Shambroom, Digital Photo

Digital Camera Controls and Use

The illustrations below are of a typical DSLR. Each brand and model will have its own control layout. Certain controls may be a physical dial, button dial or wheel on some cameras, and within a menu on another. Study your camera and instruction book to learn the location and operations of these Essential Functions: MODE DIAL: Program (auto aperture and shutter speed), Auto (auto everything, no user control), Aperture (you set aperture, camera controls shutter speed), Shutter or Tv (shutter priority auto), Custom (your own preferred mode settings), various pictograms (creative modes, for beginners) SHUTTER SPEED: The numbers stand for fractions of a second, thus 125 = 1/125 second, which lets in less light than 30 = 1/30 second. Usually controlled by a Command Dial on the front or back. APERTURE (OR F/STOP): The relative size of the lens opening. Controlled either by separate command dial, or the main command dial combined with a button such as AEL (Auto Exposure Lock.) Paradoxically, the lower the numbenr the larger the opening. Thus f/4 lets in more light than F/8 ISO: The sensitivity of the digital sensor. Higher number 3200 is more sensitive (requires less light) than 400. Usually a button+dial. High ISO will have more noise and may be less sharp. EXPOSURE COMPENSATION (+/-): Makes photo darker or lighter in Auto modes. Button+Dial EXPOSURE LOCK (AEL or AV):Half-press and hold shutter button, or press and hold AEL button. FOCUS LOCK: Half-press and hold shutter button, or press and hold AFL button. WHITE BALANCE: Auto (suggested), Daylight, Shadow, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Custom. Usually button and/or command dial

Other Camera Shooting Controls and Functions: FLASH ON/OFF: (only for cameras with built-in flash) either a button or command dial setting AUTO FOCUS ON/OFF: A switch on the body and/or lens, sometimes marked Manual, Single, or Continuous. FOCUS TYPE/PATTERN: Spot, Multi-Spot, Tracking- names and types vary by camera, usually a button+dial or wheel, sometimes in menu METERING TYPE/PATTERN: Multi (Segment), Center, or Spot. Usually button + dial, or menu. FUNCTION: user-customized multi-function button, often combined with wheel or dial. MENU: Used for both shooting and review, combined with dial and/or wheel VIDEO: (not on every camera, sometimes on Mode Dial or Menu or Function) VIEWFINDER DIOPTER SETTING: (not on every camera), adjusts to individuals vision Lens Controls: ZOOM (zoom lenses only): changes lens focal length- on kit lenses usually from wide-angle to moderate telephoto. Usually a ring around the lens FOCUS (only on lens that permit manual focus): A ring around the lens FOCUS SCALE: shows distance the lens is focused at, usually shown in a window on the lens. M/F: Manual or Auto Focus (not on every lens, sometimes also on camera body) Review/Playback Controls: VIEW or PLAYBACK: toggles between review and shooting mode. Often a button with an arrow ZOOM: (Sometimes two buttons + and -) Zooms in and out of image being viewed. Often combined with Command dial for navigation within the image. DELETE/ERASE (or Trash Can symbol): brings up dialog for single or multiple image erase. Important Suggested Camera Base Settings Before Shooting Here are suggested settings to use for all your shooting for this class. Not every camera will have each of these settings, but most recent ones will. You will have to dig into the cameras menu for some of these, but once they are set you shouldnt have to reset them each time them you shoot: Menu items: File Type: RAW (or RAW & JPEG) File size: Large Color Space: AdobeRGB (not all cameras have this feature) External Controls: (may be in menu on some cameras) White Balance or WB: Auto Flash: Off Exposure compensation: 0 Metering type/pattern- Multi is suggested for starters, until you learn more about exposure metering Focus mode, autofocus pattern- Single Center Focus Point is suggested for most control- place main focus point in center, half-press and hold shutter, than re-compose. Single Auto Focus is suggested for most situations, the camera only sets focus with a halfpress of the shutter button.