Your Digital Camera

1
Your Digital Camera

• How to use your camera, and take better
  photographs!

2
Who I Am

• Harvey Gershenson
• Palmia resident since July 2007
• Photography enthusiast since childhood
• My email address is consultme_at_msn.com
• My home phone is 949.600.5574
• I own 2 digital cameras, 1 SLR, 1 Point Shoot
  plus two film SLR bodies

3
My Goals for This Class

• Teach you how to use your camera.
• Make you a better photographer.
• Perhaps have some photo fun, by taking trips to
  nearby locations.
• Make this class more like a photography club
  where we can share our pictures and enjoy them.

4
What is digital photography?

• Historically, digital photography started in
  astronomy. The Hubble Space Telescope relies on
  digital information.
• The key to digital photography is the CCD
  (charged-coupled device), better know as your
  cameras image sensor.
• The image sensor is what has replaced film.

5
What is digital photography?

• Your image sensor is made up of millions of
  photosensitive diodes.
• Each diode captures one pixel.
• What does the word pixel mean?
• Pixel is the abbreviation for picture elements.

6
What is digital photography?

• Each pixel (picture element) contains three
  colors.
• The colors are Red, Blue, and Green.
• The pixels are actually square in shape.
• If a pixel is magnified large enough, the squares
  become visible.

7
What Does Megapixel Mean?

• A megapixel (MP) is 1 million pixels. This term
  is used, not only for the number of pixels in an
  image, but also to express the number of image
  sensor elements of digital cameras.
• More megapixels higher resolution. You can
  print a larger picture.

8
Digital Cameras

• There are now three kinds of digital cameras.
• The digital SLR (single lens reflex)
• The digital Point and Shoot
• The newest digital camera is a new kind of SLR.
  It does away with the mirror that the traditional
  SLR uses.

9
Digital Cameras

• What kind of camera you buy is determined by the
  photographs you want to take.
• Are you taking pictures to enlarge them?
• Are you taking pictures to create a slide show?

10
Digital Cameras

• Are you taking pictures to make traditional 4 X 6
  prints?
• Are you willing to carry multiple lenses with
  you?
• Multiple lenses provide more flexibility and the
  ability to have greater creativity.
• Because lenses can be heavy, the Point and Shoot
  has become the favored camera.

11
Point Shoot Cameras

• There are different kinds of point and shoot
  cameras.
• Not all manufacturers offer the same features.
• Point and shoot prices can vary from under 100
  to approximately 500.

12
Point Shoot Cameras

• First determine your budget.
• Next, determine the size of the camera and the
  features you want.
• My wife, Barbara, likes to say, The difference
  between men and boys is the price of their toys.

13
Point Shoot Cameras

• Each of you should have your camera with you.
• Each of you should have brought your manual with
  you.
• Have you read your manual?
• I did not read mine and assumed I knew what I was
  doing.

14
Point Shoot Cameras

• The definition of assume.
• If you saw the movie The Bad News Bears, you will
  recall the definition.
• The word assume is divided in 3 parts.
• Ass-u-me When you assume you make an ass out of
  u and me

15
Point Shoot Cameras

• Do you understand all of the features your camera
  has to offer?
• If you do not understand those features, you are
  not getting the full use of your camera.
• As boring as the manual is, consider spending
  some time reading it, and do not assume anything!

16
Point Shoot Cameras

• One of the many features is a zoom lens.
• If you buy a camera with a zoom feature, you
  should be interested in optical zoom.
• Point and shoot cameras can range from 3 X to 18
  X optical zoom.

17
Point Shoot Cameras

• How much memory should your memory card have?
• Are you going to use your camera for creating a
  video?
• Bigger is better.
• Ansel Adams said that film was the cheapest thing
  in your camera bag. I believe in taking more
  pictures than I have to. I might get a good one
  that way!

18
Point Shoot Camera

• Do not forget to bring an extra battery whenever
  you plan on taking pictures.
• Do not forget to bring an extra memory card
  whenever you plan on taking pictures.
• If your camera has the ability for you to screw
  on a filter, buy a daylight filter to protect
  your lens.

19
Point Shoot Cameras

• There are four variables that control your
  photographs appearance.
• They are light, f-stop (aperture opening),
  shutter speed, and film speed.
• Film speed is also know as ASA or ISO. Even
  though your camera is digital, many digital
  cameras allow you to make an adjustment.

20
Point Shoot Cameras

• The amount of control you have over those four
  variables differs from one camera to another.
• If you do not want to worry about those
  variables, you can set your camera on automatic.
• My point and shoot camera has two different
  automatic settings! Simple and very simple.

21
Point Shoot Cameras

• Different cameras use different icons.
• The icons are there to make your life easier and
  provide a greater command over your camera.
• To use your icons you must read your boring but
  useful camera manual.
• In June we will discuss the icons.

22
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

• Digital Photography has changed the way people
  record their lives.
• You have the power to change the images that you
  create.
• You can correct your mistakes. If you dont know
  how, and want to learn, take Don Yenches class
  on the 4th Friday of each month. You can also ask
  me.

23
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

• The next class is June 19
• New starting time is 3 PM
• If you have any questions regarding your camera
  or photography, lets talk!