Digital Slr Photography 101

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Photography 101 - Basics About Aperture And Shutter Speed

Pre-set modes like "Sports" and "Night Portrait" make it easy for us to just point and shoot. If you're new to photography, two of the most important things to learn are aperture and shutter speed settings as these will give you a lot of creative control. If you're wondering which cameras have these settings, some digital compacts have them while most of the bridge (prosumer) cameras do and all SLRs have them.

At first it seems a little daunting to start using manual camera settings, but the vast improvement in your pictures will be worth the effort.

Photography 101 – Introducing Aperture

The aperture of a camera works a lot like how the iris of a person's eye works. Similar to your irises and how they widen or narrow to let in more or less light through the pupils, the camera's lens diaphragm narrows or widens to let in less or more light in through the lens. The aperture is the size of this opening.

Aperture lets the photographer (or the camera's exposure computer if it's set to automatic) increase or reduce the amount of light that gets through to the sensor, thus helping determine how bright or dark the picture will be.

The camera aperture also controls the image's depth of field.

To get a good idea of what this means, make a fist, holding it in front of your eye. Then slowly open your fist. See how everything is in focus when the opening in your hand is small? But when it's open wide the object closest to you is sharper than the background?

A small aperture is great for taking pictures like landscapes where you want everything in focus.

An Aperture Priority setting on your camera allows you to set the aperture within the camera's range of f-stop numbers (or called f-stop for short). These f stop numbers represent ratios meaning that the larger the f stop number, the narrower the aperture. So the larger the f-stop number on your camera, the larger the depth of field.

The reason the setting is called "priority" is that when you set the aperture, the camera adjusts the shutter speed so that the exposure is just right. In other words, in the wider scheme of exposure, the aperture setting will have priority, while shutter speed plays a supporting role.

Photography 101 - Learning About Shutter Speed

While the aperture controls how much light at one time falls on the image sensor, the shutter speed controls the length of time the camera allows in the light.

If you've ever seen really old pictures, you'll notice that they are rarely smiling. Shutter speeds were so slow back then that people had to hold perfectly still for several minutes – not to mention in all those stiff clothes they wore for picture day. No wonder they  looked so stern!

The shutter speeds most commonly used today are 1/500th of a second to 1/60th of a second. By using Shutter Priority, you can then choose the shutter speed (within your camera's range) for the exact effect you want.

For shutter speeds slower than 1/60 you will probably need a tripod or other camera support because when the shutter is open that long the camera records the tiniest jiggle, causing the photo to be out of focus or outright blurry.

If you want to freeze action (like what Sports mode does), set the camera's Shutter Priority to a fast speed. Only with this manual setting, you can be more selective. For example, a dog sitting quietly will require a shutter speed of around 1/125 in order to freeze the small twitch in the dog's tail. On the flip side, taking pictures at a soccer game may require up to 1/500 to freeze fast moving actions.

Using manual settings like Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority give you more creative control, which means better pictures that you can display on your wall.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves taking pictures. Shop online and see our large selection of picture frames in a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles like our antique photo frames and ornate picture frames. Visit our website and see our vintage picture frame selection or call 1-800-780-0699.

Digital Photography 101 - Lesson 1 - The Camera Sensor


digital slr photography 1015
digital slr photography 1015
digital slr photography 1015

Digital Slr Photography

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What is a Digital SLR Camera and How Does it Compare With a Digital Compact Camera?

The term digital SLR stands for single lens reflex. It is so called because the SLR cameras use a mirror that is placed behind the lens.

Although SLR cameras for capturing still images have been in use for quite some time, the ones that could capture both the stills and the videos were introduced in 2008.

Earlier the SLRs were used only by the professionals. They were not very common and were costly as well. The good news is that the digital SLRs are becoming cheaper as the time passes and coming within the easy reach of even the amateur photographers. You can buy an SLR at the price of a high end digital compact camera.

How does the digital SLR work?

