Most amateur photographers use only automatic shooting mode, forgetting that the art of photography is not possible without manual control various modes of shooting.
It is now most cameras (with rare exceptions) can offer enough for a beginner set of settings that need only look at the sea of complex terminology to confidently cope with the camera.
Let’s step by step look at the main difficulties that can confront a beginner, starting with the purchase of machinery and finishing storing photos, but at the same time and get acquainted with the main Ancillary.
In the first part we consider the basic principles of selecting and buying a digital camera, and methods of setting the frame.
In the second part of our review will describe the shooting in different conditions, and processing and storage of digital images.
Buy camera
There are two approaches to the acquisition of the camera.
The simplest of them – to buy the one that more like design, but there are more reasonable, albeit a more complex way.
Much better choices can be done by reading reviews of different cameras and inquiring friends.
In this case, much less likely to buy the wrong vehicle.
However, for the correct reading of the articles you need to understand certain words and terms used in the tests.
For reviews of digital cameras were not “dark forest” for the readers, let us explain some of the words used in them, but at the same time show how to use them later.
What should we look for when buying the camera?
The main thing – to determine the future of the subject.
Try for a few days to imagine that you already have a camera.
What topics are most often encountered on the way that usually has to “shoot”?
Perhaps it would be landscapes, perhaps, portraits or group shots, people in motion.
For each of these situations, there is the best in its price range camera, with all these images settings.
Select a camera can only be thoroughly going into the test review different sets, which we try to teach you in this article.
However, nobody expects that a beginner in photography immediately goes into full manual mode, so you should not pick up a camera higher price category, but also ignore the possibility of inexpensive devices, using only the automatic, no need.
To choose an appropriate camera, looking through test reviews, pay attention to some words.
Matrix, the number of active points (MP) – the biggest mistake when buying a camera – an opinion that the number of points depends on the quality of future shots.
When selecting the camera, think, will be needed if you print in large formats, or enough to 10×15 cm
The fact is that for the standard cards will be enough, and 3 megapixel camera, no more.
A belief that the 6 megapixel shots look better than 3 or 4 MP, is ungrounded.
Another plus cameras with a small number of points – their availability.
The fact that the matrix is very small, and the number of points on it directly influences the cost of its production, and hence the cost of the camera.
There is even a certain price and the number of points: $ 100 per 1 MT, and choosing between cheap and expensive 6 MP 4 MP cameras, it is better to dwell on the latter: its matrix in any case will be better.
Lens – the most important part of the chamber.
It was he who passes into the apparatus of light, passing information on the subject.
The quality and size of the lens depends very much, first of all – picture clarity and quality of color output.
When selecting the camera should not forget the simplest rules: the wider and longer lens of the camera, the more likely to do with it more lower quality pictures.
Even an amateur camera can be a good lens
Optical and digital zoom – both concepts imply an increase in the size of the object in the image of his approach.
Optical zoom – this approximation of the object through the movement of lenses inside the lens.
With it, your subject may be considered minor details: the higher its value, the greater the remote object.
Digital zoom works quite differently: an increase in images is achieved through analysis of already existing images.
Additional terms like “inserted” between existing, without adding any details.
An example here may serve some remote building: optics will consider its building blocks, and “figure” – just increase the house, leaving it smooth.
The flash can be built as well as external.
Embedded equipped with virtually all digital cameras, but in fairness say that the quality of images it can affect only the negative.
The fact that bright beam of light severely distorts the color of an object, say, a human face in the photo may be slightly blue.
There is one drawback to using the built-in flash: its light is directed straight at your subject.
Because of this effect appears red-eye “: the light reflected from the retina, is quick to return to the camera, and eyes redden.
External Flash avoids all the problems of internal: her light be sent in either direction such as the special filming umbrellas (We all saw those umbrellas in photo studio).
To connect an external flash for some devices have special sinhrorazem.
However, much more common in another version of the connector, so-called “hot shoe”: a special socket, where you can insert an external flash.
During the shooting, we need the following modes:
Scenario mode – the application of certain, pre manufacturer settings to improve picture quality in certain situations (for example, at night or when shooting at close range).
But do not get involved in the scenarios, it is better to manually set some settings in other modes.
Program mode – used for manual control of some parameters of some simple shooting, but remain inaccessible to shutter speed and aperture, which are defined automatically.
This shooting mode, you can use to move from simply “clicking” to creativity.
Wheel to switch programs facilitates the selection of the desired shooting mode
Shutter-priority and aperture priority – both modes provide greater freedom than the software.
In each of them can already be directly managed photography, and not to adjust the view automation.
Shutter priority, for example, can be used when shooting motion, holding it (excerpt) at the minimum of (the objects not blurry).
Fully manual mode allows you to create the most creative shots, leaving all the management on the conscience of the photographer.
Setting frame
To obtain high quality images at home, you will learn some useful techniques.
Of course, those in digital camera and good that before pressing the shutter button may be long to think: if something did not work, just erase the frame.
But it is better to spend extra time on the organization of the beautiful pictures than to shoot at ten times the same frame.
So, that will help us make better photos?
Lighting – the most important and useful factor directly affects the quality of images.
Undoubtedly, the best light – day, and, ideally, the sun should not shine directly on top: it is necessary to shoot in the morning or evening, waiting for a small cloud that can dissipate the direct rays.
In diffuse daylight and landscapes are obtained juicier and the skin on portraits looks softer.
Artificial lighting can change the frame out of all recognition, for better or for worse – it’s the photographer need only remember not to mix different sources (incandescent and fluorescent) in one scene – Automatic camera gets confused and the picture will not work.
Light during the shooting should be dispelled.
Sustainable camera position – hard to imagine worse shortage than the so-called “thirds · Simplicity.”
To avoid blurring the frame, you must either put the camera on some surface or use a tripod.
So it is not cheap, not every newcomer dare to buy it just for fun.
But we can dispense with improvised means: the house will serve as a reliable support for a bedside table or desk, on the street – the rail bridge, a fallen tree or the back benches.
Camera shake the hands can ruin any shot.
Location objects – standard shots, where the main object (say, people) is in the center, followed by a frame is divided in half horizon, has long been fed up with their uniformity.
Whatever was located behind the figures in the picture, it is not anyone interested.