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How to Choose a Shooting Mode

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Digital Photo Light Settings

Special Shooting Modes

In addition to the main shooting modes, most digital cameras have special shooting modes designed to be used in particular situations, such as shooting close-ups or making wide panoramic images. These special shooting modes can be used in conjunction with the camera’s main shooting modes. The following special modes are among the most common, but your specific camera may feature even more.

Macro Mode

Macro mode allows you to take close-ups of insects, flower petals, or anything else you’d like to capture in precise detail. Macro mode is usually indicated by a small flower icon. Keep these tips in mind when shooting macro:

Consider depth of field: It’s extremely shallow in macro mode, so sometimes only a small part of your photograph will appear in focus. To get the greatest depth of field possible in macro, use aperture priority mode and choose the smallest aperture.
Use the LCD: When you’re up that close, the image you see through the viewfinder won’t match what the camera actually records. Use the LCD screen instead.

Portrait Mode

Portrait mode uses the largest aperture setting (and sets the shutter speed accordingly) in order to blur the background and focus on the subject in the foreground. You'll use portrait mode most often when shooting close-up portraits of people. Its icon is usually a human face.

Landscape Mode

Landscape mode uses the smallest aperture setting (and sets the shutter speed accordingly) in order to capture the greatest possible depth of field. Photographers use landscape mode for photos, such as nature shots, in which the foreground and background should appear in focus. The icon for landscape mode is usually a mountain range.

Sports or Action Mode

Sports or action mode uses the fastest shutter speed (and sets the aperture size accordingly) in order to capture subjects in motion without causing them to blur. Photographers use action mode when shooting everything from athletes to wildlife. Its icon is usually a man running.

Panoramic Mode

Panoramic mode lets you capture a series of photos that together depict a wide shot that’s too big to fit in a single frame. Cameras that feature panoramic mode often come with software that helps you “stitch” together the shots that compose the panorama. The icon for panoramic mode is usually a series of overlapping photos. When shooting panoramas, keep these tips in mind:

Overlap your photos 30–50%: The camera or stitching software will determine where the overlap occurs and stitch the photos together at just the right “seams.” More overlap makes the process easier.
Keep exposure settings the same: Identical exposure settings for all shots help make the finished panorama look like one vast, well-exposed photo, rather than a patchwork.
Use a tripod: A tripod will help you align your shots horizontally or vertically.
Avoid moving objects: Motion or blurring in the photo can make it difficult to stitch photos together neatly.

Continuous Shooting Mode

In continuous shooting mode, you press the shutter button and the camera takes photos repeatedly until you let go. You might not be able to see each photo as you shoot, so be sure you’ve framed your shot perfectly before pressing down the shutter. To use continuous shooting mode, prefocus (see How to Focus Your Digital Camera), then hold down the shutter button for as long as you’d like. Most cameras allow you to shoot until you’ve filled up your memory card. This mode’s icon is usually a stack of overlaid photos.

Video

Nearly all entry-level digital cameras now feature a video mode that lets you shoot digital movies complete with sound and full-motion video. Though you can shoot for hours in this mode—if your memory card has enough storage, that is—the quality of digital camera videos is much lower than that of videos shot with a camcorder. Digital camera videos also eat up memory quickly and become huge files, often totaling more than 50 megabytes. The video mode icon is usually a tiny video camera.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimer