How To Use Your Camera - Sony NEX-5 A Great Choice

If you've been doing digital photography for awhile and have decided to upgrade to a better camera, this may be the one you are looking for. This camera will put you at PRO level at less than half the price.

The NEX -3 model is least expensive and is made of polycarbonate materials while the NEX - 5 will cost more and is constructed of magnesium. It also has a couple of features the NEX-3 does not have. You can see these cameras at my camera store at Photo To Go

Here's what Sony says about these cameras:

Revolutionary design.

To create a camera with DSLR performance combined with portability that rivals compact digital cameras, Sony incorporates a huge image sensor into a compact frame. The result: an interchangeable lens digital still camera that makes it possible to capture professional-grade pictures without the extra size and weight of standard DSLR cameras.

Add the ability to shoot astonishing low-light pictures, gorgeous HD movies and simplicity of use, and the new α NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras make it easier than ever to capture your vision.

Take amazing photos.

Introducing the interchangeable lens camera that doesn't change your lifestyle. Now you can experience the performance of DSLR without the size and weight. Packed with innovative features, Sony α NEX cameras include a tiltable LCD, Auto HDR, Anti Motion Blur, continuous shooting up to 7 fps, and Live View on a tilting 3.0" LCD. 

Don't miss the chance to get those Fall colors, order yours today.

 

 

Please send comments if this article was helpful to you or if you would like information about other topics.

I have created a great little book store called "How To Use Your Camera" where you can buy photography books online. Just click the link to see what is available.

If you need a camera get it here at my camer store at "Photo To Go"

You can also visit my own photography website at Dwains Picks to see some of my work.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you will check this site often.

 

How To Use Your Camera - A Great Camera Choice

If you've been doing digital photography for awhile and have decided to upgrade to a better camera, this may be the one you are looking for. This camera will put you at PRO level at less than half the price.

The NEX -3 model is least expensive and is made of polycarbonate materials while the NEX - 5 cost more and is constructed of magnesium.

Here's what Sony says about these cameras on their website:

Revolutionary design.

To create a camera with DSLR performance combined with portability that rivals compact digital cameras, Sony incorporates a huge image sensor into a compact frame. The result: an interchangeable lens digital still camera that makes it possible to capture professional-grade pictures without the extra size and weight of standard DSLR cameras.

Add the ability to shoot astonishing low-light pictures, gorgeous HD movies and simplicity of use, and the new α NEX-5 and NEX-3 cameras make it easier than ever to capture your vision.

Take amazing photos.

Introducing the interchangeable lens camera that doesn't change your lifestyle. Now you can experience the performance of DSLR without the size and weight. Packed with innovative features, Sony α NEX cameras include a tiltable LCD, Auto HDR, Anti Motion Blur, continuous shooting up to 7 fps, and Live View on a tilting 3.0" LCD. 

Don't miss the chance to get those Fall colors, order yours today.

How To Use Your Camera - Aperture Priority

Aperture Priority is usually designated by the letter "A" on the mode dial of your camera. For camera's without a mode dial it will be a menu option if the camera allows you control over this mode. Refer to your camera's manual to find out if your camera allows this. Knowing how to use your camera includes understanding how to use aperture to your advantage.

So what is aperture? Aperture refers to the size of the opening in your lens at the time your shutter activates. It works a lot like the pupil in your eye. In bright light your pupil lets less light into your eye by contracting to a smaller size. In darkness, your pupil opens up to allow more light to enter. In a camera lens, aperture is controlled by a series of overlapping blades that can be adjusted to various precise opening sizes. It is referred to as "f/stop." Most cameras will allow you to make adjustments to aperture in both 1/3 or 1/2 stops. I use the 1/3 stop option as it gives me more control.

Because the actual opening size is calculated as a ratio, you need to know that smaller numbers refer to larger opening sizes while larger numbers refer to smaller opening sizes. So an opening size of f/2.8 is actually larger than an opening size of f/36. This can be confusing if you let it or think about it too much. Don't do that. Rather, you should think about it by how it affects your photography.

