"P" Mode defaults?

I was reading comments from people who use the "P" Mode, or Program  mode on their camera.

Now, I myself don't ever use it, but I thought I'd experiment a little. It was a fairly bright day. It was a little hazy, but not too bad.

I metered the scene, and the camera selected f/5.6 and set an ss speed of 1/250.

I swung the camera around and selected another scene.  I got the same results: 5,6 and 1/250.

I put the camera in Av Mode and set the aperture at f/7.1.The camera dropped the shutter speed to 1/160, which is to be expected; but it got me thinking, does Canon choose f/5.6 as a default and go from there?

If it does, it seems like you'd be spending an awful lot of time tweaking the initial settings.

I personally do not like 5.6 very much. I'd rather choose a smaller aperture like 7.1 or f/8 for its depth of field or a wider aperture like f/2.8 to isolate a subject. I can see using 5.6 when taking a group photo and you want to get everyone in focus,  but I find f/5.6 gives me "soft" photos.

But, that's just me.

Any thoughts?

Steve Thomas

For my first few months of shooting with a DSLR (the Canon 1200D), I didn't bother myself with focusing whatsoever. I just left it up to the camera. I also stayed in Auto mode.

Recently, looking back at those photos, I see that literally 90% (not exaggerating) of the photos were front-focused.  It wasn't just a focusing issue; the camera did generally choose f/5.6, which usually wasn't enough.

Dunlin wrote:

For my first few months of shooting with a DSLR (the Canon 1200D), I didn't bother myself with focusing whatsoever. I just left it up to the camera. I also stayed in Auto mode.

Recently, looking back at those photos, I see that literally 90% (not exaggerating) of the photos were front-focused. It wasn't just a focusing issue; the camera did generally choose f/5.6, which usually wasn't enough.

Dunlin,

About the one and only time I ever used the Auto setting, the camera chose f/5.6, and I've wondered about that ever since. It was also a bright, sunny day. It may be because 5.6 is a mid-range setting, and the camera starts from there.

Steve Thomas

stevet1 wrote:

I was reading comments from people who use the "P" Mode, or Program mode on their camera.

Now, I myself don't ever use it, but I thought I'd experiment a little. It was a fairly bright day. It was a little hazy, but not too bad.

I metered the scene, and the camera selected f/5.6 and set an ss speed of 1/250.

I swung the camera around and selected another scene. I got the same results: 5,6 and 1/250.

I put the camera in Av Mode and set the aperture at f/7.1.The camera dropped the shutter speed to 1/160, which is to be expected; but it got me thinking, does Canon choose f/5.6 as a default and go from there?

If it does, it seems like you'd be spending an awful lot of time tweaking the initial settings.

I personally do not like 5.6 very much. I'd rather choose a smaller aperture like 7.1 or f/8 for its depth of field or a wider aperture like f/2.8 to isolate a subject. I can see using 5.6 when taking a group photo and you want to get everyone in focus, but I find f/5.6 gives me "soft" photos.

But, that's just me.

Any thoughts?

Steve Thomas

Hi,

the logic of P mode is “take the easy and safe way”, satisfy the most of situations and could differ between the camera models.

If it is not aligned with your needs, just use the Av (or Tv) mode.

Av is the most used by enthusiasts, not P.

Additionally , you omitted the other two parts of equation, ISO, chosen by P mode and the FL ( lens) you used.

guinness2 wrote:

Hi,

the logic of P mode is “take the easy and safe way”, satisfy the most of situations and could differ between the camera models.

If it is not aligned with your needs, just use the Av (or Tv) mode.

Av is the most used by enthusiasts, not P.

Additionally , you omitted the other two parts of equation, ISO, chosen by P mode and the FL ( lens) you used.

guinness2,

You're right.

I think 5.6 is an average setting for an average scene.

I just looked at a couple of other scenarios in P Mode:

Pointing the camera at a black curtain using evaluative metering, the camera brought in a setting of f/4. Pointing it at a white cloud brought up a setting of f/10.

Pointing it at the horizon, which brought in a lot of the sky, but some of the ground too, the camera set an aperture of f/7.1.

I was using a 55-250mm lens that runs from f/4 - f/5.6.

So, again, I think 5.6 is an average setting for an average scene when using evaluative metering.

