Get to Know your Camera
Contrary to popular belief, the camera you use has very little to do with the pictures that come out. Do you have an old 4MP (megapixel) digital camera sitting on the shelf? Do you have a 35mm film camera that has gone with you on every family vacation for the last 10 years? Take them down and dust them off, because you are going to learn how to take beautiful photographs with them.
First thing is first, you need to determine what kind of camera you have. They all work primarily the same, but have a few different features that are important. I will be talking mostly about digital cameras, however, I will add in information for you film users as well. Otherwise, the information can apply to both.
There are two primary types of cameras that individuals purchase. The first one is called a point-and-shoot camera and the second is a DSLR camera. I will explain both types.
Point-And-Shoot 
These cameras, by far, are the most popular on the market. I took a picture of my point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot A570IS (yes, even professionals purchase these cameras). They are very versatile and small, and they can be taken anywhere. You do not need to know the camera very well to take superb pictures with it, making it the easiest camera to use. These cameras come with 7-10 megapixels these days and a decent optical zoom. They are loaded with features and pre-sets for various settings and conditions. I will go over all the features of this camera later on.
DSLR 
DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflect. When you look through the viewfinder of these cameras, you are actually peering through the lens itself with the use of mirrors. When you press the shutter button, the mirror folds down and the light hits the sensor, which stores your information like film. The single lens, mounted on your camera, and the reflective mirrors give the camera it’s name.
These cameras are a bit more complicated than a point-and-shoot, however they aren’t as tricky as you may think. They are quite a bit pricier, but offer several advantages over the point-and-shoot. First, you may change out the lens. You can go with a wide angle lens and get more information in the image, or you can go for a telescopic lens and make the subject appear closer than what it is. An additional advantage to DSLR cameras is the ability to shoot multiple pictures very quickly. Do you have a dog that you want to catch running across the yard, but your point-and-shoot only lets you capture 1 or 2 images? How about your kids at play? DSLRs are fast, reliable, and accurate and you can shoot many pictures at a time – an important feature that point-and-shoots do not have.
Canon vs Nikon
We get this question asked to us a lot, and I would like to clear the air. Obviously, we shoot with Canon cameras, but that is our personal choice. Nikon is a great camera maker, as well as Sony and there are several other brands on the market. The camera you choose is entirely up to you and you will get the same great quality going with any of the major brands.
Your Assignment
Every week we will end with an assignment for the week. Your first assignment is to email me what camera you have and three things you know about it, as well as three things you would like to know about it. I will post your responses on this blog throughout the week.
No comments:
Post a Comment