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Mode dial
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<h2 id="location-of-the-dial">Location of the dial</h2> <p>On most dSLRs and mirrorless cameras, the mode dial is located at the top of the camera, to one side of the flash/viewfinder hump. On point-and-shoot cameras, particularly those with a thin body, the dial is found on the back of the camera, and it is often coupled with a menu-navigation button. Some thin cameras use a slide switch rather than a dial. </p> <h2 id="modes">Modes</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Digital_camera_modes/ba1pVeyQ">Digital camera modes</a></p> <p>Various camera types and specific cameras have different modes. The simpler dial in the top illustration has: </p> <ul><li>Manual modes: Manual (M), Program (P), Shutter priority (S), Aperture priority (A).</li> <li>Automatic modes: Auto, Action, Portrait, Night portrait, Landscape, Macro.</li></ul> <p>Most dSLRs and mirrorless cameras have a few manual settings and a small sample of automatic modes. On point-and-shoot cameras, all manual control may be condensed into one mode (e.g. ASP, for Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Program) or may be completely absent. Many compact cameras show a large array of scene modes. Digital cameras usually have a movie mode to capture videos. </p><p>Detailed information found by users on the modes supported by digital cameras are to be found in the ongoing <a href="/facts/List_of_digital_camera_modes/ba1pVeyQ">list of digital camera modes</a>. </p> <h3>Manual modes</h3> <p>Manual modes include:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>P: <a href="/facts/Program_mode/ba1pVeyQ">Program mode</a> offers the photographer partial control over <a href="/facts/Shutter_speed/5CMJNBop">shutter speed</a> and <a href="/facts/Aperture/8PV11GQm">aperture</a>.</li> <li>A or Av: <a href="/facts/Aperture_priority/fcYl62H7">Aperture priority</a> AKA "Aperture value" allows the photographer to control the aperture, while the shutter speed and <a href="/facts/Film_speed/HjnLPrIb">ISO sensitivity</a> are calculated by the camera.</li> <li>S or Tv: <a href="/facts/Shutter_priority/pcz91vH7">Shutter priority</a> AKA "Time value" allows the photographer to control the shutter speed, while the aperture and ISO sensitivity are calculated by the camera.</li> <li>Sv: Sensitivity value allows the photographer to control the ISO sensitivity, while aperture and shutter speed are calculated by the camera (this is a Pentax DSLR feature)</li> <li>M: Manual mode allows the photographer to control shutter speed, aperture and ISO independently.</li> <li>U: User mode (like program with preset)</li></ul> <h3>Automatic scene modes</h3> <p>In automatic modes the camera determines all aspects of exposure, choosing exposure parameters according to the application within the constraints of correct exposure, including <a href="/facts/Exposure_(photography)/Rzr0aGMd">exposure</a>, <a href="/facts/Aperture/8PV11GQm">aperture</a>, <a href="/facts/Focus_(optics)/QuRKfhg6">focussing</a>, <a href="/facts/Light_meter/FjU1T7ST">light metering</a>, <a href="/facts/White_balance/npTvImNA">white balance</a>, and equivalent sensitivity. For example, in portrait mode the camera would use a wider aperture to render the background out of focus, and would seek out and focus on a human face rather than other image content. In the same light conditions a smaller aperture would be used for a landscape, and recognition of faces would not be enabled for focussing. </p><p>Some cameras have tens of modes, showing the majority only in the menu rather than on the dial. Many cameras do not document exactly what their many modes do; for full mastery of the camera one must experiment with them. </p><p>In general: </p> <ul><li>Action or sport mode increases ISO and uses a fast shutter speed to capture action.</li> <li>Landscape mode uses a small aperture to gain <a href="/facts/Depth_of_field/xWo3J8b0">depth of field</a>.</li> <li>Portrait mode widens the aperture to throw the background out of focus. The camera may recognise and focus on a human face.</li> <li>Night portrait mode uses an exposure long enough to capture background detail, with <a href="/facts/Flash_(photography)/bfegk3Xy">fill-in flash</a> to illuminate a nearby subject.</li></ul> <p>Other scene modes found on many cameras include Fireworks, Snow, Natural light/Night snapshot, Macro/Close-up, and Movie mode. On cameras not aimed at amateur photographers, automatic scene modes may however be absent entirely. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Digital_camera_modes/ba1pVeyQ">Digital camera modes</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Shutter_priority/pcz91vH7">Shutter priority</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Aperture_priority/fcYl62H7">Aperture priority</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Film_speed/HjnLPrIb">Digital ISO sensitivity</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Digital_camera/LSGTserm">Digital camera</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Digital_SLR/1gq1Y1qt">Digital SLR</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Pentax K-5 user manual" (PDF). 1 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012. <a href="http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/man-pdf/k-5.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/man-pdf/k-5.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Nikon D300s user manual" (PDF). 1 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012. <a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D300S_ENnoprint.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D300S_ENnoprint.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>