Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras consist of an interchangeable camera body and lenses. DSLRs offer more precise photos compared to point-and-shoot cameras due to larger sensors, more manual controls, and faster processing. While not required, experience with a DSLR's manual modes allows photographers more creative control over depth of field, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance. Identifying photographic needs helps determine which DSLR features like image stabilization or continuous shooting modes will be most useful.

2.  Digital Single-Lens Reflex cameras usually consist of:
 A camera body and
 One or more interchangeable lenses
 DSLR’s ability to change lenses opens up a world of possibilities
for photographers.
 DSLR cameras adapt to different situations dues to a large range of
other accessories (flashes, filters etc.)
Why Do I Want A DSLR?

3. Typically an upgrade customer who:
Wants a camera that brings the action closer
Wants a camera without shutter delay
Wants interchangeable lenses
Wants to add accessories
Wants a camera that takes better pictures than his/her last one
Who Is an SLR Customer?

4.  Absolutely Not!
 Most people who purchase an SLR aren't experts.
 They just want to have great photos
 Digital SLRs offer easy automatic shooting.
 SLRs also have full manual functionality
 This let’s you be creative with picture taking
Do You Have to Be
An Expert To Use an DSLR?
Photo by: Gabe Vasquez

5.  Absolutely!
 They permit you to learn as you go.
 From automatic /
 Digital SLRs offer easy automatic shooting.
 SLRs also have full manual functionality
 This let’s you be creative with picture taking
 You just try out an exposure setting, check the results, delete the shots that
didn't work, and try again.
Are DSLR Cameras Affordable?

6.  They deliver more precise, dynamic, and vivid photos!
 Larger sensor size, (captures more info).
 More extensive manual controls.
(Compared to point-and-shoot cameras).
 Faster internal processing for greater response time
“So Why Do Customers Use Digital SLRs?”
Photo by: Gabe Vasquez

7.  The cameras viewfinder uses a 45° angled mirror
 The reflection of the image reflection lets you see and compose your
subject through and is why it is called "single-lens reflex”
 The mirror lifts up and out of sight briefly
when you press the shutter button
 This allows the image sensor to capture the photo.
The DSLR Mirror

8.  Kits include both camera body and a lens (or two) to get you started.
 The lenses included with most kits make a good basic choice for all-around photography.
 More experienced photographers often buy just the body, then add
specialized lenses
 Example:
 Long-range telephoto
 Wide-angle, or
 Close-up lens
Kit Versus Body Only

9. LCD Viewscreen
 Most cameras' LCDs measure between 1.8" and 3.5" diagonally,
 Screen resolutions are between 100,000 and 240,000 pixels.
 The higher the LCD's resolution, the clearer your view will be of
images and camera menus.
LCD Image Screen

10.  Sensor Size
Larger sensors can capture tiny highlights
or shadow details better than smaller sensors
with the same megapixel count.
What Are Some Features?
 Megapixel
Approximately 1 million pixels and refers to the
number of pixels in it that make up the image
sensor that produces the photo.
The more megapixels a camera has the better the enlargement is without losing detail.

11.  The number of pixels used to capture an image.
 Resolution ranges from low (640 x 480) to high (3456 x 2592 and up).
 High resolution makes for sharper pictures; however, high-resolution
photos take up more memory than lower-res photos.
 The higher its maximum resolution, the better its
potential picture quality.
What Is Resolution?

12. Histogram
A simple display graph of brightness
and darkness values as an objective
view of exposure of a photograph.
Speaking of Image Resolution
Darkness
Brightness

13.  How fast a camera's shutter exposes the image
sensor to light.
 A shutter speed of 1/60 means that the sensor is
exposed to light for 1/60th of a second.
 Faster shutter speeds are good for "freezing
“fast-moving action;
 Slow ones allow you to intentionally blur the
movement of your subject to emphasize motion.
Shutter Speed

14.  Aperture affects the exposure
and depth of field (what’s in or
out of focus).
 A large aperture (f/1.4, f/2.8 etc.)
lets in more light to the camera
shutter for an exposure,
 A small aperture (f/11, f/16, f/22
etc.) has a smaller opening in the
lens diaphragm to let in LESS
light for a given exposure.
What About Aperture

15.  DSLRs offer a wide array of ISO
settings and flexibility when shooting
in different conditions.
 Changing your ISO setting means
adjusting your camera's sensitivity
to light.
 The lower the ISO number, the less
sensitive it is to the light. A higher ISO
number increases the sensitivity of your
camera to light.
 Lower number = Lower sensitivity = finer
quality photos.
ISO Range
(International Standards Organization)

16.  Electronic adjustment of light levels to
remove unrealistic color tones or hues.
 All digital cameras offer automatic white
balance, and most feature additional preset
levels or even custom manual settings.
 Used so that objects that appear white in
person are rendered white in your photos.
White Balance
Without With

17.  Counteracts the effects of camera
shake so you can take sharper pictures
in low-light settings and at slower
shutter speeds.
 Comes in two different ways:
 As part of an IS lens attached to the camera
 Built into the camera body itself
 (Called Vibration Reduction by Nikon and
SteadyShot by Sony)
Image Stabilization

18.  Allows you to press and hold the camera's shutter button to
capture a series of shots in rapid succession.
 The images taken are temporarily stored in the cam's buffer
memory and then written to the memory card.
Continuous Shooting Mode (Burst)
Great for sports or fast-moving subjects (sports, cars & kids)

19.  Portrait &Telephoto Lenses
 A telephoto lens makes it
possible to capture crisp, close-up
shots of far-away subjects.
 Wide Angle Lenses
 A wide-angle lens can capture an
extra-wide view of the scene.
A Word About Lenses

20.  Identify your needs and what fits your
lifestyle before purchasing a DSLR.
 What kind of photos do you take
 Portraits, Landscapes, Kids, Sports…
 Where will you be using it most?
 Indoor or Outdoor shots?
 Family Events/Portraits?
 Landscape/Nature?
Summary
Photos by: Gabe Vasquez