A multimode camera is a 35mm film camera - or by extension any camera - that offers the photographer a selection of different exposure and operational modes, allowing the degree of automatic control exercised by the camera to be varied according to the photographer's preference, skill level, and the specific requirements of the shooting situation. Rather than being restricted to a single fixed method of determining and controlling exposure, a multimode camera provides flexibility by combining several different exposure modes within a single instrument, making it suitable for a wider range of photographers and shooting scenarios than a camera offering only a single mode of operation.
The range of modes available on a multimode camera typically spans a spectrum from fully automatic through to fully manual control, with several semi-automatic modes in between that divide the exposure control responsibilities between the camera's metering system and the photographer. Programme mode, sometimes called full auto or green zone mode, places complete control of both aperture and shutter speed in the hands of the camera's exposure system, selecting an appropriate combination of the two settings automatically based on its metering of the scene. Aperture priority mode allows the photographer to select the desired aperture while the camera automatically determines the correct corresponding shutter speed, giving direct creative control over depth of field. Shutter priority mode reverses this arrangement, allowing the photographer to set the shutter speed for motion control purposes while the camera sets the aperture. Full manual mode places complete control of both aperture and shutter speed with the photographer, with the camera's metering system providing a reference reading but making no automatic adjustments.
More advanced multimode cameras may additionally offer specialist scene modes tailored to specific subjects and shooting situations - such as portrait, landscape, sport, and night scene modes - as well as bulb mode for long exposures, depth of field preview, exposure compensation, and bracketing functions that extend the creative and technical capabilities of the camera beyond the core exposure modes. The availability of this broad range of modes within a single camera body makes multimode cameras highly versatile tools that can adapt to the needs of photographers at different stages of their development, from beginners relying on fully automatic operation to experienced photographers demanding full manual control.