Digital Photography I

Content of the lesson:

Prologue

Anyone can decide to start taking photos and every potential photographer will try to take the best photos he can. The person who pushes the trigger does the most difficult job when a photo is created. He is the one who decides which objects should be inserted into scene, how to set the camera to get an optimal sharpness or not to get a dark or bright photo. Another important factor is the device which makes photos.

Types of Cameras

Before going to shop and buying a new camera you should think about it, write down a list of activities you want to do with your camera and summarize expected results. Try to think as an owner, summarize your experiences and decide whether you want to learn new things. Would you like to have a smaller camera which can be put into pocket or would you not mind taking a large camera with accessories? Do you want to take quick photos of immediate scenes or do you want to manually set all parameters to be able to take creative photos? Do you want to take photos as a hobby or do you want become a professional? In case you have higher claims and want to become better and better, work with lights and more, you should thing about the properties of cameras.

Choosing New Camera as User

Compact Camera

Small, light, simple. This is the characteristic of these cameras. They are ideal for unassuming users who want to take photos while having a birthday or family party, making a trip, holiday etc. These users expect only one thing - to catch the moment, the situation, to get sharp and clear photos and to avoid complex parameters. Compact cameras are fully automatical (you can usually set sensitivity and white balance) or partly manual (you can set exposure time and aperture) because several users like to have control of their photos. Compact cameras are easy to move and store, the controls are simple, you can use predefined modes (countryside, portrait, night scene, macro, ...). Compact cameras have small sensor and because of this also high depth of sharpness. This will cause the result photos to be sharp even when the focusing was not perfect. Compact cameras allow you to adjust photos before saving them - increasing saturation, sharpening, increasing contrast and more (these adjustments might not be desirable). Then we should mention display and viewfinder. Viewfinders are often replaced with displays because you do not see exactly the same scene in the viewfinder as the sensor does. The viewfinder is only a visor but the display shows the real scene which is captured by the sensor - this image goes through the lens. Zoom is usually not very extended (3x-5x) and is controlled electrically by buttons. You should not change terms optical and digital zoom.

• Compact digital automat - The simplest type of camera. Everything is fully automatic and user does not have to take care of anything. He can set the white balance to get the photo as similar to the scene as possible and also scene modes might be available.
• Compact digital from middle-class - This camera has more functions than the previous one. User can set the aperture, exposure time or sensitivity himself.
• Compact digital from higher middle-class - This group of cameras offers additional options when taking photos. Users can calibrate white balance, add external flash, use RAW formats and more. These cameras are designed for people who want to spend more time while taking photos but they cannot afford a reflex camera.
• Ultracompact digital camera - An unusual group - these devices can be simple automats but can also have many functions. This group differs from the others because of the structure of cameras. The greatest emphasis is placed on the appearance and dimensions. These cameras are usually very small and made of metal.

Electronic Reflex Camera (EVF Reflex Camera)

There is a compromise between a compact camera and a reflex camera and it is called electronic reflex camera. This device is designed for people who do not want to use automatic settings or simple manual settings. It is designed for someone who likes taking photos and who wants to experiment. EVF reflex cameras are similar to classical reflex cameras because their lens can zoom up to 10-12x (usually called as ultrazoom). However, lens cannot be changed because it is a part of the body.

Reflex Camera

If you require a more complex device, you have to focus on digital reflex cameras. The name is used because of the inner structure of these cameras. There is a mirror inside which reflects the scene from lens to viewfinder and after you press the trigger this mirror is lifted to let the light get to sensor. This device is like a puzzle which allows you to adapt to the environment. You can change lens, add several filters, external flash and more. You can imagine that the weight of a reflex camera is quite high and it also takes more space in your bag. You should buy a photo bag to be able to store all accessories inside it. When you change lens you can make it dirty or leave your fingerprints on the surface. To clean it you should use special cloth which does not scratch the surface. You should also prevent your equipment from being polluted - turn the camera to the right position when changing lens or other equipment. In case that dust particles get inside the camera you should use a special blower to clean it, otherwise you might see errors in your photos.

