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Buying a camera
The two main types of compact cameras
point and shoot camera
Several cameras come with interchangeable lenses while others don’t. You will be able to examine the scene through a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Different cameras offer viewfinders. Point-and-shoot cameras are small. They are compact and can be carried in your pocket. Compared to SLR cameras, point-and-shoot cameras are less expensive. Many of these cameras have a built-in macro setting that allows for extreme close-up photography. However, the caliber of images from compact cameras is not as good as that of SLR cameras. However, these cameras are also capable of taking professional-quality photos.
reflex cameras
SLRs are usually larger and are often more expensive than compact digital cameras. SLRs can also be used with a host of interchangeable lenses, such as macro and telephoto lenses. These cameras also generate high-quality images. They have many important functions that are not present in compact cameras. They also have various plugins. Compared to compact cameras, SLR cameras shoot at a higher frame rate, making them a better choice for action photography. Before you buy an SLR camera, you should know about its disadvantages. SLR cameras are expensive, larger, and heavier. They are called an SLR or Single Lens Reflex simply because you can look at the lens that is built into the camera and the light reflects off a mirror through a prism and then into the viewfinder. Its reflection is removed each time the user presses the button to take a photo, allowing light to hit the sensor behind the mirror.
vital controls
A.) ISO speed
The ISO speed discovers the light sensitivity of digital sensors and the amount of “grain” in photos. Whenever there is a lot of light, such as when you are shooting on a bright day, you should set your camera’s ISO speed to between 100 and 200. But if you want to take pictures indoors without using the flash, set your camera to ISO400, 800 , 1600 or more. The higher the ISO speed, the grainier the photo will be. Make sure to always use the smallest ISO speed that will allow you to take a photo that has a shutter speed of 1/30 or perhaps faster if you just put a tripod there. Doubling the ISO speed also increases the light sensitivity of the camera.
Advances in noise reduction allow cameras to achieve low-grain images even at higher ISO speeds, 1600 or even higher. There are cameras that change the ISO rate automatically depending on the light. But it’s even better that you have control over the ISO speed.
B.) Shooting modes: P, A, S, M, B
You can get cameras that include additional modes. You can use Program P or Party mode if you don’t want to think; An aperture priority setting or to regulate depth of field. When in A mode, it drives the F-stop of the lens and therefore the depth of field. However, don’t forget to check the shutter speed. Often it should be 1/30 of a second or faster if the camera is handheld. The other settings are generally used, such as S (shutter), M (manual), and B (bulb). S mode can be used in sports to lock in a faster shutter speed. M or manual mode can be used in panoramas to ensure exposure. B or bulb holds the shutter open while the button is pressed. B mode is extremely beneficial for long exposures at night such as fireworks and lightning, however it may require a tripod. B is usually under M or manual mode. If you want to manage your camera and depth of field in your photo, use A mode or aperture priority all the time.
C.) Exposure meter
Many cameras today include various types of metering systems. Metering systems measure the light reaching the digital sensor. You have alternatives: multisection or also called Matrix, honeycomb or evaluative, center-weighted and punctual. Spot metering is used when lighting is strong or in backlit situations. Spot metering takes a fair amount of skill to put to good use. It is recommended to set the camera to matrix metering frequently.
D.) The Histogram
This item is used to examine the exposure, especially outdoors in strong light. The graph describes the pixels and how many in an image are light, medium, or dark in tone. The left side of the histogram suggests full black, while the right side is full white with more advanced tones in between. The histogram peak represents the volume of pixels in your image with a particular hue. When the histogram is too far to the left, it means the image is probably underexposed. However, if it is too far to the right, the image may be overexposed. The worst thing you can do is overexpose simply because it can’t be fixed later. A large histogram is centered.
E.) Exposure Compensation
If the background is very vibrant or very dark, even the top meters could be fooled. Many digital cameras today have the ability to change the exposure by lightening or darkening the image with the exposure compensation button. This attribute includes a +/- mark next to it for the most part. If you can’t find these kinds of signals, check your camera’s manual. Sometimes this camera offer is hidden in a navigation. In the event that you press the key, you may need to press another control key to change the exposure, so it would be lighter + lighter or – darker. If you’re done shooting, don’t forget to reset the control key to zero.
