I have got a new digital SLR. I'm looking for something like "digital photography for dummy" but not too dummy (I've taken lots of pictures with consumer digital camera for a few years). I'm especially interested in learning taking better pictures with kids and babies.
Assuming that you got a good digital SLR that, like regular film SLRs, provide you with the same functionality that other serious hobbyists have, e.g. aperture/shutter speed settings, replaceable lenses etc. I would recommend that you consider a blend of books and materials that focus on both generic photography techniques as well as the "digital-ness" of your camera.
First of all, as the owner of a digital SLR, you need to be totally familiar with your camera’s operating manual. Search on Amazon.com on the exact model of your camera to locate the "advanced" guide for your camera. For example, I’ve attached the advanced guides for the Nikon D70 digital SLR. (If you have a different digital SLR, just search for that one.)
That is important because digital cameras all have as part of their complexity the computer programs that run it. Compared to traditional film SLRs, these cameras have more "manufacturer/camera-specific" details that are essential to know.
Beyond that book, I’ve also attached two digital photography guides. They won’t be able to tell you too much more than what the "advanced guides" tell you plus what you can learn from other generic photography books, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Finally, I’ve attached a few photography books that focus on composition and basic technique. No matter what your equipment is, photography is an art. It’s not the brush that makes a painting masterpiece, it’s the creative genuis of the artist. Learning the nuts and bolts of your camera is only learning the absolute basics of the skill. You’re not going to have fun and enjoy photography until you focus on something other than the camera itself. Hence, don’t just get books on how to use your camera. Get books on how to create great photographs. I’ve attached a few books on that too.
Have fun!
Hello,
So I've read the book "Digital SLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies," and understand in full what Aperture, ISO, and Shutter Speed are. What I don't understand is how to utilize them. When I get a DSLR in a few months, I would like to be able to know how to set these things so I get what I want from my photography. How do you know what shutter speed to set, and what aperture to set? How do I know how high or high low to keep the ISO? I think I understand ISO the best, followed by shutter speed, but I have no idea what I'm supposed to do to set the ISO. I'm going to be doing all types of photography out there, so I really need to know how to set these things in a lot of different situations and such.
Thanks for your help!
The Aperture basically controls how much of your lens is open and how much light is allowed in when you take a picture. Your shutter speed controls how long your shutter is open for when you take a picture.
Both affect how much light hits the camera's sensor. The smaller the aperture number, the more light hits the sensor, but you get less depth of field with lower numbers. Less will be in focus. This may be good or bad depending on your goals. For example,it may be beneficial to make your background less focused and less distracting.
The slower the shutter speed, the more light will hit the sensor but this increased opening time means motion will appear blurry. The motion includes both camera movement and subject movement. I can usually shoot at about 1/60th of a second without notable camera movement. Shooting something like sports will require a faster shutter speed. Using a tripod will allow you to shoot non-moving subjects at much lower speeds.
It sounds like you understand ISO which is how sensitive the sensor it too light. Using a higher ISO allows you to use either a faster shutter speed or get more depth of field with your aperture, but may mean a more grainy image
Having a properly exposed image (the right amount of light hitting the sensor) is a trade-off between these controls. I find a good way to start is to use your shutter priority control, setting your shutter speed for a rate that will freeze any motion (maybe 1/250 if you are outside with lots of light and maybe 1/60 if there is less light) and setting your ISO at 100. You can then see if you like the aperture that gives you. If you do not have enough light for a proper exposure, then bump up your ISO.
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Home security Cameras are very popular and are being used mostly as home security products. You can go find a lot of home security companies in the market that sell different types of Home security Cameras such as dummy cameras, wireless cameras, digital cameras, hard-wired cameras etc.
The price range for home security systems is also very diverse. You can invest in a black and white camera in case your budget is low. Even though black and white cameras may not pick up as much detail as a color camera. But they can useful as some black and white cameras can pick up better light at night time. You can also choose between a ip camera or hard-wired camera.
A very important factor when it comes to setting up a home security system is location. So, most people prefer wireless cameras due to their ease of setting up and also because they are also easy to move around if you need to watch over more than one area of your property. You may find a wired security camera useful, if there is one specific area of your property that needs constant monitoring. Night vision Home security Cameras can be used in darker environments, to provide excellent security of the surrounding area. Night vision Home security Cameras can also be used during the day but they will allow you to see intruders on your property at night with good clarity.
They are able to detect people through the use of an infrared LED which senses the heat emitted by humans by the thermal imaging device. Such night vision cameras with infrared illuminators are often used for commercial property that covers a larger area but they can be used both as indoor and outdoor units. They are usually enclosed in a metal shell and most have triggering alarms or lightings which start automatically on seeing any moving object. Some of these night vision Home security Cameras also have microphones to pick up sounds.
