Camera Settings – Camera Modes

It has come to my attention that most camera owners do not venture off of the Auto Mode setting in their camera. I don’t know why this is a surprise to me. People are timid when it comes to trying new things on their cameras.

Why is this true? Come on People. Get your fanny off Auto!

Here is a brief rundown of the settings that are common to most digital cameras, both point and shoot and digital SLR.

Basic Camera Modes –

 these are the ones that will set your camera up for success. You set it, the camera does the rest. The reason they are called Basic Modes? When you choose one of these modes, you are giving the digital camera “Carte Blanche” to do what it does best. You don’t have any more control over the settings. You can’t choose the ISO, the White Balance, the Picture Quality (you CAN set the picture size). All you get to do after selecting a Basic Mode is to press the shutter button.

Full Automatic Mode: – 

This is the one most camera owners use, whether they know it or not. Full Automatic is indicated on the Mode dial by a green rectangular outline or the word AUTO, also in green. In this mode, the camera makes all exposure decisions with the exception of image quality (see JPEG vs RAW).

Portrait Mode –

 This is a Basic Mode that optimizes the digital camera for taking portrait shots. The camera chooses a wide aperture for the best depth of field effect (with a blurry background).

Landscape Mode – 

Choosing landscape mode tells the camera to select a smaller aperture so that most of the photo from front to back is in focus.

Macro (close-up) Mode – 

The term Macro generally refers to a photo with greater magnification of a small object where the camera is much closer to the subject than normal.

Sports Mode -

 Refers to a mode where the camera automatically chooses the fastest shutter speed possible. The ISO may be boosted to accomplish this. It also sets the camera into a “focus lock” where the camera will continue to focus on the subject as you pan with the movement of the action.

Night Photography Mode – 

A basic mode in which the camera will set a wide aperture and a slow shutter speed to compensate for very little light. In this mode it is highly recommended that you use a tripod or set your camera on a steady surface to avoid blur.

Flash Off Mode – 

Quite simply a mode in which the camera flash will not fire. Use this mode to assure the maximum natural light. Again, if there is not much light, a tripod is recommended.

Creative Modes – 

These settings allow the photographer to have some control over the results by dialing in settings of their own choice. When using Creative Modes, the photographer is always in control of the “Quality” setting, the ISO, and the White Balance.

Program Mode – 

This is the simplest of Creative Modes. It allows the camera to decide on the aperture and shutter speed.

Aperture Priority Mode - 

The photographer sets the Aperture value and the camera sets the Shutter Speed to the proper setting for the selected Aperture.

Shutter Priority Mode – 

The photographer sets the Shutter Speed and the camera decides on the proper Aperture for that setting.

Manual Mode – 

The photographer is in total charge of the Aperture and the Shutter Speed. The mode takes the most knowledge on the part of the photographer.

A-DEP Mode – 

Automatic Depth-of-Field – This mode is not very widely used, but it is a mode that will choose the widest depth of field for a selected scene. It is good for photos that have large groups of people in rows so that all the rows are in focus. It is also a kind of “landscape mode” on the creative side of the dial.