redundant -t pdf option causes error: "cannot produce pdf output with pdf writer"

[dunn]

Using pandoc 1.9.4.2, I tried to make a PDF from a Markdown file using this command:

pandoc -f markdown -t pdf --smart -o recommendations.pdf recommendations.text

I got this error: "pandoc: cannot produce pdf output with pdf writer"

I quickly realized that the correct command was pandoc -f markdown --smart -o recommendations.pdf recommendations.text, but why can't pandoc handle the first, "verbose", command?

[frntn]

Because "-t pdf" uses pdf writer, while in auto mode it uses pdflatex. (Don't know why)

[dunn]

Oh, I didn't realize there are two different pdf-writing processes. Thanks!