F.) File type to save images
The most common file type used to save images is JPG and it usually comes in sizes (S, M, L). If you want the largest file for good quality, choose L size often. If your camera has many quality settings, choose optimal quality often so you can reduce the size of any type of image. On the other hand, a JPG file cannot always be enlarged without degrading the image.
All digital SLR cameras have the ability to shoot a RAW file format. Only a few compact cameras have this feature. RAW files are usually larger than JPG files. The caliber of the photos is also much better after processing, since there is much more information and colors. However, RAW files must first be processed with software before they can be printed. RAW files also allow you to expand your photos by more than 200% and it will also be possible to alter the exposure and white balance afterwards. Therefore, you may still have the opportunity to improve the exposure of your image. Most cameras also allow you to capture JPG and RAW files at the same time. If you want flexibility and high quality, work with JPG files. They are easier to work with and are smaller and can be printed as is. RAW files must be processed in software before they can be placed on a web page, printed, or distributed by mail.
G.) Storage cards
Storage cards can be found in various styles, sizes, memory size, and write rates. The number of images you can get with a storage card is usually stipulated in your camera. Always have at least one additional card. In case you intend to shoot at a wedding or on your vacation, you probably need more storage cards. Would you like to invest in a faster storage card? There’s no need to splurge for a faster card as your camera these days may have a built-in memory buffer. The fastest cards are great for people who shoot HD video or who shoot lots of images in bursts of 10 to 20.
H.) Color space
This function indicates the number of colors that a camera stores. sRGB or Small Red Green Blue is among the most excellent settings for photographers who shoot only the JPG file format. Alternatively, Adobe RGB is a much larger color space, it is a much better option for photographers who process their own images using image editing programs like Photoshop to print them. Images used with sRGB tend to be brighter straight from the camera, as the camera processes the data files for you. It is more preferable to apply Adobe RGB color space whenever you shoot RAW files, photos will appear flat at first, however after processing with Adobe Photoshop they can look even better than JPG files. If you want to shoot RAW, it’s best to set your camera to Adobe RGB, but if you need to shoot using JPG files, leave your camera on sRGB.
I.) Focal length and lenses
Focal length is definitely the distance from the sensor to the center of the front lens element. Lenses that have a focal length of 40 to 50mm have the same eyesight as the human eye, that is the main reason why they are known as normal lenses. Each time the focal length is doubled, images are magnified 2x, 4x, or 6x. For approximate magnification, simply separate the focal length of the lens by 50mm. Wide angle lenses are lenses that are less than 40mm in focal length. Wide angle lenses are perfect for use in panoramas and indoors. If you want to look slimmer in your photos, wear wide angle lenses!
If you don’t own a wide-angle lens, it’s still possible to take many overlapping photos and then stitch them together using Photoshop or other image-editing programs to create a panorama from them. In case you intend to have a single lens, you should get an 18-200 or 28-300mm zoom lens. This particular lens is the best lens for most forms of photography. Macro lenses allow you to focus very close to your subject. Macro lenses are special lenses. Many zoom lenses now have a built-in macro function. Macro lenses can come in numerous focal lengths: 50, 100, and 200mm. The longer the focal length of the lens, the further away you can photograph your subject while still achieving a close-up image. Many compact cameras also offer macro mode, allowing you to get very close to your subjects. Look for the flower symbol if you want to set your compact camera to macro mode.
VR (Vibration Reduction – Nikon) or IS (Image Stabilization – Canon) lenses are lenses that minimize vibration due to camera shake. These special types of lenses are incredibly useful when you’re using a telephoto lens that increases camera shake. Most likely, VR or shake reduction isn’t particularly useful for wide-angle lenses or when the camera is attached to a tripod. For best results on a tripod, turn the IS off. If you intend to buy a telephoto lens that offers VR, it’s worth paying more. You can find compact cameras that have shake reduction built in and are generally very useful when shooting indoors or in low light without a flash. If the lens offers more than one form of virtual reality, be sure to study the guide for the lens.