90
votes
Accepted
How did photography work before auto-focus was invented?
Through-the-lens focusing cameras had focusing screens — usually ground glass or fresnel lens (related: What is a focusing screen?). View cameras (the old-style large cameras with bellows) projected ...
- 33.2k
74
votes
Why is there "single" in the term DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)?
A picture is worth a thousand words, here. This is a Twin Lens Reflex camera:
The two lenses are linked together so they focus as a set (either the whole front panel moves, or the lenses are linked ...
- 143k
54
votes
Accepted
What is the advantage of a digital still photo camera over digital video for nature photography?
There are at least four reasons.
Resolution First, although the same sensor may be used, video generally uses only a portion of it (either by skipping lines or some more sophisticated method). 4K UHD ...
- 143k
54
votes
Accepted
Why is there "single" in the term DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)?
Single lens means that there is only one lens attached to the camera at once. This is to distinguish it from a twin-lens reflex camera, which has two lenses - one used for the viewfinder and one used ...
- 22.1k
46
votes
How can I use my dSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam?
What you need
A camera that can stream using one of the methods described below.
Software to set up a virtual camera for your video conferencing platform; or if you are using HDMI, an HDMI capture ...
- 52.7k
41
votes
Accepted
How can a tripod be unstable?
A tripod can be unstable by:
Having cheap leg fasteners / too heavy a load for the legs
My first tripod ever was a hand-me-down Velbon that had seen some abuse. Even sporting just a 20D and 70-200 ...
- 20.5k
36
votes
Is this light stripe at the top of images from my DSLR a light leak?
tell me whats happening
Considering that the White Thing seems to affect an entire band at the top of the image, I don't think it's a light leak. A leak that happened to shine evenly across the ...
- 31.7k
35
votes
Why am I getting a small black patch when I take photos?
To investigate sensor dust, perform the following test:
Close your aperture as much as possible (high F-number). This makes the sensor dust more visible.
Increase the focal length as much as ...
- 1,500
34
votes
Why are my sky photographs coming out dark?
This is usually caused by the camera taking the scene as a whole and treating it as 18% gray. This is the way light meters (and camera meters) are calibrated to see the world. Scene mostly snow? 18% ...
- 6,774
34
votes
Can smartphones, like iPhone 12 Pro, replace entry-level DSLR cameras?
There is no clear answer: That depends on your type of photography.
If you want the camera just to take the usual this and that photos, you are probably not missing out very much. The computational ...
- 5,005
33
votes
Accepted
Will a lens upgrade from the kit lens give me better colors on my backpacking travels?
"Better image quality."
You use that phrase.
When we say image quality in reference to comparing two lenses, we rarely are talking about anything with regard to which one is "... less dark and gives ...
- 176k
32
votes
Accepted
Quiet mode on my DSLR is not quiet enough. How can I make it quieter?
Disclaimer: This answer does not offer any help with decreasing shutter volume - it is an anecdote and therefore just a viewpoint that is related to your status quo.
I think that there is not much ...
- 6,478
32
votes
Is an entry level DSLR going to shoot nice portrait pictures?
If you read the other answers, it should be apparent that the qualities you seek such as (a) better portraits and (b) the desire to have a blurred background ... aren't really one thing, but a ...
- 3,967
30
votes
Can an old DSLR be upgraded to match modern smartphone image quality
The overall difference in typical image quality between a current smartphone like the Huawei P30 Pro and an older DSLR like the Canon EOS Rebel T1i/500D isn't the difference between the sensors. The ...
- 176k
29
votes
Accepted
Can an old DSLR be upgraded to match modern smartphone image quality
You could get a really fast 50mm f/1.4 [or cheaper 1.8] lens for $£€ 200 second-hand that will make those fabulous blurry background photos that smartphones can now fake quite well, in low light too.
...
- 23.4k
27
votes
How did photography work before auto-focus was invented?
How did photography work before auto-focus was invented?
Pretty well for those willing to learn how to do it with the tools we had at at the time. The same is true now. The only difference is that ...
- 176k
27
votes
Why am I getting a small black patch when I take photos?
There's probably something on the sensor - maybe a dust particle.
You can check if the Canon camera has a sensor cleaning option and use it or take the camera to a local repair shop and have the ...
26
votes
How to capture rays of light in a photograph using a DSLR camera
The first step is to find a situation where the atmosphere is right for such effects to appear to the naked eye - whether it's steam or fog or dust or whatever else in the air that is reflecting the ...
- 5,158
24
votes
How can a tripod be unstable?
I have a nice heavy tripod and a cheap, light aluminum tripod. I hear a lot of people talking about wind and vibration, etc, and I think you're right - the environment makes a big difference. ...
- 504
24
votes
Why are images from my brand-new Canon camera numbered starting in the 9000s instead of from 0001?
It turned out that I did insert another memory card, whose last number was IMG_9544, that's why when I insert new memory card, it starts from there, as @...
- 489
23
votes
Accepted
iPhone vs DSLR for point and shoot
The sensors and lenses of even the most humble DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) currently on the market are far better than those found in the best phone cameras.
Sensors and ...
- 176k
20
votes
Accepted
Will I miss anything if I replace my aging DSLR with a bridge camera?
In general you will find a great deal of distaste for bridge cameras here and on most photography forums. In a few unique circumstances they can be good options (very inexpensive super zoom) but for ...
- 46.6k
20
votes
Accepted
Why do compact cameras keep using 4:3 and not 3:2 like DSLRs?
4:3 (1.33) is a very good ratio. It's aesthetic and easy to get a nice composition in both horizontal and vertical orientation. It's also closer to square, which makes best use of optics (larger ...
- 2,090
20
votes
Canon EOS 800D vs 80D | Which one is better for macro photography?
Macro photography is all about the skill of the photographer, lenses, and lighting - in that order.
Only after the former have been considered should the differences between two APS-C cameras from ...
- 176k
19
votes
Is this light stripe at the top of images from my DSLR a light leak?
You don't have a light leak in your camera body.
Your examples demonstrate the classic symptom of a slow second shutter curtain.
Your second shutter curtain is sticking at the end of it's transit ...
- 176k
19
votes
Can an old DSLR be upgraded to match modern smartphone image quality
DXOmark and DXOmark Mobile scores are not directly comparable, you can only compare camera sensor scores to other cameras, and mobile sensor scores to other mobiles. Therefore your observation that ...
- 191
19
votes
Why are my sky photographs coming out dark?
Your camera's light meter measures brightness, but it can't tell if the brightness level it is measuring is a black cat in a coal mine or a white cat in a snowstorm.¹ It assumes everything you point ...
- 176k
19
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to hold DSLR with hot shoe mounted top handle?
Definitely don't try to support the camera by its hotshoe. It's not designed for it.
I don't think you should put anything at all on a hotshoe. Everything is so heavy and all the weight is pushing and ...
- 629
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible