P is basically auto, but you have a little more control over the ISO, and other settings, with the exception of shutter speed and aperture. In auto you can't control anything at all!
You'll find you can control ISO, flash and a whole lot more. Try between the two and you should notice lots more options when in P when you press the fn button
P is so very much more than auto, it's the great walk around mode with all the options mentioned by previous posters and it's got more than a little bit of S and A attitude if you turn the wheel a little!!
There's nothing 'stuck up' about using 'P', Joe... In fact, it can be a better option when you don't have time to think too much about what you're doing.
Although I generally use Aperture Priority, there are times when I find 'P' to be more useful.
P lets the camera take its best guess at exposure settings, taking into account the focal length of the lens etc. A quick nudge to the wheel allows the user to select any shutter speed or aperture he/she wants while still using the exposure value set by the camera. A or S mode just allows the user to select a set speed or aperture while still accepting the camera's best guess as to the correct exposure based on that preselected setting. P also allows exposure compensation and othe adjustments that aren's allowed by full Auto.
I normally use P. In practice I find the modes just do the same!!! after all if you dont like what the camera suggests then you can shift the program, Aperture, or shutter speed to get what you want. They all work to an EV which will give you a particular combination of shutter/aperture, which you can then change if you want.
I think the key is in the "priority" ie which is the most important setting for the particular shooting you are doing?
I do use shutter priority for horse shows in bad light, combined with auto ISo its a winner!!
There's nothing 'stuck up' about using 'P', Joe... In fact, it can be a better option when you don't have time to think too much about what you're doing.
Although I generally use Aperture Priority, there are times when I find 'P' to be more useful.
We used to get battered if the Command Master Photographer found your cameras on anything other than 'M' - his mantra of "P does not stand for professional!" was taken up by us as "P is for Professional" whenever someone was caught out...
P or Flexible-Program can be useful if the light is fairly predictable and even.
At other times there's no real advantage to using anything other than M unless you specialise in the types of subjects where A or S will be preferable.
Motorsports would suggest 'S' could be more practical if the light changes rapidly and the action is a fixed distance from the camera.
For landscapes where the shutter-speed is of little importance - 'A' would be more use.
In both those scenarios manual is just as good if not better as you have full control over the image-taking process, not the camera's electronics.
although i do dabble in A S & M most of my recent photography has been done in P. however these weren't supposed to be masterpieces they were more like drunken-stumbling snaps intended for use on facebook etc
the Danish guys we were drinking with are very determined in their mission to get you wasted
Most camera's with program mode not only allow you control over ISO, exposure compensation, flash and the use of RAW but also have a program shift feature that allows a measure of control over aperture and shutter speed as well.
Most program modes will by default select the highest shutter speed solution to the light conditions on the day, this means using the largest aperture, but by using the shift function you can use a different solution to the light conditions with a smaller aperture, just keep pressing shift or use the command dial to scroll through the options.
I was watching a podcast recently, think it was the Scott Kelby one - and I'm sure they said that the only real difference between P and Auto was that in Auto the flash would pop up if the camera thought it needed? :?
I wouldn't know because I only use Ap or M of course
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