Set the Camera Options

1
Set the Camera Options

• Resolution
• Focus
• Exposure
• Zoom
• Flash
• Self-Timer/Remote Control

2
File Formats

• What are formats? (native vs standard)
• Controls the file type and the size of the
  photograph
• All cameras save in JPEG
• Some also save in TIFF and RAW

3
Resolution

• Choose the resolution within the file formats
  available on your camera
• Know your pictures destination WEB or print /
  Snapshot or 8x10
• Resolution determines the image size and the
  amount of picture information

4
Resolution

• Why not take all your images at the highest
  resolution?
• The higher the res the larger the file size and
  the fewer images you can fit on a card
• The higher the res the longer it takes to record
  the image on the card
• Law of diminishing returns if you are sending
  these via email to be seen on the monitor you
  will be throwing pixels away

5
Resolution

• Two methods for changing settings
• Most commonly used features are usually buttons
  on the camera
• Most settings are accessed using a menu
• Some cameras allow you to save settings
• Manual describes the options

6
Focus

• Autofocus works in most situations
• Set the focus by moving the camera and reframe to
  shoot your picture
• Manual focus
• Measure the distance
• Viewfinder not always reliable

7
Focus

• Normal settings allow you to get about 10-12
  inches from the subject
• Use Macro focus to get closer (you will need to
  set this)

8
Exposure

• Letting in Light
• Shutter priority Set the speed and let the
  camera auto expose
• Aperture Priority set f-stop and let the camera
  choose the shutter speed
• Manual Exposure setting both the shutter speed
  and the f-stop (experiment)

9
Exposure

• For some control use Exposure Compensation
• Slightly lighter ore darker to tone down glare or
  enhance highlights
• Expressed in positive and negative numbers
• Positive brighter
• Negative darker

10
White Balance

• Artificial light (indoors)
• You can compensate in Photoshop
• Or you can keep it from causing a problem
• Set for
• Incandescent
• Fluorescent
• Cloudy outdoors
• Bright outdoors

11
White Balance

• Most cameras have an auto setting that determine
  the best setting
• No set rules so experiment

12
Zoom

• Optical vs Digital
• Optical zoom uses the lens
• Digital zoom uses the computer in the camera
  the same as image editing (Photoshop)

13
Flash

• Most cameras automatically detect when the flash
  is necessary
• Solid light indicates the flash is ready
• After the shot there is a delay while the flash
  powers up again
• Most flash light is limited to 10-15 feet

14
Flash

• Reducing Red Eye
• Human eyes iris reflects the flash as a bright
  red
• Most cameras offer a red-eye reduction feature
• Flash will fire twice to close the iris
• Image editing software can reduce this effect

15
Flash

• Fill flash will bring out the darker areas of an
  image
• When set to fill flash the camera will reduce the
  amount of flash

16
Flash

• Some situations may contain reduced light but a
  flash may be inappropriate
• Most digital cameras allow you to suppress the
  flash
• Without the flash the shutter speed may be so
  slow that the image is blurred
• Use a tripod

17
Shooting at Night

• At night the flash will illuminate the subject,
  but the shutter speed may be too fast to capture
  outside the flash range
• Some cameras offer a night flash or slow shutter
  setting
• Shutter stays open and captures the area around
  the flash

18
Flash Correction

• Sometimes the flash is too light or dark or too
  glaring
• Some cameras offer a flash correction option
• Set the flash to be brighter or darker

19
Self-Timer / Remote Control

• Some cameras offer a remote control option which
  allows you to press a button and waits 10-20
  second for you to get in the shot
• This can also be useful if you are taking a
  tripod shot and you dont want to shake the camera