Hearing more about using P mode, not Aperture

[Nancy Moran G]

Hi,
Have talked to 2 people I met taking photos at locations, who both have said they switched to Priority mode from Aperture.
I have basic understanding of camera, but do not understand this difference.
Any help?
Thank you, Nancy

[Manfred M]

Nancy - Program (P) mode is a setting that lets you run a DSLR like a point & shoot. Depending as to how you have set up your camera, it will select a shutter speed / aperture setting / ISO, based on the lighting and the lens you are using.

I did use it when I first got my DSLR and found that it had one advantage; it let you (generally) get a decent shot without having to think about camera settings. I used to leave it set in that mode just in case a shot cropped up so that I would get an image without thinking.

That being said, I have not used it in years because while you can get a decent shot, it generally would not be the shot I wanted.

My work flow is as follows:

1. Set the ISO for the lighting situation (usually as low as I can get away with);

2. Determine the shooting mode I want for the image. If I am shooting for a specific DoF, I will shoot aperture priority, when I am shooting for motion (stop or blur) I will shoot shutter priority and when I am shooting with a flash, I usually shoot on manual. I obviously take the focal length that I am shooting into account, as well as any auxillary equipment (tripod, filter, etc.).

Program mode does let you override the camera setting and change either the shutter speed (and the aperture will change) or aperture (and the shutter speed will change).

I understand why it is included, but it is really the mode I use the least because it generally does not work for me.

[Digital]

Nancy, the only priority modes I know of are aperture or shutter. I have never heard of a priority mode. It is a new one on me.



Bruce

[DanK]

Nancy,

all of your camera's modes should be explained in the manual that came with the camera.

I have never heard of "priority" mode without some modifier. P generally stands for "program." In aperture priority mode, you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed. In shutter priority mode, the reverse is true.

Dan

[Brownbear]

Hi Manfred,

What is the difference between priority mode and automatic mode? I have this mode on my camera but I've never tried it but it sounds the same as automatic. Is it just that this mode accounts for the lens you are using and automatic doesn't?

Thank you.

Nancy - Program (P) mode is a setting that lets you run a DSLR like a point & shoot. Depending as to how you have set up your camera, it will select a shutter speed / aperture setting / ISO, based on the lighting and the lens you are using.

I did use it when I first got my DSLR and found that it had one advantage; it let you (generally) get a decent shot without having to think about camera settings. I used to leave it set in that mode just in case a shot cropped up so that I would get an image without thinking.

That being said, I have not used it in years because while you can get a decent shot, it generally would not be the shot I wanted.

My work flow is as follows:

1. Set the ISO for the lighting situation (usually as low as I can get away with);

2. Determine the shooting mode I want for the image. If I am shooting for a specific DoF, I will shoot aperture priority, when I am shooting for motion (stop or blur) I will shoot shutter priority and when I am shooting with a flash, I usually shoot on manual. I obviously take the focal length that I am shooting into account, as well as any auxillary equipment (tripod, filter, etc.).

Program mode does let you override the camera setting and change either the shutter speed (and the aperture will change) or aperture (and the shutter speed will change).

I understand why it is included, but it is really the mode I use the least because it generally does not work for me.

[Andrew76]

I think we should clarify if the OP is referring to <P> as Program Mode, or some other mode that she's referring to as "Priority Mode", that none of us seem to have heard of. Otherwise, this will get way out of context.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Nancy - Program (P) mode is a setting that lets you run a DSLR like a point & shoot. Depending as to how you have set up your camera, it will select a shutter speed / aperture setting / ISO, based on the lighting and the lens you are using.

I did use it when I first got my DSLR and found that it had one advantage; it let you (generally) get a decent shot without having to think about camera settings. I used to leave it set in that mode just in case a shot cropped up so that I would get an image without thinking.

That being said, I have not used it in years because while you can get a decent shot, it generally would not be the shot I wanted.

My work flow is as follows:

1. Set the ISO for the lighting situation (usually as low as I can get away with);

2. Determine the shooting mode I want for the image. If I am shooting for a specific DoF, I will shoot aperture priority, when I am shooting for motion (stop or blur) I will shoot shutter priority and when I am shooting with a flash, I usually shoot on manual. I obviously take the focal length that I am shooting into account, as well as any auxillary equipment (tripod, filter, etc.).

Program mode does let you override the camera setting and change either the shutter speed (and the aperture will change) or aperture (and the shutter speed will change).

I understand why it is included, but it is really the mode I use the least because it generally does not work for me.

Very nice outline .

Simple, clear, easy to grasp and practical.

Thanks

[Manfred M]

Hi Manfred,

What is the difference between priority mode and automatic mode? I have this mode on my camera but I've never tried it but it sounds the same as automatic. Is it just that this mode accounts for the lens you are using and automatic doesn't?

Thank you.

Program mode allows you to override what your camera suggests, while Automatic does not. The D90 has this and I assume your D7100 works the same way. For example, f the camera comes up with f/8 @ 1/500; you can't change this in Automatic, but the in Program mode, the command dial lets you change the aperture / shutter speed (to say f/5.6 @ 1/1000 or f/11 at 1/250). Automatic mode will also "helpfully" pop up your built-in flash when it decides you need more light, while Program mode does not.

[Brownbear]

Yes, my manual refers to it as Program Mode and states

In this mode the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture according to a built in program to ensure optimal exposure.


There is also something called flexible program mode - mode P in which one can select the aperture or shutter speed, which makes me wonder why one would use this instead of shutter or aperture priority? As I wonder why one would use Program mode instead of automatic?

The manual does not provide any detail but there is a graph on page 327 showing aperture vs shutter speed which suggests to me that program mode uses exposure compensation to achieve optimal exposure?