When the light enters through the lens, it falls upon the mirror. The mirror, in turn, reflects (throws) the light upon the focusing screen. The light passing through the focusing screen falls upon a block of glass called pentaprism, which reflects the image  that  can be seen  on the viewfinder. When you take a photo, the mirror flips up opening the shutter which exposes the digital sensor to light.

What- you- see- is- what- you- get photos

 The SLR uses the viewfinder to compose the photo and adjust the focus. You can, thus, get the photo of the original as you see it on the lens.

SLR camera allows for a wide range of lenses with different focal lengths.  You can change the lens whenever you like. This is what makes the SLR ideal for serious photography. Moreover, the image sensors of the digital SLRs are large and produce high quality photos.

Lightness and compactness vs. versatility and image quality

An attractive feature of the digital compact cameras is that they are cheap, light, compact and easily portable. You can just pop in the compact camera in your purse or pocket.

The SLRs are weighty and voluminous. Some of them are tank-sized  for professionals. But they provide the invaluable advantage of accommodating a large range of lenses and accessories that were originally designed for film SLR cameras.

Of late, new generation light weight ultra compact DSLRs have also been introduced in the market. They have small lens and  weigh around 20 oz / 0.5 Kg.

While the  crispness and sharpness  of the photos taken with the digital compact camera and SLR camera in broad day is by and large same, the SLR scores over the compact camera when you have to shoot in dim light or capture the fast running scenes of actions. This is because the SLRs have high sensitivity larger sensors.

Anti shake/vibration designs

The photos shot with non-SLR cameras in dim light or with long telephoto lenses may be blurred. The reason is that the camera gets shaken during the exposure. The SLRs are equipped with Image Stabilization (IS) systems that protect them from the impact of motion during exposure. Therefore, the photos shot with SLRs even in dim light or at long focal lengths  are sharp and excellent.

Speed

What makes the SLR much superior to the compact camera is its speed in taking pictures, which makes it ideal for action photography as there is a zero lag time.   Even the entry level SLRs shoot faster than the best compact cameras. So you can easily shoot both a sleeping and a running tiger with this camera.

Dust Removal mechanism

If you have to shoot in arid, dusty or even in humid and damp conditions, no camera can   beat an SLR. They have inbuilt dust removal systems that keep the sensor clean. They have weatherproof seals and solid magnesium alloy cases.

High Definition (HD) videos for HDTVs

This is another advantage of SLRs over the compact cameras. They can shoot High Definition videos. They come equipped with HDMI ports which allow the camera to be directly connected to the TVs.  You can view your videos on the TV.

So which camera should you buy?

It all depends upon your needs. If you want speed, exquisite professional looking photos even in dim light and more control  over the photos and are not bothered about weight and volume, go for an SLR. If you are just an occasional photographer wishing to carry the camera in your pant pocket, you can buy a compact camera.

Please read my Best Digital Cameras Guide for more information on digital cameras and photography.

About the Author

I am an affiliate marketet and I do not recommend any product without having a thorough knowledge about it

Digital SLR Photography, Mark Duehmig, Show Me How Videos


digital slr photography5
digital slr photography5
digital slr photography5

Digital Slr Photography 101

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How to Use Depth of Field Effectively

Understanding and manipulating depth of field in an image is a key skill of professional photographers. A firm grasp on this concept can improve the quality of your work and can provide you with countless alternative ways to shoot one subject. Depth of field can seem complex and confusing, but with a little bit of practice controlling it will be almost second nature.

The Definition of Depth of Field

In a photograph, depth of field can be thought of as how "deep" the focus of an image goes. In more simple terms, the depth of field refers to the difference between the items in the background losing clarity compared to the subject in focus. Think of depth of field as the relationship between the focused and blurry elements of your photograph.

For instance, a photograph of a flower with the entire background showing as blurry would have a low depth of field, while a photograph of a long subway platform with both near and far subjects in relatively clear focus would have a high depth of field.  In these examples, altering the depth of field would create a different experience to what the viewer sees when looking at each image.

What Influences Depth of Field?

The main factor influencing depth of field in any picture is the time of its exposure. The longer a frame of film or digital sensor has to absorb the scene it is being exposed to, the greater amount of detail it will be able to accurately reproduce. Longer exposures will always result in greater depth of field, even if at unperceivable levels.

