Would you like to just point and click and take decent pictures? Then use the green (or red) Auto mode. If you’d like to control your flash or have more control over your cameras menu options, Program mode is one choice for you.



The big letter ‘P’ on the dial, right next to Auto mode, is Program. The camera still picks the Aperture and Shutter Speed for you. It goes for an average combination and is suitable for general photography. The best thing about Program mode is all the menu options that will be opened up for you.



Besides being able to force your flash on or off there’s also a number of other settings you’ll have access to. (These will vary so check your camera manual to see what you have available.) Some of these settings are:

• Changing the ISO
• Shooting in Single or Continuous mode
• Changing the White Balance
• Exposure Compensation (forcing the camera to under or over expose the picture)
• Program Shift (changing the aperture/shutter speed combination used)

Having more control over your camera means having more control over how your pictures turn out. As I discuss the other Exposure modes you’ll discover when to use them and why. Stay tuned…