Program Mode - What Is It? Is It Ok For Me To Use It?
Program Mode is indicated by the letter P on a Canon Camera. In program mode, the camera selects the aperture and the shutter speed when you press the shutter release halfway. Program Mode is more advanced than full auto as it allows the user to select some settings rather than the camera doing all of this, and the aperture and shutter speed combination can be quickly adjusted by the photographer.
Hi and welcome to Episode 106 of the Photography Explained podcast.
I’m your host Rick, and in each episode I will try to explain one photographic thing to you in plain English in less than 10 minutes (ish) without the irrelevant details. What I tell you is based on my lifetime of photographic experience. And not Google.
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OK - Why am I talking about Program Mode?
Well, it was something that came up in a previous episode. I will come onto that in the talky bit.
First – what is Program Mode?
Program Mode is one of the Creative Zone Modes in the Canon ecosystem. I will talk about this in the next episode, and then I really have to move on to something else.
The spelling of program in program mode.
OK – I have been spelling programme incorrectly all my life. And now it is finally time to get it correct. There is no me at the end of program in this context. It’s OK I finally get it.
And while I am on the subject of the actual word what does it actually mean? Yes, this is completely irrelevant detail so whilst I must apologise for boring you with this I found this interesting.
I found this definition courtesy of the Google.
“provide (a computer or other machine) with coded instructions for the automatic performance of a task.”
There you go, that makes perfect sense. And yes I found that interesting.
P for Professional.
No P is not for professional. P is for program. I have actually heard someone say this…..
How does Program Mode work?
Press the shutter button halfway. The camera should confirm focus and tell you the aperture and shutter speed that it thinks will give you a correct exposure. If either of them blink then there is something up.
Why P and not full auto?
In Program, only the aperture and shutter speed are set automatically. You can set other stuff yourself.
In full auto, a lot of things are set by the camera and not you.
That is one big difference.
Program Shift
You can change the aperture and shutter speed combination by rotating the top dial – this is a quick and easy way of selecting the aperture and/ or shutter speed of your preference and still getting the correct exposure.
And that is all I have to say about how it works – nice and simple for once. I might get this episode inside 10 minutes!
What do I do?
I use this mode when I just want to take photos without any faff. When I am acting not like a photographer but someone with a camera without a care in the world.
The talky bit
OK – I was going to tell you in this section but I have just done that – I use Program Mode when I want to give myself a complete break from anything technical and simply take photos without any great thought, just for the joy of taking carefree photos.
Yes, I know AV Mode, which I use day in and day out, is not difficult to use. But that is not the point. I use AV Mode all the time, and Program Mode gives me a break from the technical stuff and lets me take photos without a care in the world.
Am I talking nonsense here? Well maybe I am, but there are a couple of points I want to make here.
I enjoy using Program Mode. I find it liberating, and knowing that I am using it makes me less demanding of my photos, I think less about anything other than what I am taking a photo of. And I have got some interesting stuff as a result of this feeling of freedom, no pressure to get a brilliant, technically perfect photo.
I talk a lot about needing a professional mindset to be a successful photographer. But I need a break from this sometimes, and this is what I do.
What about you – is it ok for you to use Program Mode?
There are those who say no, to be a proper photographer you need to take photos in manual mode. I have had people say this to me. You don’t by the way. And the small-minded “experts” who say this speaking from their lofty perches on planet guru have missed a couple of things.
Firstly, what if the photographer does not know how to use manual mode? Just because they do and I do doesn’t mean that you should. Is the photographer better serving the world of photography by not taking photos at all as they cannot use manual?
Of course not. If Program is your preferred mode fine. I would rather you took photos using Program mode than not go out taking photos because you found manual too difficult, or felt pressured to use manual but were not able to.
And also
What if the photographer wants to use Program? I do sometimes. I know how to use manual mode with my eyes closed. I know manual mode inside out.
But sometimes I just want to use Program.
And finally – since when was anyone given the right to tell others what to do?
Big takeaway
Use program mode if you want to. I would strongly recommend learning and understanding manual mode, and if you want to do this great. And if you do not no problem.
As long as you are going out taking photos, creating new stuff, and enjoying photography I do not give a stuff what camera mode you use.
And another thing – no one will ever know what mode you took a photo in. No one will ever know.
Related episodes
Plenty of good stuff that you can catch up on if you missed it.
Episode 100 - Why Are There So Many Camera Settings? I Am Confused - Help Me?
Episode 101 - Camera Settings 1 - Things That You Can Set And Forget
Episode 102 - Camera Settings 2 - Things That You Might Change When Out Taking Photos
Episode 103 - Camera Settings 3 - The Things That You Set For Each Photo You Take
Episode 104 - 10 Camera Settings For Beginners - Let's Keep Things Nice And Simple
Episode 105 - Do You Want To Know The 20 Camera Settings That I Use?
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I’ve been Rick McEvoy, thanks again very much for listening to me and for giving 10 (ish) minutes of your valuable time, and I will see you on the next episode.
Cheers from me Rick