When it comes to changing depth of field, you can control it by increasing or decreasing the exposure time. You can do this by changing the shutter speed of your camera; slow speeds (60 and lower) will cause longer exposures and greater depth, while fast speeds (125 and higher) will decrease exposure times and cause the opposite.

Tips for Working with Depth of Field

Although you can intentionally make your images have greater depth of field, this will require you to adjust the aperture settings of your camera manually. Because a longer shutter speed is required to add depth of field, less light must be allowed to enter through the lens. If you up your exposure but you don't close the aperture on your camera your photographs will be end up over-exposed.

Adjusting the aperture requires only moving the f-stop (usually a ring around the lens behind the focus ring) to whichever value will allow for the ideal amount of light. Most modern cameras will allow you to choose a shutter speed and will automatically adjust the f-stop accordingly, but if you have an older SLR you'll need to play with the light meter until the shutter speed you want syncs up with the correct aperture setting.

Tip:  If you're planning on working with high depth of field, the chances are good that depending on your light source you will be working with impossibly long exposure times. Shots of this nature will almost always require a tripod to prevent blurring from camera-shake.

Depth of field is a powerful tool in the photographer's toolbox and should be considered in every photograph you take. Objects in a photograph all lend themselves to the story that image is trying to tell - what is and isn't in focus can mean quite a lot to the relationships between those objects. Think carefully about what you can say about your subjects with depth of field before shooting and your photos will be more powerful and more interesting as a result.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our selection of friends and family picture frames in a variety of styles, sizes and colors. Visit our website and see our stylish family picture frames and fun friends picture frames or call us at 800-780-0699.

Aperture Shutter Speed and ISO, Photography 101


digital slr photography 1015
digital slr photography 1015

Digital Slr Photography

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Beginners Digital SLR Cameras - 4 Entry Level DSLRs Top The List

The best digital SLR cameras for beginners may also be the least expensive ones. Even if the prospective buyer has deep pockets, the cheaper models also are the most user friendly.

Recommendations include models from Canon and Nikon, the two most popular digital slr manufacturers, but Pentax and Olympus are also make great beginner DSLRs.

Criteria for beginners' models include great image quality, an easy to use menu, fast response of the camera to the photographer's actions, a decent assortment of available lenses, and good support.

Choosing one of the more popular brands will necessarily lend itself to the support issue. You can go on numerous websites and forums to find the answers to your questions from like-minded photographers who are willing and able to give you the information you need.

Since Canon and Nikon are the best sellers, there will be more resources, but that does not mean there isn't support for the others. The Internet is an awesome resource tool. Even though you may not have a friend or neighbor who owns the same type of camera as you, the Internet is not limited to your neighborhood or your city. It is world-wide and comprehensive.

With that in mind, here is a short list of digital SLR cameras that are good for folks just getting into digital SLR photography:

1. Canon Rebel T2i (aka 55oD)


2. Nikon D3100


3. Pentax K-x


4. Olympus E-620

If you look at the user ratings online at Amazon, you will see that these 4 models have pretty much identical high ratings at about 4.6 stars out of 5 possible. That is quite impressive.

The features and benefits are close with the exception of the Olympus E-620 which does not have video (all the other models have HD video). But the Oly does have a tilt LCD screen which is not present on the other models.

The price tags are not identical, with the Pentax coming in more than $100 less than any of the others, and the Canon at the top of the list.

Now the fun begins. You have to decide which entry level DSLR is right for you. Just a little hint here.. Any one of them will be great. As mentioned already, just check the user ratings on any one of these models. They are the highest rated cameras on the market.

About the Author

I love photography and all things related to it. Cameras, camera gear, and image editing software fascinate me, so I am either buying the newest piece of equipment (or software) or researching my next purchase.

Cut to the chase by finding a side-by-side comparison of excellent beginners' dslr cameras. Click on www.digital-photographic-resources.com/.

Digital SLR Photography Guide


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digital slr photography5