P Mode question - Page 2

Ned · #11 April 18th, 2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armanius

Thanks for the explanations. I suppose one day I might venture to something other than A, S or M!

Tsk, tsk... you always have to bring S & M into the conversation, don't you?

Luckypenguin · #12 April 18th, 2012, 11:29 AM

I found that that there was a noticeable difference in how the GF1 approached P mode compared to the other four m4/3 cameras I have used. The GF1 definitely seemed to shoot at very large apertures even in good light. I figured that it was compensating for having a smaller sensor. The GH1 in particular seems to lean towards a philosophy of choosing smaller apertures which I generally prefer, but sometimes it goes to the point where it will start to choose apertures like f/11 or smaller in brighter conditions even though there is the shutter speed available to choose wider apertures. At this point I'll start using the program shift or switch to A mode to get more optimal aperture values.

Ned · #13 April 18th, 2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyubie

One diff is that P will not fire the flash unless you pop it up.

Yes, and there was a time (for Olympus it was the "Blue Auto") before Intelligent Auto (aka iAuto), when manual vs. auto flash control was pretty much THE only difference between Program and Auto. Now with iAuto though, it has the ability to change to different scene modes, and that's the new defining feature. Program is like one general-purpose scene mode, while iAuto can use them all.

Armanius · #14 April 18th, 2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned

Tsk, tsk... you always have to bring S & M into the conversation, don't you?

Hahaha. That's what my fiance says!

Just kidding!!!

Hyubie · #15 April 18th, 2012, 11:32 AM

So, back to the question - is this behavior to be expected in

bodies, even in the brightest natural light I can get? Is this, as Nic said, to compensate for the sensor size?

Warren T. · #16 April 18th, 2012, 11:37 AM

whoever did the computer programming for "P" mode with the Lumix 20mm decided that the lens should be used at widest aperture as often as possible. It annoys me, and it's why I always shoot in "A" mode when I use my 20mm. I would rather control my own aperture than have the "stupid" computer program do it in "P" mode. :)

I don't know how the Program curve works for other prime lenses because the 20mm is the only native prime that I own.

I often use "P" for my native zoom lenses, and their programming seems to be fine.

--Warren

Ned · #17 April 18th, 2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyubie

So, back to the question - is this behavior to be expected in

bodies, even in the brightest natural light I can get? Is this, as Nic said, to compensate for the sensor size?

If you are in bright light and the camera is not trying to compensate for low-light, then individual manufacture settings can vary widely. The general procedure for dealing with lower light is what remains the same across brands (though the actual minimum/maximum values vary), and this is where you will always see the aperture opened before the ISO is bumped.

However, in brighter light one camera may choose to speed up shutter speed while another may choose to stop down the aperture to deal with the increasingly bright light. That's a manufacture preference, where they have to choose how to balance it. Obviously, on any camera once it reaches maximum shutter speed it'll have to start stopping down the aperture irregardless of priority.

If you are in iAuto or Scene mode, then again this choice will vary with a preference to dropping shutter speed for action or portraits and a preference to stopping down aperture for groups and landscapes.

Your camera's Program mode is probably geared more like the action/portrait modes... speed up shutter first until maximum shutter speed is reached, then start stopping down aperture. You mentioned compensating for sensor size, and that could very well be a big part of the manufacturer's choice in this sequence of priorities. Stopping down aperture last means shallower DOF which is certainly the "trend" in photography.

Hikari · #18 April 18th, 2012, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armanius

LOL!

But then, how does it differ from "auto"?

You should not be in an auto when you are drinking.

WT21 · #19 May 11th, 2012, 10:09 AM

I think this behavior for P mode is preferred. Difraction sets in quick on these small sensors, and many of these lenses are at their best around f/4-5.6. Maybe Oly knows that, and factors that into their P mode algorithm?