The area of sensor is larger so the noise is smaller even when using higher sensitivity. It is sure that the quality of photos taken by a reflex camera will be much higher if you can use the potential of these cameras. Reflex cameras are more difficult to be controlled and you have to practice a lot before taking really good photos. These cameras allow you to set everything manually which can be used for example when taking photos of a quickly moving object because you can freeze the movement or you can leave the photo blurred to illustrate the speed. Using a reflex camera you can take photos of farther objects, you can set the depth of sharpness to highlight an object and more. You are able to take night photos because you can manually set longer time. When using a reflex camera, you should be able to use computer programs to edit photos because these devices usually do not make large adjustments - editing photos is called postprocessing. Reflex cameras cannot be compared to compact cameras at all, the differences are enormous.

• Amateur digital reflex camera - In case you decided that photographing is important for you and you have enough money you can buy your first reflex camera. Prices are usually between 15-20 000 Kč. Do not forget that you will get the body of your camera and will have to buy lens and more accessories to start taking photos.
• Semi-professional digital reflex camera - More functions, more possibilities, better performance, higher prices (from 30 000 Kč). You will get only the body at this price as in the previous point.
• Professional digital reflex camera - Better resistance (body usually made from magnesium alloy). Excellent speed, precise sharpening, quick reactions. Prices are above 50 000 Kč.

Which Camera Do I Need?

• Taking common, easy and quick photos from birthday parties, trips, holidays etc. => compact
• Taking photos from visited places while travelling without the need to have larger bags  => compact
• Taking photos of goods inside a warehouse for a website => compact
• Taking photos as a hobby, desire for quality and creative photos, limited financial resources => EVF reflex camera
• Taking photos as a hobby, expecting creative photos, studying professional literature, financial resources => reflex camera

Additional Questions

• Which scenes am I going to photograph the most?
• What conditions will be most common when taking my photos?

How Much Money Do I Want to Invest?

• Less than 5 000,- - in case you decide not to spend much money you can buy a cheaper one. However, you should realize that this will probably be a basic model and you cannot expect miracles from it. Usually you have to buy batteries, battery charger and a memory card for such a model so the final price can be higher. You really should use rechargeable batteries instead of the normal ones. Normal batteries usually do not last for long time. You should also be aware of unbranded devices because these cameras are cheaper but usually cause more problems and complications than benefits.
• Maximally 8 000,- - There are lots of compact cameras available at this price, you can also find several electronic reflex cameras. In case you decide to buy a classical compact you make better decision than buying a cheap electronic reflex camera. Any compact at this price will surely offer better quality than an electronic reflex camera at this price.
• Maximally 10 000,- - You can buy very good compact at this price but also a fine electronic reflex camera.
• Maximally 15 000,- - You can forget automatic devices from this point because at this price you can buy electronic or digital reflex cameras. However, digital reflex cameras are usually available only with basic equipment at this price - this means the body without lens and accessories.
• More than 15 000,- - Amateur photographers will not buy a camera at this price. Investment above 15 000,- allows you to think about very quality compacts or electronic reflex cameras, but you can also buy a fine digital reflex camera. Professional digital reflex cameras are much more expensive.

Choosing New Camera According to Parameters

• Resolution - This parameter is usually given in MPix (megapixels) and represents the number of points in image in millions. It is logical that the more points are available the better quality can be expected from the photo, you can also crop photos with higher resolution. To browse or print photos of size 10x15 you do not need more than 2-3 MPix. When you want to buy a camera with higher resolution you should check the sensor and optics because they can affect the final photo more than the number of pixels.
• Lens & optics - Optics is very important for every camera. It will greatly affect the quality of photos. The most important parameter is the value of minimal aperture. This value sets the amount of light which will pass through the lens. The lower value the better for us because this lens will get better results in dark environments - you will need shorter time for exposition. Human eye has the value 1. In case that your lens has value 2,8 - 4,6 you can expect that the minimal aperture value when the zoom is minimal will be 2,8. On the other side, maximum zoom will let you use the value 4,6. Such a lens has variable value of minimal aperture. In case that only the value 2,8 is written, this lens has constant value of minimal aperture even when zooming.
• Zoom - The ability to zoom farther objects from the scene is given by the focal distance of each lens. The most used combination is the triple zoom with range 35–105 mm. The lower is the first number the bigger part of scene will fit into your image. Lens with small lower numbers are called wideangle lens. You can for example take photo of the table in front of you and you will see it all. On the other hand, when using a higher number, the table will not fit; you will be able to photograph your lamp for example. Wideangle lens are useful for countryside photos but are not ideal for portraits. In this case you have to set maximum zoom and step back to avoid deformation of the face. The higher is the second number, the bigger zoom you can use. In case that you want to buy a quality lens with large range you will have to pay much.
  
