16-07-2012, 02:32 PM
An Overview of digital camera technology, basic photographic techniques
[attachment=27740]
Oh the Technology!
DSLR, Megapixels, Image Stabilisation, Dust Reduction, Live View, Sensors, facial recognition.. What does it all mean?
(and why does it matter to me?)
Types of Digital Cameras
3 Main classifications
- Point and Shoot
- Prosumer*
- Digital SLR
Point and Shoot digital Cameras (P&S)
- Commonly referred to as “consumer” digital cameras.
- Represent probably 90% of all digital cameras on the market
- Typically small, compact and lightweight
- Targeted at broad majority
- Typically very User-Friendly
- Image Quality has improved drastically
Prosumer Digital Cameras
-Not technically its own specification
- Common term used to describe advanced models of P&S
(now also used to describe many entry level DSLR's)
- Similar in shape and appearance to Digital SLR's
- Typically have extended zoom range (8-12X Optical Equiv)
- Typically combine user friendly
P&S features with more advanced
manual features.
Digital SLR (DSLR)
SLR Stands for Single Lens Reflex
- Have larger sensors, resulting in greater image quality
- Tend to favor manual control, lacking many automatic settings found on P&S
- Much larger and heavier
- Ability to interchange system lenses
So What is the REAL difference between a digital SLR and a point and shoot camera?
The short answer is...Image Quality
But Why?
How can a 6 megapixel DSLR take a better picture than a 10 megapixel point and shoot?
Because Size Matters!
How the digital sensor works
- Each digital image is made from millions of tiny squares, known as pixels.
- Essentially, an image is recorded by tiny microlenses (pixels) which make up the cameras sensor
All Pixels are not created equal!
-A digital sensor is essentially made up of millions of tiny micro-lenses (pixels)
- Pixels are analog devices which record light and color data
- Larger Sensors contain larger pixels, which are much better and collecting this data
Digital Camera Features and Technologies
Megapixels – Determine the total size (Dimensions) of the image recorded by camera
- More MP does not always mean a better picture
- Digital Image dimensions do not equal print dimensions
- For example a full quality image from an 8 megapixel camera
will produce a digital image measuring approximately 9X14 inches but printing standards say that you should not print to “Photo Quality” any larger than 8X10
Movement Compensation
Refers to the cameras ability to correct small movements by the user while taking a picture, in order to reduce the blur caused by camera shake.
Very Useful in low-light or telephoto situations
Represented differently by different companies:
Nikon – VR – Vibration Reduction
Canon – IS – Image Stabilization
Pentax – SR – Shake Reduction
Sony – SSS – Super Steady-Shot
Dust Reduction
Dust is more of a problem in DSLR's due to changing lenses
Once dust gets on your sensor, it can be difficult to remove
Dust reduction is essentially a mechanism which shakes the cameras sensor to free any clinging dust particles
Special anti-static coatings or filters may also be used
Live View
Refers to the ability to use the lcd screen on the camera the same way you would use the viewfinder
Shots can be composed even while holding the camera away from your face
Originally only a feature in P&S, DSLR’s now use Live View also
Facial Recognition
Camera detects faces in your frame based on color, contrast change, etc.
Focus is automatically adjusted so detail in faces is high
Color and contrast are automatically adjusted to create pleasing skin tones
Getting a “Good” shot
While there are hundreds of factors which can make a photo “good”, it is still a relative term, and good to one person may not be good to someone else.
For our purposes we will refer to good in the sense of a correct exposure.
Exposure
A “correct” or “good” exposure occurs when you maintain as much detail as possible in both the very bright parts (highlights) as well as the very dark parts (shadows) of an image. How much of a range in which you can capture detail from light to dark is referred to as the Dynamic Range. As you are about to see, there can be many “correct” or “good” exposures
There are three factors which influence the exposure of your image:
-Shutter Speed
-Aperture
-ISO
Shutter Speed
Refers to how long the shutter is open, exposing the image sensor to light.
(how long the camera “sees” the picture)
Measured in Seconds, from 30 down to 1/8000
Fast Shutter Speeds (600 and up) are used to stop motion and will freeze the subject.
Slow Shutter Speeds (1/60 or slower) can be used to portray movement or speed
Very Slow Shutter Speeds (5 sec. or slower) can be used in very low light situations to obtain correct exposure, or achieve dramatic effects.
Beware!
As your shutter speed decreases, your chances of getting a blurry image increase because you must hold the camera steady for a longer period.
Aperture
An aperture is defined as a hole or opening through which light is admitted.
Inside the camera lens is a system of blades which open and close to increase or decrease the opening through which light passes into the camera
Often refferred to as an f-stop, aperture is usually represented by: f/1.8, or f/5.6
A Smaller # means a wider opening and is referred to as a larger value (eg. A large aperture of 2.0, a small aperture of 22)
The wider the lens is open(larger aperture value), the more light gets in (you can use faster shutter speeds)
Depth of Field
Aperture also controls depth of field (DOF), which refers to how much of your image is in focus.
