In article
>I'm not sure this is the right place to ask a very basic question.
>But I don't find anybody in the rec.photo.help group these days.:-)
>I realize that on some rather advanced cameras, there are P/A/S/M >modes. My camera only has P/M modes. So I'm wondering what the A/S >modes are. Could someone tell me how they work and how they are useful?
Looks like the right place to me for your question....
Program, Aperature priority auto, Shutter priority auto, and Manual
would be my guess as to the P/A/S/M modes. As to their usefulness,
you are being answered by someone who finds anything but M kinda
useless....;-) I do find that auto exposure (like auto focus)
features get in my way more than help me (TTL flash excepted) with
picture taking - I find it preferable to know what I want, and know
how to get it, than to let the camera's unpredictable auto features
take over photo operations. If you still want to use them ;-), here
is what they do: P sets both aperture and shutter speed; A sets the shutter speed when you set the aperture; S sets the aperture when you set the shutter speed; and M allows you complete and precise control
over everything!
Hope This Helps