MODE DIAL

A 'mode dial' or 'camera dial' is a dial used on digital cameras to change the camera's mode. Most digital cameras, especially dSLR and SLR-like cameras, employ a mode dial. On point-and-shoot cameras which employ these dials, the mode dials generally offer a range of scene types. On dSLR cameras and SLR-like cameras, mode dials usually offer access to manual settings. Many point-and-shoot cameras are compact and don't have mode dials; these cameras have all settings accessed through internal menus. On some SLR lenses, the lenses themselves offer control over things such as aperture, reducing the need for the mode dial.

Contents

Location of the dial

Modes

Manual modes

Automatic scene modes

See also

External links

Location of the dial

On most dSLRs and SLR-like 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, however, the mode dial's location is less standard. On many models, it is found on top like dSLRs. On other point-and-shoots, the dial is found on the front of the camera, often coupled with a menu-navigation button.

Modes

Various camera types and specific cameras have different modes. On dSLRs, these usually contain manual settings and a small sample of automatic modes. SLR-like cameras usually have manual modes and several automatic scene 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 completely absent. Compact cameras also generally have a large array of scene modes. Point-and-shoot and SLR-like digital cameras usually have a movie mode to capture videos, though the design of dSLRs prevents these cameras from having movie modes as well.

Manual modes

Manual modes include:

★ P: Program mode offers partial control over shutter speed and aperture.

★ Tv or S: Shutter priority controls the shutter speed, and aperture is calculated by the camera.

★ Av or A: Aperture priority controls the aperture, and the shutter is calculated by the camera.

★ M: Manual mode controls shutter speed and aperture independently.

Automatic scene modes

Automatic modes include:

★ Auto mode gives complete control to the camera's metering system.

★ Action or sport mode increases ISO and widens the aperture for a short shutter speed.

★ Landscape mode shrinks the aperture for greater depth of field.

★ Portrait mode widens the aperture for softer features and narrower depth of field.

★ Night portrait mode takes a flash shot of the nearby subject with an extended shutter exposer to capture lights in the background.
Other scene modes found on many cameras include Fireworks, Snow, Natural light/Night snapshot, Macro/Close-up, and Movie mode.

See also

★ Shutter priority

★ Aperture priority

★ Digital camera

★ Digital SLR

External links

★ Explanation of manual modes on ScrattyPhotography