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P,A,S,M Modes 71

3.3 P,A,S,M MODES

Program (“P”) mode is almost identical to the
Intelligent Auto (Superior Auto) mode described two
sections ago. In Program mode, the camera does the
basic decision-making for you -- it decides what
combination of shutter speed and f/stop to use based
upon the ambient light, the currently set ISO
sensitivity, and what the lens is zoomed to. The only
difference between Program and the iAuto mode is Figure 3-4: Program
that Program mode allows you to change all of the exposure mode.
important settings (such as ISO, Autofocus Mode, or
white balance), whereas iAuto and iAuto+ often restrict such tweaks.
For this reason, as you read through the rest of this book, I recommend you
keep the camera set to “P”rogram mode as you try out the different features
and settings. In Program mode you’ll never get a message saying “This
feature is not available in this mode” (as will so often happen in iAuto
mode; Figure 3-5). (Well, almost
never. Sometimes if you’re
shooting RAW you might hit a
similar brick wall when trying to
use some advanced features, but I’ll
tell you about those later on.)
What do the other modes do?
 M(anual) exposure mode lets
you choose the f/stop and
shutter speed yourself using the
front and rear control dials Figure 3-5: iAuto and iAuto+ modes
 A(perture Priority) exposure will keep beginners from becoming
mode lets you set the f/stop via frustrated by not allowing them to
basic
some
change
accidentally
either of the control dials and settings. Conversely, it makes non-
the camera chooses a shutter beginners frustrated because they
speed depending upon the ISO can’t change some basic settings.
and available light