Introduction
The use of digital cameras has become a part of people’s everyday lives. It is now an instrument by which people express themselves and communicate with each other, especially with the photos taken being easily made available on the Internet (Dong-Hoo 266).
Although quality is not a major concern for the pictures that people take on their digital cameras and post on the Web, learning to handle the digital camera will help one take advantage of its features and create stunning photographs.
In this regard, this paper provides a discussion on the important parts of a digital camera, particularly a digital SLR (Single-lens reflex) camera, and how they can be used to take better photographs.
The first part is the lens. There are two types of lenses (Fox). One is the prime lens, which has a single focal length and has a 50-millimeter lens. Another is the zoom lens, which is a 17 to 55-millimeter lens. While the zoom lens covers what the prime lens can cover, some people prefer using a prime lens as it is easier to use, makes fewer compromises, and tends to be sharper and faster.
On the other hand, a zoom lens is more versatile, although lens speed is compromised by the range of the lens. In this case, a telephoto or a long lens and bright sunlight are needed for taking shots of moving objects, such as sports events or flying birds. However, some lenses and cameras already come with built-in optical stabilization, which reduces the disadvantages of a slow lens. It can also keep unsteady hands from making the photographs blurry.
Aside from determining the type of lens needed for taking certain photographs, three adjustments must be made on the camera in order to improve the quality of the photographs taken. In particular, these adjustments must be made on the shutter speed, the aperture, and the ISO, all of which are responsible for controlling the light or the effect of the light that reaches the digital camera’s sensor.
The shutter speed pertains to the length of time that the digital camera’s sensor is exposed to light. For example, a shutter speed of 100 means that the shutter is open for a hundredth of a second while a shutter speed of 50 means that the shutter is open for a fiftieth of a second. In this regard, a lower shutter speed means slower. In turn, a slower shutter speed means that the shutter is open longer and that more light is able to reach the sensor. As such, slower shutter speeds produce brighter shots. However, the disadvantage is that a slower shutter speed tends to produce blurry photographs while a faster shutter speed tends to produce dark photographs. In this regard, the right shutter speed is usually 1/ (focal length of the lens). For example, a 300-millimeter lens should have a shutter speed of 1/300th of a second while a 50-millimeter lens should have a shutter speed of 1/50th of a second.
On the other hand, the aperture is responsible for controlling the volume of light that reaches the digital camera’s sensor. In particular, it reduces the area where light flows. This volume of light is controlled through f-stops where a higher f-stop means that less light reaches the sensor. Conversely, a camera with a lower lowest f-stop means that it is faster. In addition, it should be kept in mind that a higher f-stop is better when focusing on a larger area of the shot while a lower f-stop is better for obtaining a shallower depth of field.
Finally, the ISO is an electronic parameter that when increased brightens the photograph and amplifies the noise from the camera’s sensor. However, the noise can fade into the background when it is not necessary to amplify. In addition, a higher ISO provides a narrower aperture and a faster shutter speed.
Conclusion
With the digital camera being an essential part of many people’s daily activities, whether professionally or for leisure, it is important for one to know the parts of the digital camera and how to maximize their use in order to get better photographs. The lens and the amount of light that reaches the sensor are largely responsible for the quality of the photos that are taken. In this regard, determining the right lens to use and the right amount of light needed greatly contribute to the quality of the photographs that are produced.
Works Cited
Dong-Hoo, Lee. "Digital Cameras, Personal Photography And The Reconfiguration Of Spatial
Experiences." Information Society 26.4 (2010): 266-275. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 31 Aug. 2013.
Fox, Geoff. "Don't Shoot In Auto! How To Take Better Pictures." PC Magazine 28.6 (2009): 1.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Aug. 2013.
