The Four Major Modes of Camera

There are four major modes in the camera and these are Manual Mode (M), Aperture priority (A or Av), Shutter speed priority (S or Tv) and Programmed Auto (P). (Note: The image is from Nikon D7000 manual, dial mode vary depending on camera model and brand.)

Fig. 1 Camera Mode

1. Manual mode - you are in control of your aperture and shutter speed settings to produce a consistent exposure or dictate the camera that this is the exposure that I want.

2. Aperture priority - you will be able to only adjust the aperture setting and the camera will decide the shutter speed setting based on what it meters. However you may adjust your exposure compensation to fine tune the exposure.

3. Shutter Speed priority - opposite of aperture priority. You will be able to adjust shutter speed setting and the camera will decide the aperture setting based on what it meters. Exposure compensation can be adjusted also at this setting.

4. Programmed Auto - you can adjust the aperture and shutter speed settings and the camera will automatically adjust either the aperture/ shutter speed settings for you based on what it meters.

Although there are four major modes in the camera, most of the photographers prefer the "Manual Mode" because it produces a consistent exposure based on photographer's taste. The camera meter isn't perfect as the human eyes and sometimes produce an underexposed/ overexposed images in certain scenarios. Shutter and aperture values also changes from time to time in the other three modes. To be able to gain control for the different scenarios they use the Manual Mode. The other three modes are also useful depending on the scenario you will shoot, with Aperture priority if you want to control the depth of field (length of the scene which is acceptably sharp), Shutter Speed priority will control the motion (freeze or show motion) and Programmed Mode is the combination of Aperture and Shutter Speed Priority, it's also called flexible mode. Exposure compensation can be used in the three modes to fine tune the exposure values. There are also other modes in your camera that you might ask but these are also automatic modes and we will not go through those. What mode should I use? I'll ask then, what are you more concerned into: depth of field, motion or both? It's your choice. For a better understanding of this article it's suggested to try each mode and see what the camera will produce in each scenario and mode with a certain value of aperture, shutter speed & ISO.