scene modes are default settings offered by most amateur level cameras.
They are very useful to start using our camera because they provide us with more specific settings than an automatic mode, and at the same time they do not have the complication of a manual mode.
Although we always recommend that you focus on mastering the manual mode, it is true that it can be quite a challenge at first. Understanding the values of the exposure triangle, how they combine with each other, or what side effects come from applying each of them, can be a bit tricky.
That is why the scene modes can be great allies to get started in photography.
What are scene modes?
Scene modes are default settings that contain a set of specific settings optimized for the most common situations (mainly aperture, shutter speed or white balance, but sometimes even ISO, saturation, etc).
They are normally located on the camera dial and are indicated by an icon that represents the scene for which those parameters are optimized.
Keep in mind that when you use a scene mode, you have almost no control over the settings, it is the same as when you use an automatic mode, only you customize it for each situation.
The scene modes can be found in reflex cameras, mirrorless, bridge and even in compact cameras. Let’s see them.
The most common scene modes are:
- Portrait
- Scenery
- Children (and pets)
- Sports
- Macro
- Night:
- night landscape
- night portrait
- candle light
- party/anti motion
- beach/snow mode
- Dusk/sunset mode
- gastronomy mode
Scene modes one by one
After this overview of the scene modes, let’s take a closer look at the most common ones:
1. portrait scene mode
It is usually represented by a face or a face with a hat, depending on the camera.
This scene mode seeks to highlight the face or a static object, through a Shallow depth of field. Thus, he achieves that the portrait stands out against the background.
As you know, this is achieved, among other aspects, by means of a wide aperture (f/low value). Here Mario explains perfectly how it works.
Another aspect that this mode will value is prioritizing a low ISO for higher image quality and a minimum shutter speed so that the subject does not appear blurred.
two. landscape scene mode
It is usually represented by mountains, and it is the most recommended way to photograph landscapes (day) urban, natural, or simply scenes where you require a wide area of focus.
In landscapes, we use a closed aperture (high f/value) to achieve greater depth of field, a low ISO is also prioritized to gain sharpness in the scene and a speed high enough to freeze possible movement well.
It is also common for colors to be saturated in landscape mode.
Below, you can see the relationship between aperture, light, and depth of field. You can familiarize yourself with these concepts for when you dare to make the jump to manual mode 😉 :
diaphragm opening
3. Scene mode: children and pets
The main “danger” of this type of photography is the movement, that is why the cameras in “child” mode use high speeds to freeze the movement.
Also, on some occasions, they include adjustments to soften the skin tone or increase the saturation of the clothing or the background.
The children scene mode can be represented by a boy with a hat, or a boy with a dog.
4. Sports scene mode
In sports, the scene mode looks for freeze Motion, so the adjustments will be oriented to it, looking for a high shutter speed. He is represented by the icon of a person running or similar.
It is also very possible that in this mode your camera is set to burst shoot, thus allowing you to capture scenes where the action happens quickly.
If it does not include it, you can select it yourself, since it is the most suitable mode for sports.
To compensate for high speeds, the camera will use in this mode large diaphragm openings (you will get blurred backgrounds), thus allowing more light to enter the sensor.
5. Macro scene mode
In this mode you can photograph objects from close up (flowers, coins, parts of the face, leaves, insects, etc).
Although we call it macro mode, the truth is that it would be more of a close-up photograph; without a macro lens (or its corresponding alternatives) you will not be able to achieve the level of magnification corresponding to macro photography (1:1).
What the camera offers us with this set of settings is the possibility of getting closer to objects (the maximum is always marked by the minimum focus distance of your lens). To do this, it combines a fast shutter speed and an adequate depth of field to have the main character in focus as much as possible.
6. Night scene modes
A moon or some stars are the ones that indicate that we are facing some settings prepared to photograph scenes with low light.
When using them it is always recommended, for best results, that you combine them with the use of a good tripod.
