Chapter 1Getting to Know Your Digital Camera

It is important to know the features of your camera, it will make taking pictures (creating images) more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Types of Digital Cameras

Subcompacts (pocket cameras) Compact (rangefinder) Superzooms (SLR like) Digital SLR (DSLR) Camcorders Cell phones, PDAs etc.

Subcompacts (pocket cameras) Pocket size camera They cost a bit more for

the same capabilities as compact cameras

Come with compromises shorter battery life no viewfinder a zoom range usually no

greater than 3x smaller controls No manual controls

Compact (rangefinder)

Mainstream bigger then pocket cameras Simple to use and best for everyday events Some don’t have manual controls Can have limited zoom capabilities

Superzooms (SLR like)

Super-zoom cameras are characterized by a very long zoom range—10x or greater, which is good for sports, travel, or nature shooting.

Some also have macro capabilities Larger the pocket cameras Viewfinder image is a direct electronic version

of what the lens is seeing Have more controls to capturing the image

Digital SLR (DSLR) Single-lens reflex cameras

are for profession or serious photographer

SLRs, the largest and heaviest type

Including interchangeable lenses.

A lot more control features.

Camcorders Many camcorders

are coming with the ability to take photos and store them on Media cards.

Image controls are based on the setting for the video recorder.

Cell phones, PDAs etc Designed to take

and share photos on your digital device

Very little image control

Very little zoom capability

Some image quality is getting close to digital cameras.

Lenses

Three types Fixed length In-Camera zoom Interchangeable

Most people buy cameras with in-camera zoom lenses.

Since we are working with the cameras you presently have there is not much that can be done about the zoom range.

Lenses

Zoom range how much can you magnify an image. The more zoom range you have the better image control you have.

Zoom range can vary for 3X on sub-compact and compacts to 12X on Superzoom (SLR like) cameras. We will not consider DSLR’s because they

can have interchangeable lenses.

LCD Screen

In the days of film there was no real way to know how the picture you took looked until you had the film processed.

With the LCD screen you can see immediately how the picture you took looked.

LCD Screen

Beyond just being able to see the picture instantly you can Determine if composition is good Determine if you have good exposure

There are ways to set you LCD screen so that you can immediately see the picture you have taken before you take another one. We will get to this later in the class.

EXIF Exchangeable Image File Format Extensions to image file formats that hold

the camera settings used to take the picture.

Most digital cameras support EXIF and save the data in the file headers.

Most software used to organize digital images, like Picasa3 have the ability to display this information

This information is useful, photographers can use the information so they do not have to remember how the camera was set up when the picture was taken.

Digital Camera – Front

Lens

Flash

Microphone

AF AssistBeam

Rangefinder

Digital Camera – Top Shutter Button Shutter Button

Self Timer/Burst Button

Mode Dial

Mode/PowerDial

Mode Lever

Off Button

Flash/Mic Button

Flash Button

Speaker

Zoom Lever

Digital Camera – Back

View Finder

Omni Control

LCD Screen

Speaker Zoom Lever

OK Button

Digital Camera – Back (close-up)

Digital Camera – Sides

Left Side From Back

Right Side From Back

Digital Camera – Bottom

Batteries

Tri-podMount