I’ve just finished an article about advanced camera exposure modes that has been over a year in the making. You can find it on our website at Stop Thinking Like A Film Photographer. Unfortunately, our website is still under revision, and I don’t know where our how-to articles will wind up. Right now, you can only reach this article through the above link (unless you find it so valuable that you either memorize the address or bookmark it in your browser).
The article compares film and digital cameras to discuss the different controls you have for exposure (and their artistic implications). Then it expresses my opinion on how much control over those parameters you can afford to leave to the camera itself (and the consequences of giving your camera that control).
I want to thank our friend and fellow Miami photographer Robert Holmes for his input on this article.
Don't get discouraged; it may take over 24 hours for your comments to appear.