Within the night modes you may find some (or all) of the following:
- night landscape: Represented with a building and a moon or stars, this mode uses a high ISO and a slow shutter speed to increase the light input to the sensor. It is very possible that, if your camera has it, it activates noise reduction to compensate for the use of a high ISO value. You can also take multiple shots to reduce vibrations by back stacking.
- Night portrait: In the night portrait, we will work with a wide diaphragm opening and a minimum speed high enough to try to freeze the subject. In some modes the built-in flash may be activated automatically, if you prefer to avoid it you can surely disable the built-in flash by default on your camera. Be that as it may, the ideal is that the subject moves as little as possible and, obviously, using a tripod will always help you. It is usually represented by a person with a star, a moon or the like.
- candle light: Some cameras include this type of indoor night photography. Seek to neutralize the warm tone of the candles through white balance. It will also work with the combination of large apertures and a minimum speed so that the subjects do not come out blurred with higher ISO values. His icon is usually a candle.
- Parties/anti movement: For interiors with low light, a wide aperture and a speed sufficient to achieve sufficiently sharp images, sometimes from the flash, are prioritized. In some cases, burst shooting is used to combine the images into one, reducing subject blur and image noise. This avoids the use of the built-in flash.
7. Snow/beach scene mode
Sometimes you will find them separately, sometimes together. The symbols are a snowman or a beach, but in both cases the camera will be set to take into account the reflection of the sun on the snow and sand, scenes that “fool” the camera’s light meter into thinking there is more light than there really is.
In scene mode it will slightly overexpose the image to compensate, use rather narrow apertures, low ISO, high shutter speeds, and intensify colors.
8. Scene mode sunset/sunset
This is an interesting way to get stunning sunsets automatically.
In this case, the aim is to maintain and accentuate the warm tones of the sky. They are environments with low light, so the ideal is that you consider night photography (use a tripod whenever you can).
The camera will work at slow speeds and wide apertures to get enough light.
9. Food scene mode
It is usually represented by cutlery and its main objective is present the food in a way that is pleasing to the eye, prioritizing balanced contrast and color, as well as a wide aperture to focus attention on the plate (but ensuring that everything necessary is in focus).
Take a look at our complete guide on food photography if you want to delve into the subject 🙂 .
NOTE: If you don’t have any of these modes or yours are different, don’t panic. Not all cameras have the same scene modes. That is why it is important that you know your camera well, that you mess around with it and discover all its possibilities.
Do all cameras have scene modes?
Not all cameras have scene modes. The most advanced and professional cameras do not include this type of adjustment since it is assumed that the photographer who uses them has already passed the learning level and masters the semi-automatic modes and the manual mode.
They do include, instead, options that you can customize, creating your own scene modes or specific settings.
I can’t find the scene modes on the dial
If your dial does not have scene modes, it could be due to two factors (I just told you about one 😉 ):
- Your camera does not have these types of default settings because it is geared towards a more advanced photographer.
- You must access the scene modes through the menu. In this case, you will see the word “Scene”, “SCN” or “SR+” on the dial. Move the dial to this point and select the scene mode in the camera’s own menu.
Keep in mind that each camera is different, ideally you should take a look at your user manual to get to know it in depth.
If you have a Nikon camera, these are the specific scene modes of the brand, if you have a Canon you can take a look at theirs herea Sony here and Fujifilm here…
Scene mode in JPEG or RAW?
The difference between a JPEG and a RAW file is very simple, JPEG makes the adjustments to the image directly from the camera, once applied “there is no going back”; they are stored like this. For example, if you are using a monochrome mode in JPEG, your image will be recorded in black and white, you will not be able to recover color.
On the other hand, if you take your images in RAW, the image will be recorded “raw”, that is, the adjustments will not be applied to the image, you will keep the original “the negative” to go back whenever you need it.
These files retain much more information and therefore give you higher image quality.
If you decide on the RAW mode, keep in mind that the adjustments will be made a posteriori in editing your image. If you use Lightroom you will find it under “camera calibration” .
summarizing
The modes of…