Intro to the Digital SLR: Menu modes, presets and file types

1. Intro to the Digital SLR
Menu modes, presets and file types

2. The Menu System
These modes can be accessed by the controls and settings of the camera.
Menus and sub-menus provide all the camera setting which are not accessible
via the knob, buttons and wheels on the camera

3. Camera Modes and Presets
Camera Modes
1. Picture quality: eg; RAW image
2. Exposure mode: eg; P, TV, AV, M, B select wheel
3. Metering Mode
4. Drive Mode
5. Focusing Mode

4. Exposure Modes - Full Auto
P (Program AE)
For any given scene, there are usually multiple combinations of aperture and shutter speed that will deliver a correct exposure
Shutter Priority AE/Time Value
This mode allows you to set the lens aperture (with available apertures depending on the lens in use), while the camera selects
the most appropriate shutter speed. Again, you have control over all other exposure variables
AV - Aperture Priority AE
Aperture-Priority AE allows you to set the lens aperture (with available apertures depending on the lens in use), while the
camera selects the most appropriate shutter speed. Again, you have control over all other exposure variables

5. Exposure Modes - Full Auto
Bulb
Keeps the shutter open for as long as the shutter release button is held down. Bulb
exposures are best controlled with an external remote release, to prevent camera shake
CA - Creative Auto
This mode is something of a cross between the Program and Full Auto modes. Again
all of which you will start to make these decisions for yourself

6. Metering Mode
What is metering?
• Metering is how your camera determines what the correct shutter speed and aperture should be
• Today, every DSLR has an integrated light meter that automatically measures the reflected light and determines the optimal
exposure
To help achieve the correct exposure for a variety of subject conditions, your camera has three or four different 'Metering
Modes'
1. evalative
2. spot
3. center weighted
4. partial

7. Metering Mode cont.
Evaluative for Canon/Matrix for Nikon
Divides the scene into areas that are metered individually and then evaluated against a series of algorithms stored in the camera
memory
Spot
Measures the light only from a small part of the subject, defined by a circle in the center of the frame and is useful for exact
measurements of individual areas
Center Weighted
• Measures the light from the whole scene but places less emphasis on the area near the edges of the frame
• Use this setting when the subject is in the center of the photograph and exposed correctly, so that the subject is not
affected by the exposure of the background

8. Drive Mode
Single shooting
As the name suggests, when you press the shutter, one shot will be taken
Well suited to static subjects. You can take several pictures, but they are not need to be within a few seconds of each other
Continuous
When you press the shutter completely, shots will be taken continuously
Continuous - Burst
Different cameras have different shooting and recycle speeds
Your CF or SD card "writing speed" will also be a factor in how fast your camera can recycle between shots

9. Self-Timer
When a shutter button is pressed the camera will wait a number of seconds
before taking the picture

10. The Weakest Link
Let's look at the things that happen when you take a photograph with an SLR;
• The mirror flips up
• The aperture closes to the pre-determined F-stop
• The shutter opens for the pre-determined amount of time
• The film or sensor is exposed to light
• The shutter closes
• The aperture returns to wide-open for viewing
• The mirror returns to the viewing position

11. MLU - Mirror Lock Up
Of the three things that happen within the camera prior to exposure the mirror
flipping upwards is potentially the most harmful to image sharpness

12. Focus Modes
• Single/one shot
• Continuous Al Servo: when you put the camera into Al Servo mode, you
will have to set the condition "the subject is definitely moving"
• Continuous Al Focus: the camera starts off in one shot mode and the
shutter will lock until it achieves focus

13. Picture Styles
• Standard
• Faithful
• Portrait monochrome
• Neutral
• Custom (1,2,3)