't care about the "how" or the minutia or process....

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Well, if it's good enough for Nat Geo, it's good enough for any of US!

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Except that many pubs that present photojournalism disallow post processing.

no nameJoe

ON the nikon that I use program mode is same as auto exempt that you don't get flash

IDguy Loc: Idaho

You can use it that way. But it allows all the flexibility of the other auto exposure modes (A, S, or M with auto ISO), plus you can use the thumbwheel to toggle to the extremes of fstop and shutter speed that meet exposure.