Using your digital Using your digital cameracamera

DIGITAL MEDIA

PresentedBy

Andre Daniels

Getting readyGetting readyRead your manual, charge batteries.Read your manual, charge batteries.Turn on your camera to auto and remove the lens capTurn on your camera to auto and remove the lens capConserve batteries – turn off LCD monitorConserve batteries – turn off LCD monitor

Framing the imageFraming the imageThe Viewfinder shows you the scene you are going to captureThe Viewfinder shows you the scene you are going to captureYou can Zoom in or Zoom out on an objectYou can Zoom in or Zoom out on an object

AutofocusAutofocusThe area you place in the focus area in the center of the The area you place in the focus area in the center of the viewfinder is used to determine the sharpest part of the viewfinder is used to determine the sharpest part of the scene scene

AutoexposureAutoexposureProgrammed autoexposure measures light Programmed autoexposure measures light reflecting from the scene and uses these readings reflecting from the scene and uses these readings

to set the best possible exposure.to set the best possible exposure. AutoflashAutoflash

If the light is too dim, the autoexposure If the light is too dim, the autoexposure system will fire the camera's built-in flash to system will fire the camera's built-in flash to illuminate the scene. If the flash is going to illuminate the scene. If the flash is going to fire, a flash lamp usually glows red when fire, a flash lamp usually glows red when you press the shutter-release button you press the shutter-release button halfway down.halfway down.

Automatic Automatic whitebalancewhitebalanceThe color cast in a photograph is The color cast in a photograph is affected by the color of the light affected by the color of the light illuminating the scene so the camera illuminating the scene so the camera automatically adjusts color balance to automatically adjusts color balance to make white objects in the scene look make white objects in the scene look white in the photo. white in the photo.

CompressionCompression Digital cameras store images in a Digital cameras store images in a

format called JPEG after its format called JPEG after its developer, the Joint Photographic developer, the Joint Photographic Experts Group and pronounced Experts Group and pronounced "jay-peg." This file format not only "jay-peg." This file format not only compresses images, it also allows compresses images, it also allows you to specify how much they are you to specify how much they are

compressed.compressed.

Image SizeImage Size In addition to offering two compression modes, many cameras let In addition to offering two compression modes, many cameras let

you also change image size as a way of controlling the size of you also change image size as a way of controlling the size of image files. Because you can squeeze more 640 x 480 (VGA) image files. Because you can squeeze more 640 x 480 (VGA) images into a storage device than you can squeeze 1600 x 1200 images into a storage device than you can squeeze 1600 x 1200 images, there may be times when you'll want to switch to a smaller images, there may be times when you'll want to switch to a smaller size and sacrifice quality for quantity.size and sacrifice quality for quantity.

ExposureExposure The amount of light captured by the camera’s image sensorThe amount of light captured by the camera’s image sensor Aperture and shutterspeed settings are ways of controlling the Aperture and shutterspeed settings are ways of controlling the

exposureexposure The higher the aperture (f-stop) the smaller the opening into the lens The higher the aperture (f-stop) the smaller the opening into the lens

(less light)(less light) The slower the shutterspeed the more blurred a moving object will The slower the shutterspeed the more blurred a moving object will

appear.appear.

Video & AudioVideo & Audio Some cameras allow you to record video.Some cameras allow you to record video. Commonly it will be in avi, quicktime movie, or mpeg file Commonly it will be in avi, quicktime movie, or mpeg file

format.format. You can add audio notes to pictures takenYou can add audio notes to pictures taken

Choosing camera modesChoosing camera modes Fully AutomaticFully Automatic

mode sets the shutter speed and aperture, white balance, and focus mode sets the shutter speed and aperture, white balance, and focus without your intervention. This mode allows you to shoot without without your intervention. This mode allows you to shoot without paying attention to settings so you can concentrate on composition paying attention to settings so you can concentrate on composition and focus. and focus.

Programmed mode Programmed mode lets you select from a variety of situations such as portrait, lets you select from a variety of situations such as portrait, landscape, or sports. The camera then sets the aperture and shutter landscape, or sports. The camera then sets the aperture and shutter speed for these situations. speed for these situations.

Modes continuedModes continued Aperture priorityAperture priority

(or aperture preferred) mode lets you select the aperture (lens opening) needed to (or aperture preferred) mode lets you select the aperture (lens opening) needed to obtain the depth of field you want and the exposure system automatically sets the obtain the depth of field you want and the exposure system automatically sets the shutter speed to give you a good exposure. You select this mode whenever depth of shutter speed to give you a good exposure. You select this mode whenever depth of field is most important. To be sure everything is sharp, as in a landscape, select a field is most important. To be sure everything is sharp, as in a landscape, select a small aperture. The same holds true for close-up photography where depth of field is small aperture. The same holds true for close-up photography where depth of field is a major concern. To throw the background out of focus so it's less distracting in a a major concern. To throw the background out of focus so it's less distracting in a portrait, select a large aperture.portrait, select a large aperture.

Shutter priorityShutter priority (or shutter priority) mode lets you choose the shutter speed you need to freeze or (or shutter priority) mode lets you choose the shutter speed you need to freeze or deliberately blur camera or subject movement and the camera automatically sets the deliberately blur camera or subject movement and the camera automatically sets the aperture to give you a good exposure. You select this mode when the portrayal of aperture to give you a good exposure. You select this mode when the portrayal of motion is most important. For example, when photographing action scenes, such as motion is most important. For example, when photographing action scenes, such as those encountered by wildlife photographers, sports photographers, and those encountered by wildlife photographers, sports photographers, and photojournalists, shutter-priority mode might be best. It lets you be sure your shutter photojournalists, shutter-priority mode might be best. It lets you be sure your shutter speed is fast enough to freeze the action or slow enough to blur it speed is fast enough to freeze the action or slow enough to blur it

Manual modeManual mode lets you select both the shutter speed and the aperture.lets you select both the shutter speed and the aperture.

ReferenceReference

www.shortcourses.comwww.shortcourses.com Digital Video issue #209Digital Video issue #209 Digital Camera magazine issue# 14 December Digital Camera magazine issue# 14 December

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