| When you are trying to get to grips with your | | | | due to camera shake. When novices take pictures |
| new camera you might find it difficult to | | | | they often do not relax with the camera and this |
| understand all the terms that are used to | | | | can lead to the camera moving when the shutter |
| describe the various functions. This article will | | | | is pressed. |
| simplify many of those terms and give you | | | | ISO: This measures the camera's sensitivity to |
| greater access to unleash the digital imaging | | | | light. At high ISO settings you can use a shorter |
| power beneath your fingertips. | | | | exposure time - useful if the light levels are low. |
| Aperture: This is the hole that allows light into the | | | | However, high ISO settings can give more noise |
| camera. Its size is measured in f-stops, for | | | | in the image. |
| example, f2.8, f5, f8. The bigger the f-number the | | | | Lenses: A long focal length lens allows you to get |
| smaller the aperture. Most cameras will adjust this | | | | closer in to the action, and a wide angle lens can |
| automatically although some do have a manual | | | | see a wide angle all around and are good for |
| override. | | | | landscapes. You can change lenses on a DSLR but |
| Autofocus: This will lock onto the object in the | | | | on compacts you generally have a zoom lens. |
| frame - normally by half pressing the shutter | | | | Memory card: This is the bit that stores all the |
| button. | | | | images. Their size is measured in gigabytes. The |
| Burst mode: Sometimes you may want to take a | | | | number of images you can store depends on the |
| sequence of shots in quick succession. Burst | | | | size of the card and the resolution of the image. |
| mode will do this as you keep the shutter button | | | | Noise: This is seen as randomly coloured dots in |
| pushed down. | | | | the image. You get more of it at high ISO |
| Compression: The digital images taken by the | | | | settings. To keep noise levels down, keep the ISO |
| camera may be compressed so you can store | | | | setting as low as possible. It is not so important |
| more on a memory card. Jpegs are often used. | | | | unless you want to print your pictures out at A4 |
| The greater the image compression the more | | | | and above. |
| image detail is lost. | | | | Panning: This is a great effect where you track a |
| Composition: This is the art of framing your | | | | subject with the camera with a long exposure |
| picture. A simple guide is the to use the rule of | | | | time. |
| thirds. Place an object of interest a third of the | | | | Pixel: This stands for PICture ELement. They |
| way along and a third of the way up, or down. It | | | | make up the building blocks of the picture and can |
| makes a big difference. | | | | be seen as small dots or squares as you zoom in. |
| Depth of field: This is how much of your picture is | | | | Red eye: When the flash bounces off the inside |
| in focus. In most compact cameras this is not | | | | of the eye you can get a red reflection. Many |
| really an issue as the wide angle lenses keep | | | | cameras can give a pre-flash to try and avoid |
| most of the picture in focus. The depth of field is | | | | this. |
| bigger when the f-number is large. If your f | | | | Resolution: This is measured in millions of pixels or |
| number is small - say f2.8 - then focus about a | | | | megapixels. The more megapixels the more detail |
| third into the picture. | | | | is captured. 12 to 14 megapixels is currently the |
| Digital zoom: This allows your camera lens to | | | | upper limit for compact cameras. If you get |
| zoom in digitally to make the image appear larger | | | | many more than this you get more noise in the |
| or closer. This is not as good as optical zoom | | | | image. |
| which uses the camera's optics to achieve this. | | | | Scene selection: Modern cameras have a scene |
| DSLR: A digital single lens reflex camera. This will | | | | selection mode, for instance, portraits, landscapes |
| allow much greater control over the image | | | | or night scenes. Choose these if you would rather |
| making process, from full manual control of all | | | | the camera took full control. |
| exposure settings to changing the lens for | | | | Shutter speed: This determines the exposure |
| different focal lengths. | | | | time. The faster the shutter speed, the shorter |
| Exposure: This is the amount of time the shutter | | | | the exposure time. |
| is open. It can be changed manually to give | | | | Uploading: Once you have taken your pictures you |
| different effect. For example in sports you may | | | | will need to upload them to a computer. |
| want to freeze the motion so you want a short | | | | Take a little time to find out what all these terms |
| exposure time. A long exposure time will make | | | | mean and you will soon be taking pictures that |
| flowing water look silky and smooth. | | | | are the envy of all your friends. |
| Image stabilisation: This prevents blurry images | | | | |