Programmable manual mode for digital cameras

A digital camera comprising:

• a memory for storing a program mode comprising an exposure condition and a set of exposure parameters;
• and
• a processor operative to set the program mode as an active shooting mode;
• wherein the set of exposure parameters comprises:
• a plurality of exposure settings comprising one or more exposure values for each exposure setting;
• and
• a plurality of exposure setting priorities, each exposure setting priority associated with a respective exposure setting of the plurality of exposure settings;
• wherein the processor is further operative to:
• apply one exposure value from each of the plurality of exposure settings during a compose mode prior to capturing an image;
• determine if the exposure condition is met in response to the application of the one exposure value from each of the plurality of exposure settings;
• if the exposure condition is met, capture the image and store the image in the memory;
• and
• if the exposure condition is not met:
• apply a different exposure value from one of the plurality of exposure settings based on its exposure setting priority;
• and
• determine if the exposure condition is met in response to the application of the different exposure value.

A digital camera, comprising:

• a memory for storing one or more user-created, programmed manual modes, each of the user-created, programmed manual modes comprising:
• an exposure condition and a set of shooting parameters, each shooting parameter having a range of exposure settings and a parameter priority, and each parameter priority defining an order in which the shooting parameters are automatically adjusted, relative to each other, to meet the exposure condition;
• and
• a processor operative to:
• receive a user input selecting a user-created, programmed manual mode from the one or more user-created, programmed manual modes;
• store the user-created, programmed manual mode as an active shooting mode;
• automatically apply the shooting parameters of the active shooting mode in a sequence based on the parameter priority associated with each shooting parameter, wherein the shooting parameters are applied by adjusting each applied shooting parameter within its range of exposure settings until the exposure condition is met or, if the range of exposure settings is exhausted without meeting the exposure condition, advancing the sequence of applying the shooting parameters based on the parameter priority of each shooting parameter until the exposure condition is met;
• and
• cause the digital camera to take a picture and store the picture in the memory when the exposure condition of the active shooting mode is met.

A method of taking a picture, comprising the steps of:

• setting as an active shooting mode, a user-created, programmed manual mode from a memory of a digital camera, wherein:
• the user-created, programmed manual mode comprises an exposure condition and a set of shooting parameters;
• each shooting parameter comprises at least one exposure setting and a parameter priority;
• each range of exposure settings comprises an upper limit and a lower limit;
• and
• each parameter priority defines an order in which the shooting parameters are automatically adjusted, relative to each other;
• automatically applying the shooting parameters of the user-created, programmed manual mode in a sequence based on the parameter priority associated with each shooting parameter, wherein the shooting parameters are applied by adjusting each applied shooting parameter within its range of exposure settings until the exposure condition is met or, if the range of exposure settings is exhausted without meeting the exposure condition, advancing the sequence of applying the shooting parameters to a different shooting parameter;
• and
• taking a picture and storing the picture in memory in response to the exposure condition of the active shooting mode being met.