A wide aperture (small #) will give a shallow DOF and can be used to isolate a subject.
[attachment=27740]
Oh the Technology!
DSLR, Megapixels, Image Stabilisation, Dust Reduction, Live View, Sensors, facial recognition.. What does it all mean?
(and why does it matter to me?)
Types of Digital Cameras
3 Main classifications
- Point and Shoot
- Prosumer*
- Digital SLR
Point and Shoot digital Cameras (P&S)
- Commonly referred to as “consumer” digital cameras.
- Represent probably 90% of all digital cameras on the market
- Typically small, compact and lightweight
- Targeted at broad majority
- Typically very User-Friendly
- Image Quality has improved drastically
Prosumer Digital Cameras
-Not technically its own specification
- Common term used to describe advanced models of P&S
(now also used to describe many entry level DSLR's)
- Similar in shape and appearance to Digital SLR's
- Typically have extended zoom range (8-12X Optical Equiv)
- Typically combine user friendly
P&S features with more advanced
manual features.
Digital SLR (DSLR)
SLR Stands for Single Lens Reflex
- Have larger sensors, resulting in greater image quality
- Tend to favor manual control, lacking many automatic settings found on P&S
- Much larger and heavier
- Ability to interchange system lenses
So What is the REAL difference between a digital SLR and a point and shoot camera?
The short answer is...Image Quality
But Why?
How can a 6 megapixel DSLR take a better picture than a 10 megapixel point and shoot?
Because Size Matters!
How the digital sensor works
- Each digital image is made from millions of tiny squares, known as pixels.
- Essentially, an image is recorded by tiny microlenses (pixels) which make up the cameras sensor
All Pixels are not created equal!
-A digital sensor is essentially made up of millions of tiny micro-lenses (pixels)
- Pixels are analog devices which record light and color data
- Larger Sensors contain larger pixels, which are much better and collecting this data
Digital Camera Features and Technologies
Megapixels – Determine the total size (Dimensions) of the image recorded by camera
- More MP does not always mean a better picture
- Digital Image dimensions do not equal print dimensions
- For example a full quality image from an 8 megapixel camera
will produce a digital image measuring approximately 9X14 inches but printing standards say that you should not print to “Photo Quality” any larger than 8X10
Movement Compensation
Refers to the cameras ability to correct small movements by the user while taking a picture, in order to reduce the blur caused by camera shake.
Very Useful in low-light or telephoto situations
Represented differently by different companies:
Nikon – VR – Vibration Reduction
Canon – IS – Image Stabilization
Pentax – SR – Shake Reduction
Sony – SSS – Super Steady-Shot
Dust Reduction
Dust is more of a problem in DSLR's due to changing lenses
Once dust gets on your sensor, it can be difficult to remove
Dust reduction is essentially a mechanism which shakes the cameras sensor to free any clinging dust particles
Special anti-static coatings or filters may also be used
Live View
Refers to the ability to use the lcd screen on the camera the same way you would use the viewfinder
Shots can be composed even while holding the camera away from your face
Originally only a feature in P&S, DSLR’s now use Live View also
Facial Recognition
Camera detects faces in your frame based on color, contrast change, etc.
Focus is automatically adjusted so detail in faces is high
Color and contrast are automatically adjusted to create pleasing skin tones
Getting a “Good” shot
While there are hundreds of factors which can make a photo “good”, it is still a relative term, and good to one person may not be good to someone else.
For our purposes we will refer to good in the sense of a correct exposure.
Exposure
A “correct” or “good” exposure occurs when you maintain as much detail as possible in both the very bright parts (highlights) as well as the very dark parts (shadows) of an image. How much of a range in which you can capture detail from light to dark is referred to as the Dynamic Range. As you are about to see, there can be many “correct” or “good” exposures
There are three factors which influence the exposure of your image:
-Shutter Speed
-Aperture
-ISO
Shutter Speed
Refers to how long the shutter is open, exposing the image sensor to light.
(how long the camera “sees” the picture)
Measured in Seconds, from 30 down to 1/8000
Fast Shutter Speeds (600 and up) are used to stop motion and will freeze the subject.
Slow Shutter Speeds (1/60 or slower) can be used to portray movement or speed
Very Slow Shutter Speeds (5 sec. or slower) can be used in very low light situations to obtain correct exposure, or achieve dramatic effects.
Beware!
As your shutter speed decreases, your chances of getting a blurry image increase because you must hold the camera steady for a longer period.
Aperture
An aperture is defined as a hole or opening through which light is admitted.
Inside the camera lens is a system of blades which open and close to increase or decrease the opening through which light passes into the camera
Often refferred to as an f-stop, aperture is usually represented by: f/1.8, or f/5.6
A Smaller # means a wider opening and is referred to as a larger value (eg. A large aperture of 2.0, a small aperture of 22)
The wider the lens is open(larger aperture value), the more light gets in (you can use faster shutter speeds)
Depth of Field
Aperture also controls depth of field (DOF), which refers to how much of your image is in focus.
A wide aperture (small #) will give a shallow DOF and can be used to isolate a subject.