Same here. My kids learned to drive stick too, though they both opted for automatics when the time came to buy their own cars (they also prefer taking pictures with their phones). I just bought my first automatic in about 40 years and I can’t say I’m all that happy about it.
The op's original thread had nothing to do with exposure or P mode. Please do not hijack this thread. I think you are afraid to start your own thread about exposure because people will tell you your definition is wrong.
Several times in the Beginners forum at DPR I pointed out that the answers were far too technical and complex to be of any use to those asking the question. The proof in that is seeing several "experts" arguing with each other about minute differences each trying to outdo the rest. If "experts" can't agree on a point , how is a beginner going to learn ?
Maybe this is a joke to you but photography is a very serious subject to me and you should not be joking around in a beginner's thread because you are likely to mislead them into believing falsehoods like the exposure triangle and ISO is a component of exposure and exposure is the total amount of light falling on the sensor.
I have answered your glib question in another thread. If you wish further discussion then start a new thread and stop hijacking this one. It is obvious to me that you are afraid to acknowledge that you do not know the proper definition of exposure.
Exposure = intensity x time. That is the definition that works for all forms of photography. Any other definition denies the proper definition.
I would like to address your other improper definitions but first I need to know that you understand the proper definition of exposure. E = I x T.
Intensity of what? I don't believe you know the answer 😉
I am going to continue with
* exposure - amount of light that struck the sensor while the shutter was open
** optimal exposure - the maximum exposure* within dof and motion blur requirements without clipping important highlights.
*** under exposed - more exposure* could have been added with the DOF and blur constraints still being met without clipping important highlights.
I think you must have taken a wrong bus to this forum because if you have a look up you will see we are currently in Open Talk, not the Beginners Forum 😊
I have answered in another thread and am not going to repeat myself here. I cannot be responsible for you being unwilling to look at the other thread which discusses intensity.
Then you will continue to show that you do not know the classic and correct definition of exposure.
I am sorry but I cannot comment on these until I know for certain that you accept the proper definition of exposure, which is E = I * T.
I too used to use an improper definition of exposure before I had the proper definition shoved through my thick head by people much wiser and more experienced than you or I.
I think your post proves my point: You and others are so far removed from being a beginner that you cannot help a beginner.
Arguing over the meaning of Exposure won’t help a Beginner. To me, personally, it is a toxic expression; it’s like holding a hand grenade. Because whenever I’d try to help a Beginner on DPReview, if I used the term “Exposure,” the thread would turn into a dogpile. The Beginner photographers couldn’t get any help because the nerds were too busy trying to impress themselves.
We have the talent and experience assembled here to be the best photography learning resource in the world, but only if we figure out how to focus on the Beginner and Intermediate levels.
No, the automation is being used to simply fill in the blanks for the best complementary exposure settings according to your preset parameters. It always does exactly the “right” thing so you can worry about the manual settings that matter. It’s not deciding for you. You always have the ability to fine-tune with exposure compensation if needed. It’s faster, easier, and you give up zero creative control.