Camera basics are the timeless and generic aspects of cameras; even as technology evolves, these things will remain essentially the same.
80
votes
6answers
9k views
What is the “exposure triangle”?
What is the exposure triangle? How do the "sides" affect my photographs?
29
votes
7answers
6k views
What is aperture, and how does it affect my photographs?
How does aperture affect my photographs?
Why should I care about the aperture with which a photo was taken?
29
votes
10answers
8k views
How can I get dramatic shallow DOF with a kit lens?
I'm currently using an entry-level DSLR with 18-55mm lens and having great trouble trying to creating a blurred background effect in my photos. Now matter what aperture or shutter speed I choose, I'm ...
38
votes
2answers
12k views
What does f-stop mean?
What does f-stop mean? Is it the same thing when people say "2 stops" for example?
19
votes
7answers
2k views
What are good resources for a beginning photographer?
What are good resources (tutorials/books/videos/etc) for a beginning photographer?
Keep in mind that this is for a beginning photographer, who has recently moved from a point-and-shoot to an ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Do megapixels matter with modern sensor technology?
Are more megapixels good?
Are more megapixels bad?
Do more megapixels increase detail? Do they make my images sharper? On the other side, is there a point that is too much? Do megapixels cause ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
What is a normal lens?
I've heard people call 50mm lenses "normal lenses".
For a lens to be considered normal, does it have to be exactly 50mm or is there some leeway? Does the normal focal length depend on crop factor of ...
14
votes
6answers
2k views
What is one “stop”?
I always hear this term, e.g.,
I had to go down one stop
Increasing X by Y raises Z by one stop
I turned down the flash/the light two stops
This lens/sensor/strobe/Photoshop tweak raises X by ...
20
votes
5answers
829 views
What exactly is flash sync speed, and should it be a factor in a buying decision?
What exactly is flash sync speed and should it be a factor in a buying decision?
53
votes
12answers
5k views
What advantages does manual mode have over aperture priority mode?
I'm wondering what are the most compelling reasons to switch to manual mode on my DSLR. I mostly just use aperture priority mode so I have good control over the depth of field combined with an ...
36
votes
10answers
2k views
Is lenses which make your photographs, not camera bodies?
I read somewhere on this site itself that you should spend more on your lenses and less on your camera bodies.
Is it a myth or a fact that mostly it is the lenses which make your photographs not the ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
20
votes
4answers
485 views
What's “real” and what's “virtual” on a (digital) camera?
I recently upgraded from a standard compact digital camera to one of the newish "halfway cameras", hoping to get a bit better at taking photographs through having a little more control over the ...
8
votes
4answers
4k views
What does 'how much zoom' mean?
I have Canon 18-135 and 70-300 zoom lenses. People ask me how much zoom my camera supports.
What am I supposed to tell them?
"135 ÷ 18 = 7.5" and "300 ÷ 70 = 4.2"?
10
votes
5answers
2k views
What does the f-stop printed on the lens refer to?
I have read this,so I know what an f-stop is, but what does the number on printed the lens signify?
Is this is the maximum f-stop, the ideal, or something else?
37
votes
18answers
3k views
What are common beginner mistakes in photography?
What are common mistakes seen in images taken by beginning photographers?
For example, a friend of mine pointed out that the horizon was not straight in one of my images, and now I see it ...
7
votes
4answers
955 views
What are the technical differences between using a DSLR viewfinder and live view?
The earlier question What are the advantages of using the optical viewfinder over live preview to take photos on a DSLR? asks for practical advantages of optical viewfinders. But what's the technical ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the advantages of a lens having a fixed maximum aperture?
What are the advantages of a lens having a Fixed Maximum Aperture? Previous answers have indicated that "pros tend to want constant apertures in zoom lenses".
While in general lenses with a fixed ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
Why are effective pixels greater than the actual resolution?
This page compares Canon EOS 550D and Canon EOS 500D cameras and mentions
18.7 million effective pixels
for 550D. However the best resolution possible using this camera is
5184 * 3456 = ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How can a prime lens focus on more than one plane?
By definition, a prime lens is a fixed lens system with a fixed focal length.
Then, simple physics tells us that it should be able to focus only on one plane (at a fixed distance) in front of it. But ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
What is a rolling shutter? When do I have to be aware of it?
In answer to another question, Adam Davis writes:
Your camera complicates this by using
a rolling shutter above a given speed
(usually around 1/200. This means that
only a portion of the ...
25
votes
7answers
3k views
When to use shutter priority instead of aperture priority?
Under what circumstances would you use aperture priority vs. shutter priority and vice-versa?
I typically don’t use shutter priority (ever) and favor aperture priority to try to get a max aperture ...
20
votes
3answers
5k views
How can a 18-55mm lens focus on objects beyond 55mm?
I guess this is a total noob question, but doesn't 18-55mm mean that it can focus only up to 55mm?
12
votes
2answers
1k views
What is a remote shutter release?
What is a remote shutter release? In what kind of photo situation would I use a shutter release?
9
votes
3answers
693 views
How do I use the different shutter speeds my camera offers?
If I use a shutter speed below 1/30 on my Nikon P100, I get extremely dark images which are completely unusable. If I use the flash, it comes out fairly bright but just not natural.
My camera ...
5
votes
7answers
372 views
What options are there for a camera that's smaller than a full DSLR, but not a point-and-shoot?
I've been wanting to start taking photos for a while so I am looking to get a camera. I don't want to get any kind of Point-And-Shoot. I was awaiting the coming of the Fuji X100 as I travel very very ...