  zoom in action (source: wikipedia.org)
  
  
• Material - You should also compare cameras according to their structure. Cameras can be made of plastics or metal. The second variant is much more resistant. You can surely imagine a fall. Metal case does not make your camera immortal but can endure longer. Quality reflex cameras are made from magnesium alloys
• Recording medium - A camera can have internal memory where you can store your photos. This memory is usually small and let you store only a few images in full quality. This is the reason why memory cards are added to cameras. You can use different capacities, dimensions, transfer speeds etc. A memory card does not affect the quality of photos. You should rather use known brands or original memory cards which are recommended by the manufacturer of your camera. More information: www.megapixel.cz - how to choose memory cards
• Modes of photographing - The common modes are full-automatic, semi-automatic, aperture priority, shutter speed priority and manual mode. This means that you can set the value for aperture and the camera will compute the value of shutter speed automatically and vice versa. However, you cannot always use the automatic values - automatic modes will set everything ideally but you might want to create a creative photo to get an unusual result. You can also use the manual mode - for example inside an atelier.
• Programmed modes - This modes can be used to set everything quickly and simply according to the current scene. You can use modes like countryside, portrait, night scene, sport, macro, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks etc. The camera only sets aperture, shutter speed and sensitivity according to factory values. You can change color modes or sharpening. These modes are available on compacts and you cannot expect wonders from them.
• Image stabilizer - This is an equipment which can simplify the process of taking photos for you even when you want to use longer times and do not place the camera on a tripod - you hold it in hands. The image stabilizers can suppress vibrations caused by shaking hands. You can also need a stabilizer when using a large zoom.
• Macro - A camera which can take macro photos has to be able to focus on close objects which is not common. The distance from the object is usually a few centimeters. You can photograph details of flowers, small animals or any other small objects.
• Batteries - there are two types of batteries in general. It is usually not possible to say which type is better:
  • Rechargable accumulators or AA batteries - Better for travelling without the access to electricity. You can buy them everywhere, they are cheaper and you can take many of them. They are sold separately as well as the charger; they are not part of a camera.
  • Special Li-ion accumulators - Low weight, higher capacity, relatively short time to recharge. They are sold together with cameras as an accessory. They are more expensive and you can buy them only in specialized shops.
• Viewfinder & display - There is a huge difference between the viewfinder of compact and viewfinder of reflex camera. The same can be said about the display. The viewfinder is usually replaced with display at compacts - because you actually do not see the exact scene through viewfinder when using a compact. The image which is shown in display is real and will be captured by the sensor. Reflex cameras are different because you can see exactly what you want to capture. This is because of a set of prisms inside the body so the light travels directly from the lens. Display shows the result because the sensor of reflex cameras does not see the image before you press the trigger. There are several exceptions which can show the real image in the viewfinder as well as on display.

Choosing Camera On-line

• Fotoradce.cz - basic
• Fotoradce.cz - advanced

Several Things You Should Be Aware of

• Read review in the Internet and in magazines - try to find test photos.
• Do not buy anything in a hurry or under pressure, think thoroughly and go to the shop when you are sure what to buy.
• Do not let anybody obtrude you anything. Especially functions you will not use at all.
• Do not buy camera via an e-shop. You will avoid problems with reclamation or services.
• You should examine and test the camera before buying it!

