Is your camera permanently stuck in Auto Mode? Would you like to get more out of your camera?

This is the first of four parts in a series looking at the different modes available on your camera, when to choose them and how to get the most out of them.

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Program Mode on a Camera Mode DialWhen you are starting out in photography, even if you have a creative compact or DSLR which allows you more control over the settings, it’s very tempting just to let the camera sort it all out for you by leaving it in Auto Mode.

You don’t have to worry about exposure, or what an aperture is… you can just press the button and get a reasonable picture.The problem is that, while cameras get better all the time, there will always be times when they get it wrong.

By taking control of your camera’s mode dial, you can discover a whole new world to photography.

Program Mode – What Does It Do?

If you’ve previously only used Auto Mode, then Program Mode is a good place to start. On most cameras, this mode is selected by choosing <P> on your camera’s mode dial.

Like Auto Mode, the camera still has automatic exposure, i.e. decides the aperture (how wide a hole to use to let light in) and shutter speed (how long it lets that light in) for you, so chances are your picture is still going to be exposed correctly.

However, using Program Mode unlocks some other settings in your camera that gives you more control over the final image. These features will depend on those available on your particular make and model of camera but here are some examples, but it’s worth checking your camera manual for a full feature list:

  • Can change the ISO. This affects the sensitivity of the sensor to light. A higher ISO number will mean you need a smaller amount of light to get the picture correctly exposed – great for indoor shots without a flash. However, higher ISOs can reduce the quality of photographs by introducing noise or “grain” into the image. Having more control over the ISO may affect whether you can handhold the camera without camera shake when taking shots indoors, or making sure that you don’t get a grainy picture.
  • Can change the white balance. Certain types of lighting can give your images a “colour cast” – i.e. give your whites a blueish or reddish tint. By selecting the correct white balance you are stopping the camera having to “guess” which whites are really white.
  • Allows continous and self-timer modes. Want to take a burst of photographs in quick succession? Or set the timer and run into your own photograph? Then you’ll want to be able to activate these.
  • Exposure compensation. If your camera is still getting a bit confused (a bright light source like a window can often do this) you can adjust the exposure up or down and the camera will compensate accordingly.

The real advantage of Program Mode is that it’s great for quickly getting a photograph without having to think too hard about settings, but still retaining some control.

If you want to be able to adjust more, however, you’re going to need the later parts in our series…