Master Your DSLR: in Minutes

PM MARCH SUPP 01:Layout 1 22/1/09 14:37 Page 1
Master
your DSLR
in minutes
Get to grips with white-balance
Use exposure modes with confidence
Understand file formats
Pick the right metering mode
Learn ISO
and more!
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Welcome
Get the best out of your new DSLR and zoom lens with
this special supplement from Photography Monthly
P
hotography is the greatest hobby on earth. But it can also be
one of the most confusing. Not only is the process of picture-
taking often suffused with technical jargon, but getting to
grips with the very equipment you use to take those shots
can, for many, be like learning a foreign language. Its for this very
reason that we came up with Master Your DSLR in Minutes, the first
in a series of free supplements with Photography
Monthly magazine.
As its name suggests, this supplement is all about
getting to grips with your DSLR. Mastering your
equipment is a crucial step towards taking great
pictures and if you know what feature or function
to set and, most importantly, when to set it, youll Photography Monthly,
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PHOTOGRAPHY MONTHLY 3
PM MARCH SUPP 04-05:Layout 1 22/1/09 10:46 Page 4
Contents
10 CHOOSE THE RIGHT
EXPOSURE MODE 20 PICK THE RIGHT
FILE FORMAT
Before you take any pictures, youll need to Possibly one of the biggest head-
choose an exposure mode. Here well scratchers for novice DSLR users is
explain the various options youll find on whether to shoot Raw, JPEG or both?
your DSLR, and when to use them. We explain the advantages and
disadvantages of each file format, and
advise which is the best option to use.
6 SET UP
YOUR DSLR
Heres everything you need
to know to get your DSLR
ready for shooting.
23 ALL YOU NEED TO

KNOW ABOUT ISO
26 WHITE-BALANCE
DEMYSTIFIED
White-balance affects every picture
Sensitivity (ISO) ranges are getting you take with a DSLR. Most
more extensive, giving DSLR-users photographers simply leave it set to
increasing versatility. But there are Auto, but your camera does offer
still factors to consider as you flick other options. In this section, we
through the ISO settings. Theyre discuss those options and, crucially,
explained in detail here. when you should use them.
4 PHOTOGRAPHY MONTHLY
28 GET THE MOST FROM

BUILT-IN FLASH
14 GET PERFECT
EXPOSURES Most DSLRs feature a built-in flash that
typically offers a variety of different picture-
More sophisticated than ever taking options. In some modes, the flash will
before, DSLR metering modes pop up automatically, on other occasions
help you get cracking exposures. youll have to switch it on yourself. Find out
Various metering patterns are what to use, when.
available on modern DSLRs:
find out more about them here.
18 FOCUS ON
FOCUSING MODES
Thanks to autofocus, its very easy to
leave your DSLR to its own focusing
devices. But, taking control over the
focus mode reaps picture benefits, as
youll find out in this section.
8 WHICH LENS
DO YOU NEED?
If youve got a DSLR, youll
need a lens to go with it.
All the main focal lengths are
covered in this section.
Setting up
your DSLR
When you buy a new DSLR, its only checks before you begin and youll
natural that youll want to get out and enjoy your picture-taking even more.
start taking pictures, but take a few So, in no particular order, make sure
minutes to run through some basic you do the following:
SELECT AN ISO SETTING

If you want to keep things simple, set the ISO
to Auto. In this mode your DSLR will vary the
sensitivity according to the lighting
conditions. If youre just shooting one type of
image, set the ISO manually. See page 23 for
more details on which ISO to use.
CHOOSE A DRIVE MODE

Shooting landscapes and portraits?
Choose single frame advance. Shooting
sport and action? Choose continuous
and the camera will continue taking
pictures as long as you keep your finger
on the shutter release.
SET THE PICTURE STYLE

DSLRs typically offer a range of picture
styles to use. Your camera will feature a
number of preset styles, plus you can
define your own. Straight out of the box,
your DSLR is likely to be set to a
standard picture style, but you can
change it for instance to make colours
more vivid, or even black & white. Try
taking pictures with each style to see
which suits your photography best.
UPLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE

