Digital Cameras Menu settings & Controls Instructor: David King

Digital Cameras

Menu settings & ControlsInstructor: David King

Digital Cameras: Menus and Controls

• Digital Camera Types– Just as there are multiple type of Film

Cameras there are various types of digital cameras and digital capture devices.• Point and Shoot Cameras• SLR-’Types’• DSLRs and Ragefinders• Digital Imaging ‘Backs’• Digital Scanning ‘Backs’

Instructor: David King [email protected]


• “Point and Shoot” Cameras– Usually are ‘auto-

everything’ but mayallow focusing.

– Small and Light, easy to carry

– Generally are “range-finder” types

– or may view strictly on the display monitor.

– Often have ZoomLenses

– Have smaller sizedimaging chips



• “SLR-Type” Cameras– Frequently have all the

controls of an SLRexcept for inter-changeable lenses.

– Sometimes calledEVF or ZLR cameras.

– Imaging chips are larger than P&S butsmaller than DSLR.

– Are capable of verygood images.



• “DSLR” Cameras– Digital Single Lens

Reflex.– Use interchangeable

lenses– Can be used in auto

mode, programs, orfully manual.

– Imaging chips are35mm sized or APSsized

– Capable of proquality images.

– 6-17 megapixelscurrently



• “Digital Rangefinder” Cameras– Rangefinder Viewing– Use interchangeable

lenses– Can be used in auto

mode, programs, orfully manual.

– Imaging chips arecurrently APSsized

– Capable of proquality images.

– 8-10 megapixelscurrently



• Digital Imaging Backs– Used with medium &

Large Format cameras– Attach to back of

camera and replacethe film back.

– Chips are larger than35mm (36mm x 36mmup to 48mm x 48mm)

– 16 to 39 Megapixels



• Digital Scanning Backs

– Used with large format view cameras– They replace the ground glass back or are

slipped in like a film holder– They are basically three-color scanners– They create huge files and are the equivalent of

am 80 to 150 megapixel chip– They cannot be used for anything that is in

motion



• Specialty Digital Cameras– For example…– The Seitz Digital

Panoramic Camera

– Has 160 Megapixels



• Digital Camera Menus Introduction– In addition to the exposure and focus

controls found on film cameras, digital cameras offer menu settings that allow you to customize the way they acquire and handle an image file.

– The actual layout of the menus and the labeling and sequencing of the functions vary from camera to camera. But there are a few that are very important to set correctly to maximize image quality.



• Digital Camera Menus Introduction– Some menu items are unique to a camera

or model. But there are major menu items that are common to all DSLRs and some SLR-Type or upper end Point and Shoot models.

– Generally there are three menus (or three main sections of one menu)• Set-Up• Shooting (or ‘Capture’)• Play Back (or ‘Display’)



• Set Up Menus – The important items to note are…

• Date• Format (to Format the Memory Card)

– Using camera or computer

• Folders• Sensor Cleaning



• Shooting Menus – The number and type of selections and

labeling of the shooting menu will vary a little from one brand and model to the next.

– We will look at the important ones for getting started capturing good quality image files.

– You will need to follow along with your manual to “translate” to fit your particular camera.



• Shooting Menus: Settings – ISO

• Exactly like the ISO for film, this adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor to light

• It uses the same scale as film. Higher numbers mean more sensitivity (which requires less light for exposure.

• Generally set your camera to the lowest number and adjust when light availability requires it.



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Resolution/Quality/Size

• Most DSLRs allow you to save in at least two file formats and several resolutions.

– JPEG » Basic (Most compression, smallest file)» Normal (Medium compression)» Fine (Least compression, larger file)

– TIFF (Uncompressed, largest file)– RAW (Mostly unprocessed file)



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Resolution/Quality/Size

• Most DSLRs allow you to save in at least two file formats and several resolutions.

– Full Size (Full pixel dimension)– 1 or 2 smaller sizes

• Some offer more than one Resolution or Compression ratio

– High or Low Quality (Resolution)– Icons are sometimes

used



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Contrast– Contrast setting controls how the chip will

record the range of tones in the scene.



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Contrast– Contrast setting controls how the chip will

record the range of tones in the scene.– You will need to experiment with your own

camera to find the best setting. However…

– Start out with a setting of -1 to create a file with the most data to edit



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Saturation– Saturation setting controls how the chip

will record the colors in the scene.



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Saturation– You will need to experiment with your own

camera to find the best setting. However…

– Start out with a setting of 0 (Zero) and then you can adjust to taste.



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Sharpening– Sharpening controls how the chip will

record the edges and lines in the scene.



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Sharpening– For most cameras start out with a setting

of 0 (Zero) or No Sharpening– For Canon cameras start out with a setting

of +1



• Shooting Menus: Settings – White Balance– White Balancing sets the “Color Temp-

erature” for the sensor.– We’ll have a class on color… but for now

the bottom line is…



• Shooting Menus: Settings – White Balance

– To be ‘color balanced’ means the color temperature of the light source and of the medium (film or chip) are the same.

– Digital Cameras have several pre-defined white balanced settings:

• Auto• Daylight• Tungsten• Shade• Flash• Flourescent



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Metering– Most DSLRs allow for various metering

types including• Overall / Averaging• Matrix• Center Weighted• Spot

– Remember: The meter thinks it is looking at Middle Gray!!!!



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Other Menu Settings– Other Menu Settings May include…

• Flash Setting• Noise Reduction• AE/AF Lock• Self Timer• Bracketing• Exposure Compensation• Custom Parameters / User Settings



• Shooting Menus: Settings – Other Menu Settings– Non DSLRs might also have…

• Zoom Speed• Focus Assist



QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?


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Digital Cameras Menu settings & Controls Instructor: David King