Auto vs Program Mode ... Dumb question

In reading various owners' manuals, it seems to me that the Auto Mode and the Program Mode of Nikon cameras are basically the same. They both work as a "point and shoot" mode.

Is there a subtle difference I am missing? :confused:

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Dave Smith

In reading various owners' manuals, it seems to me that the Auto Mode and the Program Mode of Nikon cameras are basically the same. They both work as a "point and shoot" mode.

Is there a subtle difference I am missing? :confused:

Thanks

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Usually, auto mode controls everything, you do pretty much nothing but point the camera. In program mode, you have some choices, such as flash, EV, ISO, etc. I suggest using Program mode as it is still automated but has the choices. If you like auto mode, I seriously recommend a good P&S.

Thanks for asking, Dave. I always sort of wondered, too.

My understanding is this: Program mode usually is truly point-and-shoot. Auto mode includes aperture-priority and shutter-priority auto modes.

In program mode, the camera decides both the aperture and the shutter. You don't have to set either of them; the camera will change them all on its own. If your camera has this mode, set it to program mode, aim your camera at different scenes of different lighting conditions. Watch the camera changes both the aperture and shutter speed as the scene changes. Nevertheless, you can still select either the aperture or shutter speed if you want to.

In aperture priority, you set the aperture and the camera decides the shutter speed. The camera cannot change your aperture setting. Similarly, in shutter-priority mode, you pick the shutter speed and the camera decides the aperture setting. It won't change the shutter speed for you.

Then there is auto ISO....

My camera is a Nikon body-plus with a Fuji heart.

I'm not sure about program mode on my Canon, but on my Panasonic P & S, you can change the aperture, which also changes the shutter speed to match. It does give you a little more control than full auto.

Thanks mwfanelli2, Frog, Aging Eyes and Mike for your responses.

Seems that they are pretty similar with one allowing a little tweaking. That's sort of what I got from reading the manuals ... not a whole lot of difference. Seems like I could do without one or the other and not miss a shot. I prefer using Aperture and Shutter priority anyway (and Manual when I can).

I am giving serious consideration to a Nikon D60 next month (tax incentive and all) and I am crawling through a bunch of owners manuals to lock in my decision. Any views on the D60?

Thanks again for the info

I guess the D60 is a good camera but the D80 is better and the price has dropped so much you can get one for about 100 dollars more and that's with only doing quick research.

I can tell you that on my Canon S3 IS, and my wife's A540, the difference is ISO selection. Both auto and program modes "choose" the aperture and shutter speed, but in program mode it uses the ISO mode you set. They also choose to use or not to use the flash in both modes, provided the flash is not disabled. So, if you want to prevent it from choosing a high ISO is somewhat low light, use program mode.

Frog
I looked into the D80. The differences between the D60 and D80 as I see it is
o D80 has optional grid lines - D60 dosent (I haven't used grid lines since my Yashica TLR days.
o D80 has 11 focus points - D60 has three (might be worth it)
o D80 has higher ISO range
o D60 has a sensor dust cleaner
o D80 has been out a while - wonder if it about to be "upgraded"
o D80 is supposed to be a mini D200 ... supposedly it seems sturdier in build (bad English - sorry)

I guess I will have to touch and feel them before I make my final choice.

I really appreciate your feedback.

Rocket_Scientist ...

Thanks for your input

If the price of D80 is dropping, I guess it has to do with the coming of D90. Like to wait a bit? :)

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Originally Posted by Dave Smith

Frog
I looked into the D80. The differences between the D60 and D80 as I see it is
o D80 has optional grid lines - D60 dosent (I haven't used grid lines since my Yashica TLR days.
o D80 has 11 focus points - D60 has three (might be worth it)
o D80 has higher ISO range
o D60 has a sensor dust cleaner
o D80 has been out a while - wonder if it about to be "upgraded"
o D80 is supposed to be a mini D200 ... supposedly it seems sturdier in build (bad English - sorry)

I guess I will have to touch and feel them before I make my final choice.

I really appreciate your feedback.

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Here is my take on this. Program mode is full auto, with a few options as already stated. You decide if you want to use the flash or not. I believe you can also adjust the exposure compensation. Along with that, you can also adjust the f/ stop and shutter speed, but NOT independently from each other. Once the exposure is determined by the camera, you can change the aperture and shutter speed to increase or decrease the DOF, but the exposure stays the same. Same thing with the shutter speed. I'm typing this from memory so I could be wrong on this part.

In Auto mode (the green box, sports, landscape, macro) the camera is making all the choices for you.

Another difference is your file options. On my Canon's, you can not shoot RAW if you are in any of the full auto modes such as the green box, sports mode, landscape, macro mode etc. These modes will only record in jpegs. That alone is enough to keep me from using them. This may not be the case for Nikons or other brands.

