How to Use Your Camera

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How to Use Your Camera

• Lesson 1

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Aims and Objectives

• In this evenings class we will begin to look at
  how to operate cameras
• We will do this by looking at the main functions
  that are common to all cameras
• Secondly we will look at how to operate a DSLR
  camera and where you would find the main
  functions to make good exposures.

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Task

• Your going to begin learning about your camera by
  identifying how to use your camera.
• To do this I want you to read the question paper
  that is coming around and answer the questions as
  I present the lesson.

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Pinhole Photography
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Why Pinhole?

• We are looking at pinhole photography very
  briefly because in this simple and ancient
  process there are the fundamental mechanical
  functions of all cameras.
• Aperture (or a hole that appears at the front of
  the camera)
• A shutter this allows the light in when we want
  to take a picture and expose our light sensitive
  material, but it also shuts light out when we
  have finished.
• Finally we have what we call an image board.
  This is where the subject is recorded onto light
  sensitive material.
• Every camera you ever see or use has inherited
  these features and no matter how technologically
  sophisticated something may first appear it will
  only ever be a variation on its pinhole
  ancestor.

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How Does the Camera Make a Photograph?
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Digicams
Digicams are very similar to point and shoot
cameras. They are simple to use, usually have
very few professional functions but they are very
portable and the advent of digital technology
means that these cameras can produce high quality
images that totally outstrip their older film
based predecessors.
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Bridge Cameras
Bridge cameras have more manual or professional
features to allow you more creative control over
your picture making. Like Digicams they have a
fixed lens.
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SLRs and DSLRs
SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras or DSLRs are
arguably the most versatile and widely used
professional cameras available. The advantage of
using one of these cameras is that they allow you
complete creative control over your picture
making, they can switch lenses, attach additional
flashes etc and they provide excellent picture
quality.
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How Does the SLR See and Record?
Pentaprism
Viewfinder
Mirror
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The Main Features
Shutter release button
Lens release button
Aperture dial that controls your f stops
The mirror where the image is formed
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LCD display screen provides at a glance
information regarding how many pictures you have
taken, ISO, shutter and aperture settings.
Shutter release button
Lens Barell
Viewfinder
Hot shoe
Focussing ring
The mode dial
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DSLR Back
The bin!
Review switch
Shutter speed dial
White balance button
ISO button
Scroll switch
Preview screen
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Mode dial
The mode dial helps you decide how you want to
use your DSLR. Many of the functions vary from
model to model but many are universal and these
can also be found on digicams and bridge
cameras. P Program A Aperture priority S
Shutter priority M Totally manual AUTO Portrait
Landscape Action Macro Night settings
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• Two things control how the light gets into the
  camera and form an image
• The Aperture
• The Shutter

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Aperture

• This is usually located at the back of the lens
  and it opens and closes. It acts a like the iris
  in your eye.

The aperture uses f stops to measure how much
light gets in and you can see what f stop you are
using by looking at either your lens barrel, your
LCD display on the top of your camera or through
the viewfinder.
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Shutter

• The shutter is located directly behind the mirror
  and in front of the image sensor or film.
• We can open and close the shutter in timed
  exposures. These are normally measured in
  fractions of seconds, however sometimes exposures
  over a second are necessary.

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The shutter in an SLR
Where the film is loaded
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How do we know if we measure the correct amount
of light to make a photograph?

• SLRs have light or exposure meters that
  calculate which aperture and shutter speeds to
  use for any given situation to balance the light
  for a good exposure that avoids under or
  overexposure.
• You can usually see these in the viewfinder as a
  sliding scale.

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The Light Meter
To ensure that you make successful photographs
you need to ensure that the arrow is in the
centre. To move it you move the shutter or the
aperture. These balance the light.
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Tips and Troubleshooting

• Always make sure you have spare batteries
  suitable for your camera
• Once you find a subject you want to photograph
  focus check your light meter make aperture
  and shutter adjustments if necessary to ensure a
  good exposure look around the frame of the
  viewfinder have you included everything you
  want? finally focus again and release the
  shutter!

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Homework

• For your homework this week I would like you to
  complete the handout and make one photograph for
  next week based on the theme of an abstract
  form.
• The photograph will be presented in an informal
  group tutorial next week.