Scene Modes are preset controls for certain photographic subjects that would otherwise require a specialist knowledge. Some are useful, others rather exotic and some tell the photographer what the camera is doing. Very useful are sports for freezing movement and landscape plus portrait for creating an extended depth-of-field.

Use of the preset controls will cancel any personalised settings, such as EV Compensation and ISO Sensitivity. These, together with others, are set by the camera as required and usually cannot be adjusted.

Scene Modes do not teach photography. They are quick and convenient to use and designed to widen the photographic possibilities for non-photographers, as a stepping-stone towards 'real' photography; or where manual control of a camera is not possible, particularly some compact cameras locked into Auto.