Thanks.

Steve Thomas

stevet1 wrote:

guinness2 wrote:

Hi,

the logic of P mode is “take the easy and safe way”, satisfy the most of situations and could differ between the camera models.

If it is not aligned with your needs, just use the Av (or Tv) mode.

Av is the most used by enthusiasts, not P.

Additionally , you omitted the other two parts of equation, ISO, chosen by P mode and the FL ( lens) you used.

guinness2,

You're right.

I think 5.6 is an average setting for an average scene.

I just looked at a couple of other scenarios in P Mode:

Pointing the camera at a black curtain using evaluative metering, the camera brought in a setting of f/4. Pointing it at a white cloud brought up a setting of f/10.

Pointing it at the horizon, which brought in a lot of the sky, but some of the ground too, the camera set an aperture of f/7.1.

I was using a 55-250mm lens that runs from f/4 - f/5.6.

So, again, I think 5.6 is an average setting for an average scene when using evaluative metering.

Thanks.

Steve Thomas

Well, I think it’s a bit different. The P mode has some logic behind, but not this one. It can differ on various models.

It tries the lowest f-stop it can  and  when  in risk of overexposure, it stops the lens down.

By using this particular lens , f/4  (f-stop) corresponds to the maximum aperture at 55 mm , respectively f/5.6 at 250 mm.

Dunlin wrote:

For my first few months of shooting with a DSLR (the Canon 1200D), I didn't bother myself with focusing whatsoever. I just left it up to the camera. I also stayed in Auto mode.

Recently, looking back at those photos, I see that literally 90% (not exaggerating) of the photos were front-focused. It wasn't just a focusing issue; the camera did generally choose f/5.6, which usually wasn't enough.

Hi Dunlin, few clarifications, if you don’t mind.

Focusing in “Auto” mode , or better, the automatic choice of the focusing point used makes, that camera uses the focusing point which is aiming to the closest subject in the scene. So it focuses on the shape most in the front.

The term “Front-focusing “ is used when the focusing system has a systematic frontal deviation from the point it should be in focus. It is just a discrepancy between the body and the particular piece of lens, some more advanced cameras allow to correct it in settings.

None of these has anything to do with f/5.6 at all.

guinness2 wrote:

Dunlin wrote:

For my first few months of shooting with a DSLR (the Canon 1200D), I didn't bother myself with focusing whatsoever. I just left it up to the camera. I also stayed in Auto mode.

Recently, looking back at those photos, I see that literally 90% (not exaggerating) of the photos were front-focused. It wasn't just a focusing issue; the camera did generally choose f/5.6, which usually wasn't enough.

Hi Dunlin, few clarifications, if you don’t mind.

Focusing in “Auto” mode , or better, the automatic choice of the focusing point used makes, that camera uses the focusing point which is aiming to the closest subject in the scene. So it focuses on the shape most in the front.

I know that now. Little did I know then.

The term “Front-focusing “ is used when the focusing system has a systematic frontal deviation from the point it should be in focus. It is just a discrepancy between the body and the particular piece of lens, some more advanced cameras allow to correct it in settings.

Of course, you are correct. Thanks for pointing out my error.

None of these has anything to do with f/5.6 at all.

Dunlin wrote:

guinness2 wrote:

Dunlin wrote:

For my first few months of shooting with a DSLR (the Canon 1200D), I didn't bother myself with focusing whatsoever. I just left it up to the camera. I also stayed in Auto mode.

Recently, looking back at those photos, I see that literally 90% (not exaggerating) of the photos were front-focused. It wasn't just a focusing issue; the camera did generally choose f/5.6, which usually wasn't enough.

Hi Dunlin, few clarifications, if you don’t mind.

Focusing in “Auto” mode , or better, the automatic choice of the focusing point used makes, that camera uses the focusing point which is aiming to the closest subject in the scene. So it focuses on the shape most in the front.

I know that now. Little did I know then.

The term “Front-focusing “ is used when the focusing system has a systematic frontal deviation from the point it should be in focus. It is just a discrepancy between the body and the particular piece of lens, some more advanced cameras allow to correct it in settings.

Of course, you are correct. Thanks for pointing out my error.

None of these has anything to do with f/5.6 at all.

Hope I helped