One of the first things people say when they see my photos is "Wow, you must have a really good camera" and they then ask for me to teach them how to use their DSLR camera. It seems to be one of the common threads
among people these days. Everyone thinks it is the camera that creates the photo - which is true to an extent, but there is so much more to a good photograph than the camera you use. Perhaps because of this opinion and the relatively inexpensive nature of entry
level DSLR cameras more and more people are exploring this option
when buying a new camera, and yet very few understand how to use them to their
full potential.
There are so many tutorials,
videos, articles and online courses available these days at the click of a
button. We truly are living in the information age and google is your friend.
And I wondered whether I really needed to add to everything that is already
available... Then decided that if my mission is to make beautiful photographs available
to EVERYONE, then a huge part of that process is to educate people on how to
take beautiful photographs. After all, why have a camera - any camera - if you
don't know how to get the best out of it?
And so, I have created a series
of blog posts about just that - Using your camera to it's full potential,
regardless of what type of camera you own. It is a series for beginner
photographers. Ordinary people who want to be better at taking extraordinary
photographs so they can document the life of their families.
The series will explore:
- The
different types of cameras that you might choose.
- What I have
learned about what turns a 'good' photo into a 'great' photo.
- How to compose a
photo - and what does composition mean.
- How light makes all the difference
- Ways you can use post production and editing to enhance images.
Today we will start with
cameras... What kind of camera do you need to take a great photo?
===================================
There are two quotes I love that
sum up the type of camera you need to take an amazing photograph...
"Photography
is no more about equipment than writing is about word processors" ~
Unknown
and
"The
best camera is the one that's with you" ~ Chase Jarvis
A common misconception among digital camera owners is
that a cameras megapixel rating is the main thing to consider when determining
a camera’s quality, however, megapixels are NOT everything. A point and shoot
cameras with more megapixels than a DSLR does not mean their quality level is
necessarily as good as the DSLR.
The main reason for this (and there are many others) is
that the image sensor used in point and shoot digital cameras is generally much
smaller than the image sensor used in a DSLR. This means that the pixels on a
point and shoot camera have to be much smaller. It is a complex subject, but
basically means that smaller sensors significantly reduce the quality of an image. Whether this is of concern to you really depends
on what you plan to use your images for. Posting them online and sharing
through social media means you are not needing large digital files and
therefore the quality of the image is not so important. However if you wanted
to enlarge your image to hang in your home then a camera
with lower megapixels and a larger sensor will be much more useful for you than
any camera with a smaller sensor regardless of the number of megapixels.
The
main questions to ask yourself when choosing a camera is 'How do I intend to
use the camera?' and 'What do I want to do with my photos?' - When you know
your purpose it makes the choice so much easier. Someone who wants to snap
images of their children and share them online will choose an entirely
different camera to the person who wants to create large
fine-art prints to display in a gallery.
So,
with your purpose in mind, let's explore the different options for camera
choice...
Smartphone Cameras
Smartphone cameras are the most used camera in the world. Most of us carry
one of these cameras with us on a daily basis and with the technology available
in these cameras the images can be amazing. With the right
light, the right framing and the right focus, you may not be able to tell
whether a photo was shot on a phone camera or a dslr. With red-eye reduction,
auto-focus, zoom and many other features, the smartphones have rendered
point-and-shoot cameras almost obsolete.
Some
people in the photography industry look down on mobile photography but I
personally believe that camera phones encourage us to take more photographs,
and I think the more we take photographs, the better photographers we'll be.
The advantage of being able to share our photographs with the world via
Instagram and social media, email and text message means we are sharing our
lives, our joys, our passions and our memories.... which to me, is the whole
purpose of photographs in the first place!
There
are some disadvantages to phone cameras of course such as when
your camera is damaged, like the lens cracking after being dropped.
Regrettably there’s not a way of rebuilding just the lens from the mobile
camera phone. It requires a whole new phone.
Smartphone camera's usually also have a video camera option,
another reason why they’re popular and practical as a day to day camera. Having
the opportunity to create short videos means most of us are able to capture and
share funny or moving moments that otherwise could have been lost.
