DSLR Settings "Jargons"

Learning DSLR camera jargons in a very uncomplicated way!

First, let's break down technical terms in the digital world:

1. SHUTTER SPEED - Adjusting this makes it possible for moving subjects to be sharp in a photo or if you want the effect to be blurry in nature. You may achieve this by adjusting a dial in your DSLR camera.
           
            Remember: *The higher the number (i.e. 1/250) = the darker the photo; sharper photo
                              *The lower the number (i.e. 1/1.5) = the brighter the photo; more blurred                         
                                      So you must adjust the other settings to fit a proper exposure.

Shutter speed: 1/250; F-stop: f/5.6; ISO-6400

Shutter speed: 1/8; F-stop: f/22; ISO-6400

*Camera used: Canon EOS 1100D

2. F-STOP/APERTURE - Opening of a camera's aperture to permit light, similar to our human iris. If you want to create a photo with either a shallow or wide depth of field, this is what you need to adjust. You may adjust this by pressing the f-stop button AND rotating the dial.

                 Remember: *The lower the F-stop (i.e. f/2.8) = the larger the opening of the lens;                                                  exposure is brighter; more shallow depth of field
                                    *The higher the F-stop (i.e. f/22) = the smaller the opening; exposure is                                               darker; greater depth of field

Shutter speed: 1/1250; F-stop: f/5.6; ISO-3200

 

Shutter speed: 1/60; F-stop: f/32; ISO-3200

 *Camera used: NIKON D3100

3. ISO - This is simply the sensitivity to light. This darkens or brightens a photo exposure. To adjust, find the ISO menu and from there, choose the ISO number.

     Remember: *The lower the ISO (i.e. ISO-100) = darker the photo; lower noise quality
                        *The higher the ISO (i.e. ISO-3200) = brighter the photo; higher noise quality

Shutter speed: 1/4; F-stop: f/25; ISO-200

Shutter speed: 1/50; F-stop: f/25; ISO-3200

*Camera used: Canon EOS 1100D

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Any questions? :)

Photos are all taken by me. ©

Five types of lenses

#1: WIDE ANGLE LENSES

DESCRIPTION: Traditionally, a super wide-angle lens is classified as anything under 20mm. Wide-angle is 21-35mm. With the advent of digital cameras, and the APS-C format, camera manufacturers have also started producing specific lenses for this format. Wide-angle lenses for crop frame DSLRs range from 10-24mm, with a few going down to a super wide 8mm.

USAGE:  Photographing landscapes and architecture, although they are often also used for photographing large groups of people. 

#2: STANDARD LENSES

DESCRIPTION: A standard lens has a focal length range of 35-70mm. The most common standard lens is a fixed 50mm lens.

USAGE: Standard lenses are most commonly used for documentary and street photography, where photographers need to move quickly and capture an interesting point of action. Pioneers of modern street photography, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, always used a 50mm lens, choosing to move themselves around so as to best frame an image.

#3: MEDIUM TELEPHOTO/PORTRAIT LENS

DESCRIPTION: The focal range between 80-135mm is nearly always used by portrait photographers. These are specialist lenses, but can be surprisingly reasonably priced. 

USAGE: Fixed lenses at these lengths produce ideal framing for head and shoulders shots. 

#4: TELEPHOTO

DESCRIPTION: Any lens with a focal length of between 135mm and 300mm is a true telephoto lens. Manufacturers make a huge range of lenses in this range ... at an equally large range of prices!

USAGE: Telephoto lenses are traditionally used for sports and wildlife photography, but their essential function is to bring distant objects closer.

#5: SPECIALIST LENSES

A) Super Telephoto

DESCRIPTION: These have a focal length of more than 300mm

USAGE:  Used by dedicated sports and wildlife photographers. 

B) Macro 

DESCRIPTION: These lenses are able to focus closer to an object than normal lenses, offering a 1:1 ratio.

USAGE: They are used for still-life photography of small objects. These lenses are specifically designed for shooting objects up close.

C) Fisheye 

DESCRIPTION: These are on the edge of wide-angle lenses, and give a distorted view of the subject matter. 

USAGE:  The center of the image is magnified, and objects diminish in size in all directions around it.  

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REFERENCES

1. Types of Camera Lenses: Understanding Various Lenses and Their Functions by Jo Plumridge (http://cameras.about.com/od/advanceddigitalcameras/tp/types-of-camera-lenses.htm)
2. DSLR Lenses – An Introduction by Darren Rowse (http://digital-photography-school.com/an-introduction-to-types-of-dlsr-lenses)