Another thing to consider when using auto modes is, that the camera assumes you are shooting hand held. The camera is going to do everything it can to give you a hand holdable shutter speed.

If someone is new to photography and DSLR's I say start off in Program mode and shoot and have fun. When you want to start learning more, switch to the creative modes such as manual, aperture priority, or shutter priority.

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Originally Posted by Dave Smith

o D60 has a sensor dust cleaner

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That would do it for me. With DSLR's, I usually recommend the newer camera of the two being considered unless there's a really important reason for going with the older one. You can wait for a newer model, but there will always be something new coming out and you can't take pictures with a camera you don't have! :)

I had a chance to play with a D80 two weeks ago, and it is pretty similar to my D200, but not exactly - in operation at least. D80 has Nikon's "P" (program) mode and also an "Auto" mode which I wasn't familiar with. Rather than look in the manual to figure it out, I just didn't use it - but it seemed about the same as Program with a lot adjustments locked out (EV compensation, for one). Guess I'm too old school for that. I set it up "my" way and then changed it before giving it back. But neither the D80 nor the D200 have the self cleaning sensor.

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Originally Posted by another view

That would do it for me. With DSLR's, I usually recommend the newer camera of the two being considered unless there's a really important reason for going with the older one. You can wait for a newer model, but there will always be something new coming out and you can't take pictures with a camera you don't have! :)

I had a chance to play with a D80 two weeks ago, and it is pretty similar to my D200, but not exactly - in operation at least. D80 has Nikon's "P" (program) mode and also an "Auto" mode which I wasn't familiar with. Rather than look in the manual to figure it out, I just didn't use it - but it seemed about the same as Program with a lot adjustments locked out (EV compensation, for one). Guess I'm too old school for that. I set it up "my" way and then changed it before giving it back. But neither the D80 nor the D200 have the self cleaning sensor.

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Well unless I'm inside my D-70 lives in the aperture priority mode. As far a self cleaning mode in the last 4 years and many lens changes I've only had to clean the sensor three times, first time it was a horse hair, second and third was dust. The horse hair was the most difficult to find as it moved and I finally found it on the lens!

AE wrote ... If the price of D80 is dropping, I guess it has to do with the coming of D90. Like to wait a bit?
I don't think so. It will be a new toy. I want it yesterday :D

Mike ... you reinforced my opinion of the two options. Some differences but both somewhat similar results.

Another View ... I hope the sensor cleaner will be of benefit. I don't want to have to clean a sensor by hand (yeah I'm chicken). When necessary and possible, I'll leave that to the technicians.

Freygr ... I am accustomed to Shutter Priority and Apeture Priority from my favorite 35mm camera (Mamiya-Sekon DTL1000).

Thanks all for your input ... you are making my decision much easier.

freygr, I'm normally an "A" guy as well but was giving some pointers to the camera's new owner. "P" can be fine for use by pros as long as they know how it works and when to use it, but I (like others) tend to do things "my way".

Dave, when I bought my D200 from a friend the D300 was becoming easy enough to find in stores. I didn't want to spend twice the money for the D300, but the self-cleaning sensor was probably the biggest thing that had me at least consider it. Best thing regardless is to be careful - prevention is still the best bet.

Thanks guys for all your input.

I bit the bullet today and ordered a D60 with two kit lenses (as well as other goodies)from B&H. I wanted better glass but my tax incentive was not that big. I went to the local (only one) camera store and tried to get it from them but they were over $300.00 (plus tax) higher than B&H and they would not budge on their price.

It should be here on Friday.

Thanks again for all your information and help.

Hi there! This is not a dumb question at all!! And...I may be a little late in finding this and adding my 2 cents...but, here goes, hope it helps!

Automatic is just that...the camera chooses everything based on it's programming. The computer in the camera senses the conditions, tries to figure out what you want to focus on, and sets the shutter, aperture, flash, everything to capture what it thinks is a technically perfect image.

Program mode: I think this mode is so misunderstood... Program mode is basically advanced auto mode. The camera chooses the aperture and shutter speed for your shot.

In program the flash WILL NOT activate unless you manually do it.

You can change the ISO setting...but be careful, you want the lowest ISO that you can get away with! With a highter ISO, your camera will be more sensitive to light, allowing you to take a picture inside, in a low light situation. The trade-off is that a higher ISO can cause noise.

In program mode you can also change the white balance. This changes the color saturation in your shot...some cameras have settings where you can choose tungeston, outdoors, flourescent...based on the lighting in your situation.

Basically...those really georgeous pictures you see of a little kid blowing out their birthday candles...the scene is just perfect, and the kid's face is all warm and glowing....That was taken on program mode...no flash...and probably a little big higher ISO.

Happy photoing!!!