Macro mode?

[jasonnet]

I have a DSC-P72. It has a Macro mode that I can turn on and it definitely seems to help with those close shots. I'm wondering, what is that mode doing exactly, and is there a reason it shouldn't be turned on all the time?

[padlex]

When you set your camera to certain modes, it activates a program that prepares your camera to take pictures using theoretically the best settings to enable you to capture the image as what normally would be expected. That is why if you are going to take pictures which require you to locate your lens close to the subject, you must activate macro mode. Taking pictures with correctly positioned dials with respect to the type of capture you are going to perform increases the chance that the outcome will be satisfying. However, you are always free to use manual mode if you feel automation will alter the effect you want to achieve in the picture you are going to take. It has something to do with camera program's choice of shutter speed, aperture and accuracy of focusing. These are simple but you must have some baseline ideas on the basics of photography in order to really understand fully and to be able to decide which mode you must select to take the picture with the effect you like to achieve.