What do the special "program" modes or "scene" modes in my camcorder do?

What do the special "program" modes or "scene" modes in my camcorder do?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What does the "spotlight" function on my camcorder do?; Should I use my camcorder's "widescreen" mode?; Do consumer camcorders have slow-motion capabilities? and more...

You've got a lot of choices on your camcorder in terms of how to get the best exposure, and sometimes manufacturers have tried to simplify that for you by creating what's called 'scene modes' or 'programme modes'. You can see these typically listed as things like 'sand and snow' or 'spotlight mode' or even a 'fireworks mode'. Those are there to optimise your exposure for exactly the type of environment you're in. 'Sand and snow' is simply that: everything is very bright; the camera has to deal with a lot of brightness. In 'spotlight mode' you're shooting a spotlight performance. The fireworks mode couldn't be more self-explanatory. It's difficult to shoot fireworks and get just the exact exposure because of the way they light up and how fast they go off. So, the manufacturers have programmed things into these cameras to make that easier for you, and we call them 'programme modes' or 'scene modes'. They're a good choice; sometimes they can take all the guesswork out of it. Pick the one that seems like the right thing for the right environment.