Aperture affects photography in two ways, it lets in more or less light depending on the opening size, and it controls depth of field. You can also use aperture to control shutter speed. Smaller apertures require longer shutter speeds to obtain proper exposure while larger apertures will allow shorter shutter speeds.

Depth of field is probably the most important thing controlled by aperture. When you want to get that landscape scene with everything in focus, or you when you want only the bug on a flower in focus, you need to control depth of field.  The easy way to understand how it works is to learn that smaller f/stop numbers like f/2.8 give shallow depth of fields, while larger numbers give deeper depth of fields. So if you want to take landscapes with deep depth of fields it is best to use smaller apertures, the ones with the larger numbers. An Aperture of f/11 to f/36 will give deep depth of fields.

 

There is much much more that can be written about this and I will continue discussing aperture and depth of field in other posts so keep coming back. For now though, as you continue to learn how to use your camera, you should read your manual to see what level of control you have, then go out and take pictures. Use aperture to control depth of field, and then use it to control shutter speed and note the effect it has on your images. Good luck and have fun.

Please send comments if this article was helpful to you or if you would like information about other topics.

I have created a great little book store called "How To Use Your Camera" where you can buy photography books online. Just click the link to see what is available.

You can also visit my own photography website at Dwains Picks to see some of my work.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you will check this site often.

How To Use Your Camera - The Histogram, Simplified

Almost everyone who attended my photography walks this Summer had no idea what the histogram was. They knew it was a graphic of their picture but beyond that they had no idea as to how it works. By the end of this post you will not only know what the histogram is telling you but how to use it to create better pictures. It will take a little practice but that will be the fun part as you continue to learn how to use your camera.

The histogram is a display of the tonal values recorded by your camera. Some cameras can show a histogram of the image in your frame or viewfinder before you snap the shutter, while others will only display the histogram after you have taken the picture. Some histograms will show color tonal values of red, blue, and green tones as well as the combined tone of all three which is usually displayed as a white graphic.

If your picture is bright with lots of light areas, the graph will bias toward the right side of the graph and if it is too bright it will climb the right edge. If the picture or scene has lots of dark tones then the graphic will be to the left. Whenever the graphic shows that tonal values are against either the right side or left side, the image is too dark or too bright and you are loosing potential photo data. Don't worry about what the graphic looks like in between the sides too much. What you want to achieve is a graphic that begins near the lower left corner then climbs to the upper middle area and comes back down near the lower right corner. Don't worry if it has a jagged appearance or whatever, only that it starts and ends at the lower left and right corners.

Controlling the amount of bright or dark light is a simple matter of opening up or closing down your exposures. By opening up, I mean letting more light in by either using longer shutter speeds or wider apertures, and by closing down you would use faster shutter speeds or smaller apertures. If your camera is set to Auto it may or may not let you make simple adjustments unless you use the exposure compensation button or menu option. Just set this to plus or minus values and note the changes to the histogram. Check out my previous posts if you have problems here and refer to your manual too.

For now, turn on your camera and find the histogram if it has one. Read about it in your manual too. Then take pictures of dark areas and light areas and review what the histogram display shows you. Then adjust your camera settings to decrease and increase light until you get all the data within the graphic area and it does not climb the edges.

Knowing how to use this feature will help you get those shots that include bright backgrounds such as those bright cloudy days when your screen goes totally white, and ir will help you capture the detail in the dark shadowy areas.

Please send comments if this article was helpful to you or if you would like information about other topics.

I have created a great little book store called "How To Use Your Camera" where you can buy photography books online. Just click the link to see what is available.

You can also visit my own photography website at Dwains Picks to see some of my work.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you will check this site often.

