Mastering the machinery
At first glance some digital cameras can appear to be complex and confusing pieces of equipment. Just as with any other piece of sophisticated machinery the user can, over a period of time, become very familiar with its operations and functions until they are almost second nature. Operating the digital camera, just like driving a car, is a skill which is attainable by most people. How long it will take to acquire this skill will very much depend on the individual and how much time they are prepared to spend operating the camera.
Different makes and models of digital cameras may appear very different but they all share the same basic features. The features may be placed in different locations on the camera body or operated automatically. If you have any difficulty in finding a particular feature on your own camera ask the salesperson at your local camera store, a photographic teacher or consult your camera manual.
Digital SLR cameras are now relatively inexpensive compared to just a few years ago but may still have a higher price point than a fixed lens or digital compact camera. If you choose to purchase a digital compact camera instead of a digital SLR you must ensure that the model you choose has adequate control over both the shutter speed and lens aperture in order for the camera to be a creative tool. The SLR is the most popular camera used by keen amateurs and professionals. The term SLR (single lens reflex) describes the way we view the image with this type of camera.
The SLR camera allows for the lens to be changed and uses a larger sensor that increases image quality over the small size of sensors used in digital compact cameras (even though the number of megapixels may be the same, the size of the DSLR sensor will be larger than the equivalent fixed lens camera). The lens of the SLR camera is used both to view the subject and take the picture. This is achieved by the use of a mirror behind the lens which reflects the image up into the viewfinder via the ‘pentaprism’.
If we change the lens, use a colored filter or change the focus we can see all of these changes through the viewfinder. Most fixed lens digital cameras also use a single lens for viewing and taking the image but the image used to compose the picture is usually viewed via an LCD screen or an electronic rather than an optical viewfinder.
Automatic or manual
If you are used to operating your camera using the Auto setting spend some time finding out how the camera can be switched to manual operation or how you can override the automatic function. Automatic cameras are programmed to make decisions which are not necessarily correct in every situation. A good photographer must be able to use the manual controls of the camera.
Care of the camera
1. Avoid dropping your camera - use a strap to secure it around your neck or wrist.
2. Avoid getting your camera wet - cover the camera when it starts to rain.
3. Only clean your camera lens with a soft brush or a lens cleaning cloth.
4. Never touch the mirror, shutter or digital chip inside an SLR camera body.
These items are extremely delicate.
Note > Damage to your camera can usually only be repaired by a camera specialist and will usually incur a minimum fee which can be greater than the value of your camera.
Digital cameras use a light-sensitive image sensor instead of fi lm. Th e advantage of the image sensor is that it is reusable. It is able to ‘download’ (transfer) its in for ma tion to a disk or ‘card’ after every captured image. Th e image is able to be viewed as soon as it is captured (without the need for chemical processing). Although the initial purchase of the digital camera may be a little more expensive than a fi lm camera the money saved on fi lm and processing makes the digital camera a more cost-eff ective choice for photographers. In making a decision to purchase a digital camera the following points should be considered:
~ Creative control
~ Quality
~ Cost and convenience.
Creative control
Establish whether the digital camera off ers the individual control over the lens aperture and the shutter speed (the creative controls for depth of fi eld and movement blur).
Quality of image
With digital cameras off ering over 4 megapixels the limiting factor to fi nal quality is usually the lens, the image processor or the quality of the ouput device or printer, and not the resolution of the image sensor. Four megapixels is usually suffi cient to create a high quality full-page inkjet print.
Cost and convenience
A digital SLR costs more than a compact digital or fi xed lens digital camera but usually has superior quality due to the larger sensors used in these cameras (physical size rather than megapixels). Th e digital SLR user may have to purchase an additional lens to cover the larger optical zoom range capable by some fi xed lens super-zoom fi xed lens digital cameras. Th e user of the fi xed lens digital camera does not have to worry about dust and dirt entering the camera when the lens is removed.
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06022010
1. When to pick the point and moment in photography
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