Digital Cameras

An Introduction to Digital Cameras and the Basic Parts of a Canon A85

One of the 1st Digital Cameras• This was a digital back created for a popular

Nikon Film camera. In 1994, the camera cost about $12,000! It was a 1.5mp (1524x1012 pixels)

Kodak DCS 620• One of the first 2mp cameras. $10,495

Kodak DCS 760• One of the first 6mp cameras. July 2000…$25,000. By July 2001, street

price dropped to $8,000 to compete with Nikon’s own camera, a D1, and a Canon model, the D30.

Canon A85Many Canon models are very similar to you class camera. Other manufactures will also be similar.

Not all Camera CCDs are created Equal…

A85APC Sensor

Exposure Mode Controls

•Auto (point & shoot)

•Program

•Shutter priority

•Aperture priority

•Manual setting

Auto Mode: When you want to take snapshots without worrying about the mechanics of photography, put the camera on Auto. This mode sets all exposure levels automatically, and it usually locks you out of making any minor adjustments manually. This is for general picture taking.

SCN: Exposure and White Balance is selected to match the picture you are taking.

Flash ModesYou will not have control over the flash in all modes on your camera.

In Auto, the camera usually will only allow AUTO FLASH (the camera decides when to flash) or FLASH OFF (no flash at all).

One of the best flash modes is FLASH ON…which will allow your camera to flash even if it doesn’t think it needs it. If you subject is close, it will fill in shadows, etc.

Resolution Setting• Resolution and

Compression determine the total image quality.

• Some cameras may not allow you to change the compression.

• Always shoot at the highest resolution…you can always make it smaller.

Resolution and Compression

Memory Cards: Each camera comes with a memory card or built-in memory. You can buy larger memory cards to hold more pictures.

Memory Cards

We use Compact

Flash…and a card reader to transfer images.

Video

LCD screen displays

Record menu Play menu Setup menu

Record Menu Items

ISO Selection

Ability to vary “film speed” for lighting conditions

ISO 50

ISO 400

Canon G1is first digital to offer

ISO 50

Understanding ISO

• Just because your camera CAN shoot at HIGH ISO, doesn’t mean you should.

• Generally, try to stay one stop lower than the maximum ISO. Example: If your camera’s max ISO is 800…don’t go above 400.

• Don’t use Auto ISO.

Nikon D200 ISO 1600 Nikon D300 ISO 1600

EXTREME High ISO

Nikon D3 was first to offer the insanely

high

ISO 25,000

Battery Types

Battery Life

Battery Life

Battery Chargers

Battery Charging

Picture elements (Pixels)

Long history of use in image creation

– Mosaics in ancient architecture

– Pointillism art

– Textiles

– Printing half tone pictures– Electronic picture elements (pixels)

6th Century Italian Mosaics

19th C. French Neo-impressionist painting

The Pointillist Artist

•Image consists of small dots of paint

•Dots (pixels) made with point of brush as small as 1/16 inch

•Dots are unequal in size

Other Pointillist works

Georges Surrat

Jean Volet

M. Rysselberghe

Textile example – hand made stitchery

Image Printing Screen

• Photo screen can be course or fine

• Need black ink for single color

• Dots not equal size

• Eye reads dots as continuous tone image

Computer Picture Elements (Pixels)

36 blank pixels 36 colored pixels 2 pixel horiz line

2 pixel vert line 2 pixel diagonal

You’ve got the…

JAGGIES!

Low Resolution Computer Graphics

Desktop icons are 32x32 Pixels, and are 1024 bytes

Image resolution/quality

Small resolution 640x480

•Fine compression

•Increases memory capacity

Medium resolution 1078x760

•Fine compression

•Good quality for prints or Net

Large resolution 2048x1576

•Fine compression

•Best quality for prints

Image Resolution and File Size

Exposure Bracketing

•Allows taking 3 shots at different exposures

•Bracket can be set in 1/3 stop increments

•Exposure range can be set to –2 to +2 stops

- .7 stop Normal exposure +.7 stop

White Balance

•WB corrects for different lighting conditions

•Controls on LCD from rear panel button

White Balance

Nearly Impossible ISO

Zooming the image in LCD

Feature allows close examination of image at 2 levels of zoom to check image details…like image focus.

Macro Mode•This mode allows close-ups to 2.4 inches with normal lens at wide zoom

•Canon offers a macro lens attachment for closer macro images

Normal mode Macro mode