Program mode vs. auto mode

[julie32]

what's the difference between these two?


as always, thanks.

 

[Big Mike]

Depends on the camera.

With some (or maybe most) Canon DSLR cameras. Full auto (green box) mode gives you the least amount of control. The flash will pop up on it's own, I don't think you can choose to shoot in RAW while in that mode. I don't think you can set the highest ISO either.

Canon calls the 4 primary modes 'Creative modes'...P, Av, Tv & M. P differs from green box in that you can adjust everything else, the camera just gives you the aperture and shutter speed.

I can't remember the last time I used green box mode (if I ever have) and I don't think I've ever used any of the 'picture' modes either. You don't really need to...Av, TV & M can do everything.

 

[julie32]

thanks mike!! You're so good at explaining.

 

[Sandspur]

Good info from Big Mike, as usual.

I actually use P quite a bit.

Think of "P" as being Auto on Steroids!

 

[kundalini]

I had a pro tell me that the quality of your images will increase by 30% by switching from Auto to Program. I have no idea where he came up with that, what it's based on or if it's factual. I do not use either of those modes.

 

[lifeafter2am]

I had a pro tell me that the quality of your images will increase by 30% by switching from Auto to Program. I have no idea where he came up with that, what it's based on or if it's factual. I do not use either of those modes.

Wow, its Magic!!!!!

 

[skipper34]

Like Mike said, the green mode is set in stone. No adjustments can be made. P mode is like green mode but adjustments can be made. But if adjustments are made, the camera does not automatically compensate for the adjustments. In other words, if I set the aperature in P mode, the shutter speed will not change accordingly. It gives you a little more flex in your exposures.

 

[Big Mike]

In other words, if I set the aperature in P mode, the shutter speed will not change accordingly.

I didn't think you could change the aperture while in P mode...and if you could, the shutter speed would change to compensate.
Sounds like you are thinking of M mode.

 

[djrichie28]

P mode will set the aperture and shutter speed automatically for the best exposure. You cannot control exposure in P except for when using exposure compensation, where you can adjust using the button (the one with a little +/- on it) with the dial to set a bias for taking pictures on either side of the camera's ideal metered exposure. In Auto you can't use exposure compensation. You are stuck with what the camera wants.

 

[mrodgers]

And only thing I can change other than exposure bias in Program mode is the ISO. You can probably force the ISO to what you want or limit the auto ISO. In Auto mode, the ISO is full automatic, though I believe I can keep it to Auto 400 or Auto 800 max if I wanted.

 

[julie32]

these are extremely helpful responses, thank you.

 

[usayit]

Some cameras have program shift too. It meters and determines an ideal aperture and shutter then allows you to shift through the different combinations of aperture and shutter at the same exposure. Auto will also determine the ideal aperture and shutter but doesn't allow you to shift... Canon's creative modes will determine whether the camera will tend towards wide apertures with faster shutter speeds or narrow apertures with slower shutter speeds.

 

[kidchill]

Yah, Nikon has both P and Auto mode. I don't know what camera you're asking about though. The P mode will let you change either aperture or shutter speed and then it will change the other to keep the exposure good. Auto mode just plain does everything for you. You have more control with P mode. I also think that Auto mode does it's own thing as far as WB and ISO. Not positive though 'cause I usually use A/S mode and set the WB and ISO myself. Check the manual if you have it.

 

[brileyphotog]

Yah, Nikon has both P and Auto mode. I don't know what camera you're asking about though. The P mode will let you change either aperture or shutter speed and then it will change the other to keep the exposure good.

Kidchill is right as far as my Nikon goes, P mode lets you cycle between equivalent shutter speeds and f-stops (it probably lets you change other settings also but I use M 99.9% of the time). I use it P to play around with getting different dof while keeping exposure the same.

 

[elemental]

I had a pro tell me that the quality of your images will increase by 30% by switching from Auto to Program. I have no idea where he came up with that, what it's based on or if it's factual. I do not use either of those modes.

This sounds very scientific, and makes absolutely no sense.

I used P for a while, but now the only time I take it off M is to use Av. I can't really think of a situation where I'd rather give the camera control over the aperture than to just set it myself and allow it to set the shutter speed off of that. Then again, everyone is different, and what works for me would probably not work for, say, a sports photographer.