DIGITAL ART: Digital Camera Controls and Use
The illustrations below are of a typical DSLR. Each brand and model will have its own control
layout. Certain controls may be a physical dial, button dial or wheel on some cameras, and within a
menu on another. Study your camera and instruction book to learn the location and operations of
these Essential Functions:
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MODE DIAL: Program (auto aperture and shutter speed), Auto (auto everything, no user
control), Aperture (you set aperture, camera controls shutter speed), Shutter or Tv (shutter
priority auto), Custom (your own preferred mode settings), various pictograms (“creative”
modes, for beginners)
•
SHUTTER SPEED: The numbers stand for fractions of a second, thus “125” = 1/125 second,
which lets in less light than “30” = 1/30 second. Usually controlled by a Command Dial on the
front or back.
•
APERTURE (OR F/STOP): The relative size of the lens opening. Controlled either by
separate command dial, or the main command dial combined with a button such as
“AEL” (Auto Exposure Lock.) Paradoxically, the lower the number the larger the opening.
Thus “f/4” lets in more light than “F/8”
•
ISO: The sensitivity of the digital sensor. Higher number “3200” is more sensitive (requires
less light) than “400.” Usually a button+dial. High ISO will have more “noise” and may be
less sharp.
•
EXPOSURE COMPENSATION (+/-): Makes photo darker or lighter in Auto modes. Button
+Dial
•
EXPOSURE LOCK (AEL or AV):Half-press and hold shutter button, or press and hold AEL
button.
•
FOCUS LOCK: Half-press and hold shutter button, or press and hold AFL button.
•
WHITE BALANCE: Auto (suggested), Daylight, Shadow, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Custom.
Usually button and/or command dial
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Other Camera Shooting Controls and Functions:
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FLASH ON/OFF: (only for cameras with built-in flash) either a button or command dial
setting
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AUTO FOCUS ON/OFF: A switch on the body and/or lens, sometimes marked Manual,
Single, or Continuous.
•
FOCUS TYPE/PATTERN: Spot, Multi-Spot, Tracking- names and types vary by camera, usually a button+dial or wheel, sometimes in menu
•
METERING TYPE/PATTERN: Multi (Segment), Center, or Spot. Usually button + dial, or menu.
•
FUNCTION: user-customized multi-function button, often combined with wheel or dial.
•
MENU: Used for both shooting and review, combined with dial and/or wheel
•
VIDEO: (not on every camera, sometimes on Mode Dial or Menu or Function)
•
VIEWFINDER DIOPTER SETTING: (not on every camera), adjusts to individual’s vision Lens Controls:
•
ZOOM (zoom lenses only): changes lens focal length- on “kit” lenses usually from wide-angle
to moderate telephoto. Usually a ring around the lens
•
FOCUS (only on lens that permit manual focus): A ring around the lens
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FOCUS SCALE: shows distance the lens is focused at, usually shown in a window on the
lens.
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M/F: Manual or Auto Focus (not on every lens, sometimes also on camera body) Review/Playback Controls: VIEW or PLAYBACK: toggles between review and shooting mode. Often a button with an
arrow ZOOM: (Sometimes two buttons + and -) Zooms in and out of image being viewed.
Often combined with Command dial for navigation within the image.
DELETE/ERASE (or Trash Can symbol): brings up dialog for single or multiple image
erase. Important Suggested Camera Base Settings Before Shooting Here are suggested settings to use for all your shooting for this class. Not every camera will
have each of these settings, but most recent ones will. You will have to dig into the camera’s
menu for some of these, but once they are set you shouldn’t have to reset them each time
them you shoot: Menu items:
•
File Type: RAW
•
Color Space: AdobeRGB (not all cameras have this feature) External Controls: (may be in menu on some cameras)
•
White Balance or WB: Auto
•
Flash: Off
•
Exposure compensation: “0”
•
Metering type/pattern- Multi is suggested for starters, until you learn more about exposure
metering
•
Focus mode, autofocus pattern- Single Center Focus Point is suggested for most controlplace main focus point in center, half-press and hold shutter, than re-compose.
•
Single Auto Focus is suggested for most situations, the camera only sets focus with a halfpress of the shutter button.
Camera Basics
1. Handling
i. Holding The Camera: Cradle the camera for stability: one hand under the lens, other hand grips
camera body.
ii. Changing Lenses: Make lens changes quickly to avoid dust getting on sensor. If spots appear on
yours images, have sensor professionally cleaned, or do it yourself with
a product like Visible Dust Swabs. Do not use canned air to clean then sensor!
iii. Lens Protection: Use UV filter to protect lens and cut haze in distance shots. Note diameter of
lens mount (in mm) to select correct UV filter size.
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iv. Lens Cleaning: Use a micro fiber lens cleaning cloth (not your shirt) to gently rub the lens (or
filter) in a circular motion as well as a perpendicular motion. Excessive motion in any single
direction can wear into the lens coating or glass. If using fluid, spray on cloth, not lens.
2. Base Settings
i. ISO: This is the light sensitivity of the sensor. Higher number = higher sensitivity = possible to
shoot in lower light conditions and indoors. However, higher ISO means higher image
noise, or grainy appearance. For best results, set to native ISO, usually 100 or 160.
ii. WB: Manual white balance (WB) offers greater control than Auto (AWB). Choose appropriate WB
for your situation, (i.e. daylight, cloudy, shade, tungsten,
florescent, K, custom)
iii. Quality: Set to RAW if possible or smoothest JPG (least compressed)
iv. MF/AF: Manual Focus or Auto Focus. Useful for different reasons. Manual is good when you are
working slowly to choose your point of interest, Auto is great for situations that are less predicable or
rushed such as fast-moving subjects.
v. Color Space: (not all cameras have this feature) set to Adobe RGB rather than sRGB for a wider
gamut, or range, of colors
3. Shooting Settings
i. Aperture Priority (A or Av): allows you to set the aperture size to which the camera
automatically adjusts the shutter speed for proper exposure. This is good for situations where a
specific depth of field is preferred, i.e. shallow DOF with background out of focus (f/5.6 or wider) or
long DOF (f/16 or smaller).
ii. Shutter Priority (S or Tv): allows user to set the shutter speed to which the camera
automatically adjusts the aperture for proper exposure. This is good for situations where DOF is
secondary, but shutter effect is important, i.e. stop action photography (shutter at 1/500 or faster).
iii. Manual (M): fully customized exposure control. Adjust exposure controls until the light meter
indicates proper exposure, or shoot a quick picture in Automatic mode, note the settings, and dial
them in when set on Manual.
4. Tips
i. Focus then frame: Rather than just pointing and shooting, it can be useful to look through the
lens, focus on an area of interest, reframe (i.e. move the camera to choose the composition), and then
take the picture. With most digital cameras using Auto Focus, this involves holding the shutter
button down gently halfway to maintain the focus while composing.
ii. Self timer in low light: can be a great way to get sharp pictures indoors or in other low light
situations. Set the camera on a tripod, tabletop, or other sturdy surface, use the self timer to make
the picture. Most cameras have an optional duration setting for the self timer. When using the self
timer in this capacity, it is convenient to reduce the time from 10 seconds to 2 seconds.
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