A
mode dial or
camera dial is a dial used on
digital cameras to change the camera's mode. Most digital cameras, including
dSLR and SLR-like cameras, support modes, selectable either by a dial or from a
menu. On
point-and-shoot cameras which support modes a range of scene types is offered. On dSLR cameras and SLR-like cameras, mode dials usually offer access to manual settings. The more compact point-and-shoot cameras, and cameras offering a great many modes, do not have mode dials, using menus instead. Some SLR lenses themselves offer control over things such as aperture, reducing the need for mode support in the camera body.