SLR Basics

Small f/stops (like f/11, f/16, f/22) yield greater depth of field (more focus).
You might use these apertures if you were shooting landscapes, large groups of people or just shooting on a very bright day.


Large f/stops (like f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8) yield less depth of field (less focus).
You might use these apertures if you have a distracting background that you want to blur out, in a low light situations or to photograph a single subject. Many photographers like to shoot with larger apertures because they like the background effect.


Fast shutter speeds (like 1/500 and above) will freeze action.
Your would use this setting when you are photographing something fast moving or when you are photographing a bright scene.


Slow shutter speeds (like 1/8 and below) will show movement.
Camera shake will be apparent if you hand hold you camera with a slow shutter speed. Most people use tripods when shooting at 1/60 or slower. You would use this setting if you want to show movement, to create drama or when shooting in a low light situation.



The rule of thumb for hand holding your camera:
Don't shoot at a shutter speed less than the focal length of your lens. For example, if I was shooting with a 200mm lens then I would not hand hold any photos with an exposure of 1/250 or less. If I was shooting a 50mm lens I would not hand hold a photo with an exposure of 1/60 or less.

There are a number of settings on the check out cameras to choose from.
M or manual would require the photographer to choose all the settings.
P or Program will choose both the shutter speed and aperture for the scene you are choosing
AV or Aperture Priority allows you to choose your aperture and the camera chooses the shutter speed.
TV or Shutter Priority allows you to choose your shutter speed and the camera chooses the shutter.

All of these modes except Manual will choose the correct exposure for the scene you are shooting. In camera meters are a great thing, but don't always get it right. Your camera will always take the scene you are shooting and assume that the density is middle gray. This works a lot of the time, but if you are shooting something that is mainly white then your camera will still shoot it like it gray making your photo underexposed or too dark. If you are shooting a scene that is mostly black then your camera will overexpose or make your photo too light.

For now all the check out cameras will be set at ISO 500 until we go over the uses for changing your ISO.