The Camera Digital Photography

Types of digital cameras Point-and-ShootDSLR Camera

DSLR  Digital single lens reflex  A camera that uses a mirror system to capture an image.  DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses.  Have better image quality—great if intend to enlarge or for certain print media.  Designed for interchangeable lenses and other accessories like special flashes and filers.  Faster performance--Power on faster, focus faster, and offer faster shutter speeds than a point-and-shoot  More manual control  Wysiwyg—what you see is what you get!

Point-and-shoot  A good beginner camera  Less expensive  More portable  Easier to use  Example: smart phones, flip cameras, etc.

Camera Basics All cameras must have the following basic parts:  A light tight container - The body  A device for focusing light rays onto the film - The lens  A method of controlling amount of light - The aperture  A method for controlling exposure time to the light - The shutter  A method of seeing what the photograph looks like - The viewfinder  ……and then there are all the “special features”

How a camera works….

The Body

Lens  Image quality is greatly affected by the quality of the lens.  There are many types of lenses, but most fit into two categories: fixed focal length or zoom  Most cameras contain lenses which are comprised of several "lens elements."

Types of lenses  Standard  Wide-angle  Telephoto  Zoom

Aperture  The aperture is a small set of blades, in the lens, that controls how much light will enter the camera.  Aperture sizes are measured in f/stops.

Shutter  A shutter on a camera controls how long light will enter.  Very short shutter speeds are used to freeze action (sporting events).  Very long shutter speeds are used to intentionally blur a action for artistic effect.  Shutter speed is one of the “three pillars of photography”.

Creativity with Shutter Speed

Viewfinder