Discover what all the buttons, dials and
icons on your camera mean and you will soon be taking fantastic shots.
Mode dial
Chande the settings on the camera using the
mode dial
Hotshoe
The hotshoe allows you attach an extermal
flash to the camera
Shutter release
This button is used to take the picture. On
most cameras, pressing it halfway in Auto will focus the image
Lens
The light enters the camera here. Lenses
conbe changed on some camera models
Lens release
Press this button to remove the lens from
your camera
Get
to know your camera
Flash
If your camera has an on- board flash,
press this button to use it
Menu
For options such as formatting your memory
card
View finder
An optical viewfinder shows the image
through the lens
Zoom
Zoom in on your image to check it is in
focus
LCD screen
Displays an electronic view of the scene in
front of lens
Controls
Use the control panel to chande settings,
scroll through menu options or move around a photo when in Playback mode
Great shot secret!
Hold
the camera as steady as possible with both hands
Hold the camera as steady as possible with
both hands. Use a tripod if shooting in low light or place the camera on a flat
surface to avoid blur.
Different types of camera
Do not know a superzoom from a CSC? Read
on …
Different
types of camera
Interchangeable lens
Refers to DSLR cameras and Compact System
Cameras (CSC) as they both offer the ability to swithch lenses
Interchangeable
lens
Pro …
Great image quality
Fast shooting speed
Mabual and auto
Cons …
Can be expensive
Can be complex
Can be heavy
Fixed lens
Includes compact cameras ans superzooms, as
the name suggests, the lens can not be changed making them simpler
Fixed
lens
Pros …
Easy to use
Light and versatile
Lots of features
Cons …
Fewer manual options
Can be slow
Less adaptable
Cameraphones / smartphones
The main contenders are currently Apple’s
iPhone and the Android Smartphone. You can buy accessories and apps for
achieving different effects
Cameraphones
/ smartphones
Pros …
Light and compact
Cool app add- ons
Share instantly
Cons …
Small lens and sensor
Flattens perspective
Fewer features
Jargon buster
Jargon
buster
Aperture
Affects the a mount of your image that is
in focus- the ‘depth of field’
CSC
Compact system camera
DSLR
Digital single lens reflex camera
Drive mode
Continuous or burst mode, single shot and
sele timer
Dynamic range
The term used to refer to the amount of
detail in the highlights and shadows
Exposure
A balanced exposure has detail in light and
shadow areas alike
Exposure compensation
Adjusts the tonal range of your photo,
lighter or darker
Focal lengths
Wide- angle- a wider angle of view than
normal, eg 28 mm Telephoto- a magnified view of distant subjects, eg 200 mm
Focus
Autofocus means your camera focusses for
you; manual puts you in control
ISO
Refers to how sensitive the sensor is to
light and affects the visible grain or ‘noise’ in a photo
LCD
The display screen on the rear of the
camera used to compose images
Live view
An electronic view of the scene in front of
the lens
Metering
Refers to the way the camera reads the
light in the scene
Megapixel
Number of pixels on the sensor, in millions
Noise
Refers to the visible digital grain in a
photo
Shutter speed
Fast speeds freeze action while longer ones
blur any motion
Viewfinder
Optical- show you the view through the
camera lens and is good for accurate framing Electronic- shows the view on dn
LCD in the viewfinder
White balnce
Affected by the ambient light around you,
your camera can alter this to ensure a natural colour result
Zoom
Optical- the magnification provided by the
camera lens Digital- a camera crop factor
Camera icons explained
Make sure your camera is always on the
correct setting by following this guide
If you are using a compact camera, then
most of your controls will be on the back. A DSLR or Compact System Camera will
usually have a mode dial on top. Either way, the icons for setting the camera
to shoot in different conditions and for basic operation such as deleting
images are usually universal.
Camera
icons explained
Auto
If all else fails, let your camera do the
hard work for you
Macro
For shooting close- up such as flowers and
insects
Sports
Uses a fast shutter speed to capture action
without blur
Portrait
For supper- flattering shots of your
friends and family
Aperture
Select the aperture while the camera choses
shutter speed
Shutter priority
Select the shutter speed and the camera
will change the aperture
Landscape
Boots saturation in blues and greens for
vivid outdoor shots
Program
Cuctomise your most used setting in Program
Delete - found on all cameras
Playback - use to review photos
Flash -
switch it on or off
Night-
time low- light scenes
Zoom in on your photos
Zoom out of your photos
Driver modes including burst
Metering modes
Exposure
compensation
Video mode on stilld cameras
Macro or close-
up modes
Sports or action
mode
Self time for self
Image stabilisation
Landscapes- for wide angles
Portrait- perfect for people
Manual mode- for control
Function button- for shortcuts