7
votes
2answers
5k views
Are mirror-less cameras good enough to buy instead of a DSLR for home/amateur use?
I'm an amateur photographer looking to buy a camera for my home use. I called myself "photographer" just because I actually can press the button and take a photo! My first digital camera was VGA ...
3
votes
2answers
234 views
What should a beginner look at in comparing two point & shoot cameras?
My interest in photography grew over the last few days, and I finally decided get into this thing. My goal is to become a Nature/Wildlife & Fashion photographer some day.
Since I am total ...
8
votes
13answers
4k views
Why would I use manual camera controls instead of the automatic modes?
I'm very new to digital photography, so I still haven't gotten the hang of all this exposure and ISO stuff, etc. I have a Canon EOS T3.
My question is how big of a difference does it make using ...
18
votes
4answers
1k views
Why are there limitations to the upper limit of exposure time in digital cameras?
For example, my Canon 550D will only go as far as 30 sec (and then of course the bulb mode).
For measuring exposure, I think all the camera needs is a timer, and I have no doubt they would have to do ...
12
votes
5answers
2k views
What are the advantages of using the optical viewfinder over live preview to take photos on a DSLR?
Forgive this novice question, I am basically a complete newbie to photography. Really, all I've ever used for most my of short life have been point-and-shoots; I've only recently started to pick up ...
9
votes
5answers
1k views
Is there a formula to calculate DOF?
I am pretty clear about that DOF depends on:
Focal length
Aperture
Distance from subject
Sensor size
and more (as pointed in the comment).
But what is the question here is: Is there any formula ...
9
votes
2answers
849 views
What is the meaning of W and T on a camera's zoom buttons?
On every conventional digital camera (excluding the models with detachable lenses), there are buttons to zoom in and out with W side and T side.
When you press W, the lens zooms out. The lens zooms ...
6
votes
3answers
442 views
Does subject isolation only depend on subject distance and focal length, aperture and sensor size remaining equal?
Does subject isolation only depend on subject distance and focal length, aperture and sensor size remaining equal?
From my reading of a question on depth of field, if I take a photo of a subject at ...
0
votes
3answers
3k views
In what way does shutter speed affect a photo?
Is there a rule like "the lower the speed the better quality?"
I tried taking at different speeds but couldn't understand the difference.
16
votes
4answers
7k views
How do I “focus and recompose” using spot metering?
I usually use the "[auto]focus and recompose" method for taking candid photographs. In situations where there is a high degree of contrast, I would like to use spot metering to correct expose for ...
11
votes
3answers
775 views
What is the difference between teleconverters and extension tubes?
I'm aware of two devices that can extend the reach of a lens: the teleconverter and the extension tubes. What else would they have in common, and where do they differ?
Are there situations where one ...
9
votes
3answers
315 views
What resources would help me when I'm getting back into photography?
The last time I did photography I was in high school, shooting black and white photos on film with an old, fully manual Nikkormat, and developing and enlarging them by hand.
The world of photography ...
18
votes
3answers
704 views
Why does a 15-second exposure on my camera actually last 16 seconds?
I was doing a test and wanted the shutter to stay open for 15 seconds -- no problem, I have a 15-second exposure setting in my camera. It seemed to stay open for about an extra second, though, so I ...
10
votes
7answers
475 views
What are the properties of a camera that affect taking pictures in poor lighting?
I had recently bought a Nikon CoolPix L110, which was stolen a few months later. In searching for a replacement, I'd like to get something that takes better pictures in poor lighting. The zoom on ...
7
votes
4answers
269 views
How do I start using a hotshoe flash?
I've just been given a Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash unit. I've not really had much experience using flash. How can I get started? Are there any good learning resources?
7
votes
3answers
651 views
Is Center-weighted metering a type of spot-metering?
Does center-weighted metering use the same camera/lens adjustments as spot metering with the exception of the focus which is in the center? Or is there a technical difference in the way ...
6
votes
3answers
244 views
What are some common gotchas and missed capabilities migrating from compacts to DSLRs
It has been just a couple weeks since I bought an old Nikon D40X after using a Canon SX120IS for a year. The only things I miss so far are the ability to fine adjust the exposure using the back ...
5
votes
3answers
269 views
What is the most appropriate camera for the hobbie photograpy
I like to travel and taking snaps a lot, I usually use my mobile camera for this, but it is not worthy at all.
Can some one suggest me the good and affordable digital camera between the range of $100 ...
4
votes
7answers
934 views
What's a Good All Purpose Compact Lens for a dSLR …?
Following on from an earlier post, I've decided to persevere with the behemoth for a bit and see where it goes. It may lead in the direction of a Canon G11/12 or S90/95 - only time will tell.
In the ...
20
votes
5answers
990 views
What is mirror lockup and what is its primary function?
My SLR is equipped with a mirror lockup function. What does it do, and when would I employ such a feature?
10
votes
8answers
40k views
How does 18 megapixels compare to 12 megapixels?
I'm purchasing a digital camera & it says, "Effective pixels: Approx. 18.00 Megapixels".
What is this compared to 12.00 megapixels?
3
votes
3answers
435 views
What type of digital camera should a novice get?
I am looking for a new digital camera that doesn't break the bank. I am certainly not a professional but I like my photos to look professional.
1
vote
3answers
4k views
How can I turn off the loud sound my D3100 produces when I take a photograph?
Nikon D3100 produces sound when I take the photograph. The sound is loud and attention grabbing.
What is the term for this particular sound, and how can I turn it off?