Canon or Nikon?

Do not try to get advices from obdurate fans of one of these brands. Choose your camera according to parameters and your needs.

Often Problems

You can find out everything about a camera, all descriptions and reviews but it might happen that you will not be satisfied after buying it. You can find a detail which is consistent with parameters but will not be suitable for you at all.

Examples:

• Optical vs. digital zoom - Pay attention when reading about zoom because there are two types of zoom. Optical zoom is very important for you because it only moves lens to zoom image. Digital zoom means zooming the scene digitally - computing the final image. It is the same procedure as zooming a photo on your computer. Because every photo is a bitmap image, it will lose its quality when digitally zoomed. You should not use digital zoom at all.
• Shutter lag - This is an interesting thing which can seem to be banal. Imagine that you are a fan of rally and want to take several photos. A car is going around you and you press the trigger. However, it will take a few moments before the photo is taken. The camera needs to focus before taking any photo. You would not mind to wait in other situations but in this one it is a problem. The duration of focusing can differ. Several cameras allow you to focus manually so you can prevent this problem.
• Minimal aperture value - This is a very important parameter. It informs you about the amount of light which will pass through the lens. In case the value is worse you will need longer time to create the photo. This can result in situation when you are not able to take photos because of fast movements in the scene or you will get blurred photos.
• Display - Displays need different amount of energy which can rapidly change the standby time of the whole camera. You can also turn the display off to save energy when needed.
• Lens ejecting - In case that you want a small camera which can be hidden inside your pocket you should find out whether a long lens is not ejected after turning it on. You might be surprised.
• Time until flash is recharged - This can affect your work in bad light conditions. Find out information about the time which is needed for full recharging of the flash - you will have to wait before taking another photo.
• Time used for saving photos - Find out information about the time which is needed to save a photo to memory card. This time can be longer at several cameras so you can have a problem in case you need to take photos quickly.
• Launch of camera - Find out information about the time which is needed to launch your camera - how long do you have to wait until it is ready to use. You might need to quickly turn your camera on to catch a moment.

Accessories

Most of information in this part is usable for people who are interested into buying a reflex camera. When you decide to buy such a device you should know that accessories are quite expensive.

Lens

Which is the best lens for you? It is not possible to answer this question right now. Every user has his own requirements. A wedding photographer needs another lens than a sport photographer. A list of available lens is shown with descriptions. You should also know that there are lens with solid focal distance (their quality can be better as well as the minimal aperture value) and with variable focal distance (zooming lens - they are multifunctional because you do not have to change lens with solid focal distances).

• Fish eyes (apx 8-15 mm) – extremely wideangle lens which deliberately deform the perspective
• Ultra wideangle (apx 14-24 mm) – interiors, architecture, countryside
• Wideangle (apx 24-35 mm) – interiors, countryside, reports
• Middle distances - basic zooms (30-100 mm) – natural views, portraits
• Normal lens (50 mm) – like the human eye
• Telephoto lens (100-300 mm) – portraits, reports, countryside
• Strong telephoto lens (>300 mm) – nature, sports

source: www.megapixel.cz

Chargers and Batteries

• www.megapixel.cz

Flashes

• www.megapixel.cz

Filters

• www.megapixel.cz
• www.fotoradce.cz

Cleaning Equipment

• www.megapixel.cz

Photo Bags

• www.fotoradce.cz

Literature

In case you want to become a professional and decide to invest money to equipment, you should also buy a quality literature which can help you to improve your skills.

• www.megapixel.cz - how to choose literature
• Computer Press - digital photography

Individual Task

Imagine you decided to buy a new camera or you already have one but you want to improve your skills. Use the facts from this lesson and write down the requirements you would need. Then search for an ideal camera for you in the Internet and justify your selection.

Additional Texts

Questions

1. Which types of cameras do you know?
2. How would you choose your new camera?
3. Which things are problematic when buying a new camera?
4. Why would you need any accessory and which accessories do you know?
5. Describe formats for saving photos.