Program Mode
P (Program) – The cameras sets both the lens opening and the shutter speed.
The Program mode is similar to Auto mode in that the shutter and aperture settings are determined by the camera, but the photographer can adjust other settings manually.
In “Program” mode, the camera automatically chooses the Aperture and the Shutter Speed for you, based on the amount of light that passes through the lens. This is the mode you want to use when you just need to quickly snap a picture, but may want to have control over the ISO, Picture style or have access to the exposure compensation feature to lighten or darken the image. The camera will try to balance between aperture and shutter speed, increasing and decreasing the two based on the intensity of light. If you point the camera to a bright area, the aperture will automatically increase to a bigger number, while keeping the shutter speed reasonably fast. Pointing the camera to a darker area will decrease the aperture to a lower number, in order to maintain a reasonably fast shutter speed. If there is not enough light, the lens aperture will stay at the lowest number (maximum aperture), while the shutter speed will keep on decreasing until it reaches proper exposure.
Some cameras will allow you to override the camera-determined shutter speed and aperture by rotating a control dial. If you rotate the control dial one way, the camera will decrease the shutter speed and increase the aperture. If you rotate the dial the other way, the camera will increase the shutter speed and decrease the aperture. Basically, if you needed to get a faster shutter speed for freezing action or if you needed to get a larger depth of field, you could rotate the command dial to temporarily override the settings. Just keep in mind that this is only temporary. The camera will revert back whatever it thinks are the correct settings after several minutes or when the camera is turned off and then back on.
Tip: If your camera does not have an Auto setting you can create your own by choosing the Program mode and setting both the ISO and White Balance to Auto.