Home cctv cameras have been mostly designed to blend in with their surroundings and placed in obscure places making them difficult to see. So, in case you are thinking of getting a home security camera, then you should make sure that you do your research on different types of home Home security Cameras. You can do the research on the Internet by the various articles available and the websites of most of the home security system corporations.
You can also consult a home security expert which can be provided by most of the home security companies prior to your purchases.
Sean Lee is a marketing specialist for home surveillance system carries thousands of dvr system such as Avermedia, Geovision,Chance-i, Intotech and much more.
The world of digital cameras can be intimidating to those that have never dealt with one. With the frequent use of buzz words like "mega pixels" and "opical zoom" it can be confusing for the new user if they're looking to buy a new camera. So here is a quick walkthrough of the major elements of digital cameras to help you make the best judgment on which one is right for you.
The Difference Between SLRs and Automatic Cameras
An SLR looks and operates exactly like a non-digital camera, except instead of exposing film it exposes a light-sensitive sensor. If you choose an SLR, you will be able to manually adjust things like focus, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Generally speaking, digital SLRs will provide the highest quality images possible.
Automatic cameras or point and shoots often have a large LCD screen on the back and usually only require a single button press for taking a picture. Point and shoot cameras take lower quality pictures (although not by a lot) but provide a lot less customizable options. On the flip side, however, they are great because of their small portable size and ease of use. Additionally, if you're planning on emailing or uploading images and not printing them at large sizes, the quality difference is negligible.
Mega Pixel 101
One of the first things that the manufacturer will tout about its newest model of digital camera is the megapixel value. But what are megapixels anyway?
Mega pixels are the way manufacturers count the pixels in an image. A one mega pixel camera means that the camera will take pictures with 1 million pixels. You can think of them as an image's resolution.
So which megapixel value is right for you? It really depends upon what you want to do with you pictures. For most users, who wish only to shoot a few photographs and upload them to their website or email them to friends at smaller sizes, anything in the 2MP to 7MP range is absolutely fine. If you're going to be blowing your work up to larger sizes, you should work with cameras that shoot at higher resolutions (10MP and above). The larger you want your photo, the more important the mega pixel value.
Digital vs Optical Zoom Overview
Often digital cameras offer users both optical and digital zoom function. Optical zoom is the distance the camera is capable of zooming using its lens, and the digital zoom is how far the camera can "fake" it from there. What an optical zoom does is magnify the subject like what a zoom lens would do, while a digital zoom simply takes a part of the image and blows it up. If you've ever seen a crime show where they "zoom" in on a security camera video to find the pixilated and blurry face of a robber, that's what digital zoom does.
Generally speaking, a digital zoom is a useless feature so you're better off ignoring it when shopping for a digital camera. Images created using digital zoom have low quality and look pretty terrible, so if you're not close enough to catch it with optical zoom it's best to either get closer or shoot with what you have.
Buying a digital camera doesn't have to be a frustrating or scary experience. Just be honest about what you need and expect from your camera, as well as what your price range is, and go from there. As long as you pick a camera that suits your needs, you will be happy with the results. If you're really uncertain, start with a low-priced basic camera, then move up - there's always room to upgrade later, should it turn out that your camera isn't delivering on what you really want.
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I am an amateur at the Nikon cameras. I have taken pictures for a long time, but now have a good professional camera. I want to develop my film at home. How does one go about setting up a dark room, what supplies are needed, where can you buy them, and how much of a price tag am I looking at? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
What are you shooting with? Black and white? Color? Slide? Large format?
Anyway, you will need a light tight room, preferably free of dust. Most people find the bathroom to be the best.
After that, you need chemicals. Developer(depending on either black and white or color), fixer, and photo flow. These should be for film, not paper. Except for photo flow, the developer and fixer come in powder form, so do not breath it in. Also, do not poor down the drain. Collect the used developer in a bucket. The fixer can be reused, but once it starts to change a different color, after too many uses, or too long sitting, get rid of it. If you are printing the film as well, you'll need more chemicals for paper, and serveral trays.
If you are printing the film yourself, you will also need an enlarger. This will cost around $500, but the better they are, the more expensive they will be. I always use a condenser enlarger. The type of lens it comes with will determine how much it is as well. If you're buying the enlarger used, make sure it has a lens, bulb, and make sure it is not scratched or broken.
If you are printing the film, you'll also need a amber brown light. DO NOT just go to the store and buy a red light. This will not work. A very cheap brand at Ritz Camera costs about $50. A professional light will be around $1,000 or more.
For the film, you'll need a chemical canister and film clips.
For just developing the film, the price would be around $15. If you are printing the film as well, you'll be looking more around $1,000-$3,000.
One note: I mentioned color photography. This will require temperture gauges. Color film REQUIRES a constant temperture. For film, try to stay away from C-41 process, because they do not have the best results, and have more dangerous chemicals. All chemicals whether for black and white photography are dangerous, and can kill you. So do not swallow, or get in your eyes.
