Which camera mode dial setting is semi-auto and sometimes referred to as P for police?

• A. Auto
• B. Manual
• C. Shutter Priority
• D. Programmed Automatic

Answer: (D)

Programmed Auto, often labeled P on the mode dial, is a semi-automatic exposure setting. In this mode the camera automatically selects both shutter speed and aperture to achieve a proper exposure, while you still have some control over the next steps—like applying exposure compensation or, on many cameras, shifting the program to a different combination of shutter and aperture. This makes it faster than manual exposure, yet not fully automatic like Auto.

Shutter Priority is a semi-auto mode too, but you choose the shutter speed and the camera selects the aperture, so it isn’t the P setting. Auto is fully automatic with little to no manual control, and Manual is full control with you choosing both shutter and aperture.