What’s in the Box? A look at items that come with your camera

CD-ROMs Flash Cards Cables Camera Batteries Case Manuals

Batteries There are three main types of battery used in Digital Cameras: One use AA/AAA batteries (e.g. Alkaline) Rechargeable (NiMH are the current preferred type) Camera specific rechargeable batteries (lithium-ion is the current preferred type)

Alkaline Everyday Alkaline batteries do not last long As camera use increases, cost rises exponentially Cannot be disposed of as normal household waste

Lithium AA Claimed to last longer than alkaline batteries Can cost £4.99 for only 2 batteries Again need to be disposed of responsibly

Rechargeable Re-usable, saving money in the long term Normally ‘last longer’ in a camera Higher miliAmp hours (mAh) is better Need to by ‘run-dry’ before recharging

Greater mAh means greater battery capacity Greater capacity means longer ‘life’ for the camera Image taken from Agros catalogue Autumn/Winter 2007 p1737

Camera specific Designed specifically to power the camera Lithium-ion can be ‘topped-up’ between use Should only be charged in the supplied charger

Manuals Manuals can range from 3 page documents to 150 page booklets Most ‘hard copy’ manuals only give basic instructions (CD manuals will be of greater detail)

CD-ROMs Supplied CDs will contain drivers for a computer Basic imaging software may be supplied Manuals may be supplied in CD format

Flash cards Supplied flash cards may be the smallest available Used to store captured images Often supplement camera’s internal memory Need ‘looking after’

Cables There will normally be two cables supplied with a camera T.V. CableUSB Cable

TV cable (AV) Cables connect with AV sockets in a television/video player Yellow cable is for vision White cable is for sound (not always present)

USB cable Connects from the camera to a computer Also used with Pictbridge enabled printers; allows printing of photographs without computer use

Camera connections Some cameras have separate TV and computer connection points Other cameras use the same port’ for both types of connection

Camera case Most cases supplied with a camera will not offer great protection Many digital cameras do not come with a case, having to be bought as an optional extra

Using a Digital Camera A Beginners Guide

Batteries and Flash card Always make sure that the batteries and flash card are inserted correctly Flash Card

A Basic Digital Camera Flash produces a burst of light to illuminate the subject Lens is used to focus the image onto the light sensitive device within the camera

Back of the Camera LCD screen shows what the lens is ‘seeing’ Zoom buttons control zoom amount Review takes camera out of ‘capture’ mode Bin deletes images when in review mode Zoom Buttons LCD Screen Review Mode Settings Wheel ‘Rubbish Bin’

Settings Wheel Drive/Self-timer sets the capture rate/timed exposure Flash sets the flash type selected Focus sets the focus type desired EV sets exposure compensation amount ‘Ok’ confirms setting selection Flash Setting Focus setting Exposure Compensation (EV) Setting Drive/Self-timer Setting

Top of the Camera Power button turns the camera on and off Mode Dial sets the chosen camera function Shutter release button is pressed to ‘take’ pictures. Used to focus on most cameras Power Button Mode Dial Shutter Release Button

Mode Dial Simple mode; used for ‘point and click’ photography Program mode; allows you to set basic camera functions Portrait mode; camera chooses optimal settings portrait images Landscape mode; camera chooses optimal settings for landscape images Action mode; camera chooses optimal settings For ‘action’ images Night mode; camera chooses optimal settings for night-time images Set-up mode; user can select camera settings Movie mode; used to capture moving images

Menu Screen This is an example of some of the options available on a basic digital camera Moving around menus is controlled by the settings wheel directional buttons. The ‘OK’ button confirms choices made

Screen View Flash Setting Camera Function Flash Card Remaining Shots Battery Indicator Image Resolution Exposure Value (EV) setting