 

How To Use Your Camera - "P" or Programmed Mode

A large number of your camera's will have a "P" posted on the Mode Dial. This is a really cool setting and is one that you will really want to know how to use as you learn how to use your camera.
When you select this setting, your camera is basically on full automatic everything. But you have the option of changing the automatic selections your camera chooses if you want to. Lets say you are shooting a nice water fall while the camera is in P mode and because it is a very bright day all your shots are freezing the action and you really want that silky effect. You can get this by adjusting the shutter to a slower speed. (this is usually the default adjustment) In program mode the camera will automatically change the other settings so that you maintain the correct exposure all the time. Because changing the shutter speed also causes the aperture to change, you can adjust the shutter to get the aperture you want as well and have control over depth of field.
I normally use the P setting when I am shooting unpredictable subjects and I think will need to react very quickly. These subjects can be kids at a baseball game, flying birds or running wildlife, or any moving subject such as ocean waves, water falls, and so on. I keep my camera on continuous auto focus and use a setting that lets the shutter continue to work as long as I hold the button down. Then all I need to worry about is zooming in or out to get the shot I want. Yet I still have the option of adjusting the settings if I think I need to and I don't have to take the camera from my eye to look for another option.
If you liked this article or if you would like to see information about another subject regarding how to use your camera please send me your comments.

Another great resource for information about learning how to use your camera is my online store at "How To Use Your Camera"
To see my photos go to my website at: Dwains's Picks

How To Use Your Camera - Which Camera should I Have?

Many of the folks I talk to are afraid to admit that they only have a tiny little point and shoot camera. They also feel a little embarassed about the fact that they don't know much about how to use it, and that's why they don't buy a bigger and "better" camera. I once overheard a customer in a camera store tell the clerk that he wanted something that would take better pictures than just a little point and shoot pocket camera. Naturally the clerk was willing to sell him whatever he could. But what the customer really needed to know was how to use what he already had. Once he mastered that, he would then know what features he would need in a new camera, if he needed any at all.

I am here to say that what you need to do is learn to use the camera you have now. You don't need to go out and buy a fancy new camera to learn about photography. The one you have now will get you started and you will be totally surprised at what you can do with it if you spend the time to learn how to use it. Go back and review my previous blogs and apply what you learn to your existing camera. You will be glad you did. Once you have mastered all the features of your existing camera you will be ready to move on to the next level. You may find that you are already there!

Here's an example of a photo I shot with a 2 megapixal point and shoot Fujifilm camera seven years ago. I proves the point that it isn't always the tool, it's how and when you use it.

IFor more information about photography go to "How To Use Your Camera" for a really cool collection of books and cheatsheets.

You can also see examples of my own albums at Dwains Picks.

How To Use Your Camera - Shutter Priority or Time Value settings

Different camera makers call this by different names. Nikon calls it "Shutter Priority,"while Canon calls it "Time Value" and represents it by the symbol Tv on their shooting mode dial. Other cameras will have the same or similar terms that reference the same function.

As you learn how to use your camera, one of the features you will want to gain control over is shutter speed. By setting your camera to the "S" on a Nikon mode dial you will have selected Shutter Priority Mode. When the camera is in this mode you can choose how fast or how slow your shutter will work. At the same time, your camera will calculate what aperture will be appropriate to give you the best exposure based on it's light meter reading and your selected shutter speed. 

The best times to us this option is when you know you want your camera to shoot at a certain speed, but you are unsure about the other exposure elements or you know you won't have time to consider them. This can be when you want to stop action, or possibly add a blur effect to some action. For instance lets say you want to shoot pictures of a waterfall with the water appearing silky. You would use a very slow shutter speed. The camera will open or close the aperture accordingly so you get the best exposure. Another example would be when you want to pan a subject, that is you are watching your son or daughter as they ride past you on their new bike. You focus on their face and using a moderately fast shutter speed you snap the shutter as they go by. The effect will be a clear view of the moving subject, with a blurry background.

I have created collection of books and other resources that will provide in depth detail about these subjects and more, if you are interested you can look at this simple website to find just about everything that is available to help you learn to use your camera. I am particularly fond of the books of Bryon Peterson. He shoots in the same geographic areas that I do and I can relate to his subject matter.

How To Use Your Camera - Books

Dwains Picks