Cameras are complex devices that have a multitude of features and functions. Understanding how they work and which ones are important is key to getting the most out of your new camera.
A good place to start is your manual. Most cameras will have a section on how to use these basic features and how to access them.
Aperture
Aperture is one of the most important aspects to understand on a new camera, and it will have a profound impact on your photography. It controls the brightness or exposure of your image, and also influences depth of field.
A small aperture will let in more light, which means you can use a slower shutter speed or lower ISO value and get sharper images. This is useful if you’re taking pictures of dark scenes, like at night or in low-light conditions.
Alternatively, a wide aperture will let in less light, which means you can use a faster shutter speed or higher ISO value and get better images. This is useful for taking portraits or capturing fast moving objects.
This is why photographers choose their lenses with different f-stops, or aperture numbers. Those numbers are often identified by the letter ‘f’ followed by a number, such as ‘f1.2’ or ‘f22’.
If you’re using a mirrorless camera, it has a feature called ‘focus peaking’, which can be very helpful to know how to take photos at each f-stop. Turning on this will display a coloured line around any object in your shot to show what exactly is in focus.
Another tip for understanding the effect of a particular f-stop on an image is to take a look at the maximum and minimum apertures on your lens. Usually these are listed as ‘f22’ and ‘f1.4’ on the front of the lens, but some may be written with a colon instead of a slash (like the Nikon 50mm 1:1.4G above).
Aperture is a fundamental part of the camera system, so it’s essential that you understand how to use it correctly to create fantastic photographs. Having an understanding of how your camera’s aperture works will help you take better photos in every situation.
Shutter Speed
As one of the main features to learn on a new camera, shutter speed is an important part of taking great photographs. It affects how much light a photo takes in and can be used for creative effect by freezing motion or blurring it.
Shutter speed is a vital tool that every photographer should know. It is a critical aspect of the exposure triangle along with Aperture and ISO, allowing you to take creative control over your photos.
It’s simple to understand, but it has a big impact on the final image. This is because it changes how much light is absorbed into the camera’s sensor.
There are a wide range of shutter speeds available, from 1/1000 second to 30 seconds, and there’s also a variety of settings that allow you to adjust them. The speed you use is determined by the type of photography you want to do.
For example, if you’re a sports or wildlife photographer, you’ll likely need a very fast shutter speed to freeze the action in your shots. If you’re shooting a beautiful landscape, a slow shutter speed may help you get that beautiful soft look to the water or to the sand.
The best way to determine the shutter speed that you need is to experiment with different subject types and situations. This is especially true when you’re new to the world of photography.
In general, a shutter speed that’s faster than 1/60 of a second is considered to be fast. It lets more light through than a slower shutter speed, which is why it’s used for lighting dark scenes or when you’re capturing lightning.
A slower shutter speed, however, can also cause a loss of sharpness in your images. This is often caused by movement in your scene, so you need to be careful to avoid this.
When you’re starting out, a good place to start is with a fast shutter speed like 1/500 or a slow one like a 1/250. This will allow you to freeze the action of a fast-moving subject while still allowing enough light to reach the camera’s sensor for a sharp image.
ISO
The Main Features To Learn On A New Camera
One of the most important features to know on a new camera is the ISO setting. You can easily increase or decrease the camera’s ISO value with a simple press of a button, and many cameras have dedicated buttons for this purpose.
This feature is a great way to take high-quality photos even in low light conditions, as long as you set your camera’s ISO to a low value before shooting. If you try to use a higher value, however, you can end up with grainy or over-exposed photos.
Ideally, you should stick with the lowest native ISO available on your camera’s sensor. This is called the “base ISO” and is the ideal setting for most photographers, as it can minimize the presence of noise in your images.
Most modern digital cameras and DSLRs have a base ISO of around 100. A few older models have higher base ISOs, such as 200.
Some cameras have a “pixel-shift” high resolution mode that takes multiple photos in different positions on the sensor and merges them together to increase the image’s resolution. This can be a great way to dramatically improve your images, especially in situations where dynamic range is critical.
If you are a landscape photographer, for example, this can be a game-changer!
Another popular setting for landscape photographers is the exposure compensation (EC) option, which allows you to control the amount of light the camera’s sensor receives. This is particularly useful when capturing bright subjects in dark surroundings.
In addition, some cameras have a “seismographic vibration delay” feature that allows you to take photos in a very narrow range of motion, such as in the face of a moving car. This is another great option for landscape photographers who want to capture their subject in sharp focus without the use of an ND filter.
ISO is an international standard that outlines how cameras and other sensors measure the sensitivity of their image sensors to light. The standard is published by the International Organization for Standardization, a non-governmental organization that aims to promote cooperation in scientific, technical, and economic fields.
