All digital cameras have different types of modes, and most of them can be found below. Although the majority of these terms apply to still cameras, video cameras do feature them in some form as well.

• Automatic (Auto) – This is the most popular mode used by beginners. The camera automatically adjusts to the current lighting conditions. The photographer has almost no control over the camera’s settings in this mode, but, unfortunately, the camera doesn’t always make the best choice.
• Program (P) – Program is similar to Auto in that the camera chooses a lot of the settings for you, but you can control some of them yourself, such as the flash, ISO, and white balance.
• Manual (M) – In Manual mode, the photographer has complete control over all the settings, including shutter, aperture, white balance, ISO, flash, and even focus on some cameras. It gives you the maximum flexibility to shoot the way you want. This is mostly used by professional photographers and those who have taken the time to experiment and understand all the different settings.
• Aperture Priority (A or Av) – In this mode, you select the aperture and the camera determines the other settings.  Aperture controls the depth of field, so use this setting when that is the most important. A larger aperture number means that less light is let in, thus giving a larger depth of field.
• Shutter Priority (S or Tv) – Similar to Aperture mode, the photographer sets the shutter speed and the camera determines the other settings. This is largely used in sports or wildlife photography, where you want to capture a freeze frame of the motion. If you choose a slow shutter speed, you will get a blurring effect.
• Macro – Macro mode lets you get close-up pictures. This is good for shooting flowers, small objects and other close-up details.  Macro mode has a narrow depth of field, which can make focusing difficult.  A tripod can be very useful in this situation.
• Portrait – In Portrait mode, the camera will automatically select a large aperture, narrowing the depth of field to keep the background soft. This focuses the attention on the subject in the foreground by blurring out the background. As the name suggests, this mode is very helpful in taking portraits of people.
• Landscape – Landscape is pretty much the opposite of Portrait mode.  It works by selecting a small aperture and increasing the depth of field so that faraway objects stay in focus. This mode is ideal for capturing wide scenes and distant objects, such as mountains, skylines and seascapes.
• Night – For use in low-light situations such as at nighttime, this mode uses a long shutter speed to get colorful and detailed shots. A tripod is almost always a must in Night mode, although handheld shots can create fun and abstract images.
• Action or Sports – Used for capturing fast-moving objects such as a sporting event, wildlife, or moving cars, this setting automatically chooses the fastest shutter speed in order to freeze the action. It is best used in bright-light situations, like daylight or under bright stage lights.
• Movie Mode – This mode captures both video and sound.