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hi Christina,

Just a small detail. In Auto mode, the flash automatically pops up when the cam determines the scene is too dark.



HTH

[MrB]

Nancy, it is quite important that you tell the members here the make and model of your camera - P-Mode can range from an almost fully auto mode giving the user very little control (e.g. some point-and.shoot compact cameras), up to complete control and/or over-ride of all image capture parameters (e.g. some DSLR cameras).

E.g. In P-Mode on a Pentax K-5, the camera's green button sets a shutter speed and aperture that will probably give a reasonable shot for the chosen ISO value. However, if the photographer wants to give more exposure (e.g. a snow scene) or less (e.g. a dark woodland scene) he can set up to + or - 5 stops of exposure compensation. Moreover, he can change the aperture (to take charge of depth of field) by turning the rear dial, or change the shutter speed (to control motion in the shot) by turning the front dial. The camera meanwhile maintains the desired exposure by adjusting the speed or aperture respectively, and the photographer also always has control of the ISO sensitivity. N.B All this can be done without leaving P-Mode.

Philip

[Brownbear]

Thank you for a wonderfully clear explanation.

Program mode allows you to override what your camera suggests, while Automatic does not. The D90 has this and I assume your D7100 works the same way. For example, f the camera comes up with f/8 @ 1/500; you can't change this in Automatic, but the in Program mode, the command dial lets you change the aperture / shutter speed (to say f/5.6 @ 1/1000 or f/11 at 1/250). Automatic mode will also "helpfully" pop up your built-in flash when it decides you need more light, while Program mode does not.

[Digital]

I think we should clarify if the OP is referring to <P> as Program Mode, or some other mode that she's referring to as "Priority Mode", that none of us seem to have heard of. Otherwise, this will get way out of context.

I agree with Andew.


Bruce

[Manfred M]

Perhaps I have jumped the gun in my answer. I have heard "P" mode referred to as Priority Mode and Professional Model by some people. I've heard some shooters refer to Aperture priority mode as "Automatic" mode.

Based on Nancy's question. I'm fairly certain she is not sure what the people she was talking meant by the term.

[RobertsMx]

P (Program Mode): Allows adjustment of exposure although in my cameras, I believe I can only apply exposure compensation. This is, otherwise, similar to Auto mode with more available options to set. For example, "Auto" will have flash on auto, ISO on auto and you have no control over such settings. Program (P) mode will allow you control over those. I don't use this mode.

A (Aperture Priority): As Manfred noted above, some people refer to this as an automatic mode. In reality, it is a semi-automatic (or "Automatic Exposure") mode where you can set the aperture and have ISO set manually or as Auto ISO, and the camera will adjust shutter speed (hence "auto exposure").

This is my go to mode with manual ISO. I start with lowest ISO and evaluate DOF and shutter speed for the occasion. If I need to adjust for DOF, I change the aperture. If I feel the shutter speed is too low, I will bump up the ISO accordingly.

S (Shutter Priority): Another "Automatic Exposure" mode like Aperture Priority. I use this especially when there isn't much I can do about DOF control, but still want control over shutter speed, generally for sports/action/Birds-in-flight photography. Also useful when you may want to use a lower ISO but without compromising shutter speed which will result in slightly underexposed images, but when shooting RAW, exposure value can be lifted as needed. This helps in situations where maximizing dynamic range may be worth the hassle.

M (Manual Mode): I use it more than S but less than M, and usually for Sports/Action photography with Manual ISO.

[siggi]

You can select Auto mode and Auto mode no flash.P mode allows you to turn the command dial whilst maintaining a balance between shutter speed and aperture to still get a fair exposure.On S mode you can select a speed which will result in a total black (too fast)or white image(too slow)P is actually a kind of safe mode to experiment with knowing the parameters won't result in a totally useless image.P on the camera always starts of as what the camera thinks is the best ratio of S and A,you then decide to adjust speed or aperture and the camera will stop at a ratio that is maximum for that particular scenario,in other words it starts at auto mode and merely lets you change the relationship between the depth of field or shutter speed you require for a certain shot and your camera will not let you go over certain limits.This for Nikons.

[siggi]

In good lighting conditions you have more range of adjustment than in low light

[Nancy Moran G]

Ok, I started the thread and then got diverted all day.
Lots of info, thank you.
It was 6a.m. This morning when I met the fellow photog, thought he said Priority, but...
He had a Nikon that was above my 7000, showed me his versions of our same subject which looked good. I noticed an 800 ISO, and asked him @ that high #. He said he shoots many ISO's and let's camera do work, and he had missed many shots with Manual mode, which ironically, I was using at the moment.
I just got to look at his website, and nothing looks 'earth shattering', good but, altho I am no pro either!

I got great info here on P mode, thank you. I hope it wasn't a wasted subject.
Nancy

[Mito]

I've heard that that people who wear up market full frame DSLRs that have their cameras set to "P" usually comment to lesser mortals waving their P&S cameras around that "P" means professional and "A" is for amateurs.

[Brownbear]

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for asking about this. I learned about program mode on my camera (far more informative then my camera manual) and I'm truly appreciative that you asked this question.

Ok, I started the thread and then got diverted all day.
Lots of info, thank you.
It was 6a.m. This morning when I met the fellow photog, thought he said Priority, but...
He had a Nikon that was above my 7000, showed me his versions of our same subject which looked good. I noticed an 800 ISO, and asked him @ that high #. He said he shoots many ISO's and let's camera do work, and he had missed many shots with Manual mode, which ironically, I was using at the moment.
I just got to look at his website, and nothing looks 'earth shattering', good but, altho I am no pro either!

I got great info here on P mode, thank you. I hope it wasn't a wasted subject.
Nancy