Point and Shoot Digital Cameras
These cameras are great for those who perhaps don't have
access to a smartphone or who choose to keep their photographs separate from
their phone. Point and Shoot cameras are often slim and light which makes them
ideal for putting in your pocket and carrying around. They are great for
travelling, parties or night/days out when you don't want to carry much with
you. The quality of images produced in point and
shoots varies greatly, but in general they shoot well in auto mode, which tends
to be the mode they are most commonly used in.
Point and
Shoot cameras are generally cheaper than a DSLR camera or a smartphone,
but as with any product you can go to the top of the range and spend as much as
you would on a cheaper DSLR.
Many digital
camera users prefer to frame their shots using the LCD monitors on the back of
the camera. Point and Shoots always come with this ability and some even come
with ‘flip out’ screens that enable their users to take shots from different
angles and still see what they’re shooting. This does mean however
that most point and shoot cameras rely almost completely upon their LCD
for framing. Most point and shoot cameras have view finders but they are
generally small which renders them almost useless. Some models don’t have
viewfinders at all.
Point and
Shoot cameras do often have a smaller sensor (as I mentioned above when I
talked about megapixels) which means the image quality is not as good as a
DSLR, however if you’re not planning on using your images for major
enlargements or in professional applications the quality of point and shoot
cameras can be more than enough for the average user. ISO ranges are also
more limited in point and shoot cameras making them less useful in low light
situations which leads to a reliance on the use of flash (which we will discuss
later in the post about lighting). Point and Shoot digital cameras have always
been notorious for their slowness, particularly their ‘shutter lag’ (the time
between pressing the shutter and when the image is taken). This is constantly
being improved but the instantaneous feel of many DSLRs is still not there with
point and shoots when it comes to shutter lag, start up and even focusing time.
Again, if you are not trying to capture moving objects and only want to take
snapshots this may not bother you.
DSLR CAMERAS
Digital, Single, Lens, Reflex Cameras (DSLR) are
bigger than the average compact system (point and shoot) camera because they
have a mirror that reflects light into the optical viewfinder.
These cameras accept interchangeable lenses making them much more
versatile than other cameras.
The DSLR’s ability to change lenses opens up a
world of possibilities for photographers. They can be fitted with many
high quality lenses ranging from wide angle to super long focal lengths
depending on your photography needs and budget. There is also an extensive range
of other accessories (flashes, filters etc) which allow a DSLR to be adapted to
many different situations, from cramped interiors to
landscapes, distant details, portraits or very close macro subjects.
The larger size of the image sensor in a DSLR
means they are generally able to be used at a lower ISO which will lead to
faster shutter speeds and less grain. This means the DSLR camera is much better
suited to low light situations and capturing fast moving objects. DSLR cameras
are actually much faster pieces of equipment in their start up, focussing and
shutter lag than point and shoot cameras.
Many point and shoots come with the ability to shoot in some
form of manual mode and there are camera apps available for smartphones that
allow manual control, but a DSLR is designed in such a way that it is assumed
that the photographer using it will want to control their own settings. While
they do come with good auto modes the manual controls are generally built in in
such a way that they are at the photographers finger tips as they are shooting.
If you choose to purchase and use a DSLR camera then you really need to educate
yourself on it's functions and settings in order to use it to it's full
potential.
There are obviously reasons why choosing a DSLR camera may
not be for you. The main one being price. While they are coming down in price
(especially at the lower end) DSLR’s are generally more expensive than point
and shoot digital cameras. Also consider that you might want to upgrade your
lens (as kit lenses are generally not of a super high quality) or you may wish
to add more lenses later and that this adds to the cost. DSLRs are also
heavy and bulky and when you add a lens or two to your camera bag you can end
up with a fairly heavy load to carry.
Another
factor well worth considering if you’re going to use a DSLR with more than one
lens is that every time you change lenses you run the risk of letting dust into
your camera. Dust on an image sensor can leave imperfections on your images.
Cleaning your image sensor can be quite a process and most recommend that you
get it done professionally. There are DSLRs now available with self cleaning
sensors to assist with this situation.
At the
end of the day, your choice of camera is unique to you and your needs. Ask
yourself what you are wanting to do with your images and what you will use your
camera for and then make a decision based on what works best for YOU.
After
all, it doesn't matter what camera you use - what really matters is learning
how to see what's in front of you, noticing the moments and situations that
make a great photo, and then capturing it with whatever you have available with
you at the time! Document the ordinary moments however you can, because
ORDINARY MOMENTS ARE EXTRAORDINARY!!!
