Camera Handling I

Cameras, cameras, cameras...

Common Camera Types

� Disposable – fixed focus

� Automatic/digital auto – ‘Point-and-shoot’

� Manual: ¡ Single Lens Reflex (SLR)/ Digital SLR ¡ Rangefinder

Camera Anatomy

� Focusing lens � Aperture ring � Shutter � Film

Put very simply:

“In order to produce a good photograph, we need the correct amount of light to enter the camera and be focused

on the film.”

As a photographer you decide what constitutes a ‘good’ photo, the ‘correct’ amount of light, and what subject should be in focus.

Things you should know…

Exposure is governed by three things: � Film Speed � Shutter Speed � Aperture Each of the above then affects: � Photograph Detail/Grain � Blurring of Subject � Depth of Field The camera’s light-meter indicates the correct

exposure level

The Golden Rule

Exposure = Shutter Speed × Aperture Size × Film

Speed

This rule is reciprocal – changes in one component can

be balanced by changes in another

Why bother?

Shutter Speed

�  Refers to how long film is exposed to light coming through lens

�  Dim or dark conditions require more time in order for film to be exposed to enough light

�  Bright or flash-lit scenes require less time �  Speeds range from > 1 sec to < 1/1000 sec

Shutter Speed

�  Shutter speed affects blurring �  Blurring due to subject movement or due to camera

shake – unsteady hands �  Times longer than ~1/60 sec often require tripod �  Fast moving subjects and action shots require quick

shutter speeds

Shutter Speed

Left: Slow shutter speed, so light sources move while photo is taken and leave a trail Right: The

same scene taken with fast (right) and slow (far right) shutter speeds

Aperture

�  Aperture controls the amount of light passing through the lens

�  Similar function to the iris of the eye �  Dim or dark scenes may require a ‘fully open’

aperture �  Aperture scale in weird numbers – due to area of

a circle calculation

Aperture

�  Aperture affects Depth of Field �  Depth of Field – distance in front of and behind

subject, which is in focus, where other items are also in acceptable focus

�  Small aperture – large depth of field �  Wide aperture – small depth of field

Aperture

Aperture

Aperture

•  There is also a more complicated relationship between focal length of lens, subject framing and depth of field

•  Generally, short lenses have greater depth of field than long lenses

•  ‘Focus free’ cameras are designed to have large depth of field

•  See Camera Handling Part II for more details on lenses

Film Speed

�  Refers to the sensitivity of the chemicals on the film

�  Fast films require less light for a photo �  They are typically more ‘grainy’ �  Speeds from 25 (slow) to 3200 ASA �  Input film speed to the camera �  Prior knowledge of subject a bonus �  More on films in Camera Handling Part III

How it all comes together…

�  The camera has a built-in light meter

�  By half pressing the shutter release, light meter is activated.

�  Be sure meter is reading light from correct part of the frame for photo that is not too over/under exposed!

How it all comes together…

�  The amount of light detected by the meter is compared to the amount required for film at the given film speed

�  The camera indicates whether enough, too little or too much light is present

�  The photographer adjusts the aperture and shutter speed as desired

How it all comes together…

�  Aperture and shutter speed balance each other �  Opening the aperture one ‘stop’ and halving the

shutter speed lets exactly the same amount of light in

�  You can choose, for a given amount of light, how much blurring of the subject or depth of field you require

How it all comes together…

�  Standard shutter speeds go in factors of 2: 1/125, 1/250, 1/500

�  Standard apertures go in factors of √2 (area of circle = πr²): f2, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8

�  Depth of field is often indicated on the lens

Camera Types

�  Disposable cameras: short lense, small aperture, large depth of field – no focusing

�  Automatic cameras: usually have auto focus, small aperture, large depth of field

�  SLR cameras: fully adjustable

Camera Settings (SLR)

�  Full manual: you control the shutter & aperture �  Aperture Priority: you set the aperture and the

camera adjusts the shutter speed �  Time Priority: you set the shutter speed, the camera

adjusts the aperture �  Can have manual or auto focus �  Full automatic: camera adjusts everything!

Camera Presets (Auto, Digital, SLR)

�  Night shots: long exposure time �  Sports: short exposure time �  Portraits: large aperture �  Landscapes: small aperture �  Lighting types: see Part III

And finally…

Experiment with your camera! Lots more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography and tons of other photography websites

References

�  Wikipedia on Aperture �  Wikipedia on Shutter Times �  Wikipedia on Depth of Field