You might be side-tracked by your new DSLR, but its
worth uploading your new camera software before you go
FINE-TUNE THE VIEWFINDER out and take pictures. Why? If there are any uploading
Most DSLRs offer an eyesight problems, its better to know before youve got a card-full
adjustment feature on the viewfinder of shots you want to view. Plus, software will often have
eyepiece and, although its most an update that needs downloading, which will take time
useful to photographers who wear depending on your
glasses, everyone needs to set it up internet connection
to match their eyesight. Take the lens speed. You can
off the camera, look through the leave the update
viewfinder and point the camera at a to download while
single tone a painted wall at home you get to know
is ideal. With your eye up to the your camera.
finder, turn the eyesight correction
wheel, paying close attention to the
markings in the viewfinder. As you
turn it, they should sharpen or blur.
Once theyre pin sharp, the
TRY THE CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
viewfinder is set for your eyesight. The beauty of DSLRs is that you can set them up exactly
as you want. Most cameras feature custom functions,
which enable you to change everything from exposure
increments to the functionality of a button or dial. In all
honesty, custom functions are designed more for the
advanced camera user, but theres no harm in seeing what
control you have and revisit them when you get more
DSLR-proficient.
CHARGE THE BATTERY

This may sound obvious, but most DSLRs are normally sold
with some power already in the rechargeable battery.
Tempting as it may be to stick it in the camera and start
shooting, wed advise you to follow the manufacturers
charging instructions most cells typically take two hours
to fully charge as this will prolong the useful life of the
battery. Whenever possible, let the battery fully discharge
before recharging. Again, this improves battery longevity.
STORE YOUR IMAGES

Your DSLR needs a memory card to store images. Wed
advise you buy a 2GB card as the minimum, or go for
greater capacity if finances allow. Memory cards have
different write speeds this is the speed at which the
information is transferred from the sensor to the card.
The higher the write speed, the quicker you can take
pictures. For most, a 133x card is ample. UDMA cards offer
a 300x write speed, but youll only see the benefit from
this if your DSLR is UDMA-compliant.
Which lens
do you need? Theres a bewildering range of lenses you get greater telephoto power. A 70-
available, not only from your DSLR 200mm telezoom on the same camera,
manufacturer, but also from for example, becomes a 112-320mm.
independent companies. Nowadays, The beauty of DSLR photography is
zoom lenses are the favoured option that you can pick and choose lenses
among DSLR users because theyre according to your requirements. As
versatile and well-priced; chances are youve already got a standard zoom,
youll have a standard zoom (typically most photographers are quick to add a
covering 18-55mm) supplied with your telezoom covering focal lengths around
camera. These kit lenses are suitable 70-200mm, or a macro lens for close-up
for a range of subjects and offer decent, work. Over and above this, you could
if not exceptional, image quality. choose a wide-angle zoom (10-20mm is
Unless youre lucky enough to own a popular) or a longer telephoto zoom for
full-frame DSLR, youll need to bear in wildlife or sport work. Superzooms,
mind your cameras magnification which cover focal ranges from wide-
factor whenever you choose a lens. This angle all the way through to telephoto
will be quoted in your cameras are also useful, as they offer an all-in-
instruction manual; for instance, a one lens solution.
Most photographers are

quick to add a telezoom
Canon EOS 1000D has a magnification

Most manufacturers offer two ranges
factor of 1.6x. Essentially, any camera of lenses; standard and premium.
with a sensor thats smaller than a Premium lenses are generally made
35mm frame of film will have a from higher quality optical glass, are
magnification or crop factor, due to the better built and, in many cases, offer a
smaller dimensions of the sensor. faster maximum aperture a term
Multiplying the focal length of any that refers to the lens widest aperture.
lens by the cameras magnification Lets say youre after a 70-200mm
factor gives the lens 35mm equivalent. telezoom, for example. A standard
So, if the Canon EOS 1000D has an model may have a maximum aperture
18-55mm lens attached, its actually of f/4-5.6. This means that the widest
offering the equivalent of a 29-88mm the aperture can open at 70mm is f/4
ABOVE One of the first lenses to lens in 35mm (18-55mm x 1.6). and at 200mm is f/5.6. A fast 70-
buy, after your standard 18-55mm In practical terms, this can be limiting 200mm telezoom, on the other hand,
kit zoom, is a telezoom offering a
range of focal lengths around the if youre a fan of wide-angle shooting may have a maximum aperture of f/2.8
55-250mm mark, or a macro lens. but, at the opposite end of the scale, all the way through the zoom range.
300mm TELEPHOTO
14mm WIDE-ANGLE
Which focal
length?
Landscapes, architecture
Up to 18mm
General picture-taking
18-50mm
Portraits
50-100mm
Sports and action
100-400mm
Wildlife
400mm and above
90mm MACRO
Exposure
modes
Which one to use, and when
Your DSLR is a marvel of modern camera design. But its amazing complexity
belies something all DSLRs hold in common a shutter that opens to allow
light to hit a sensor and record an image. Good exposure is a term thats
been hijacked by public relations agencies, but in photography its all about
manipulating the size of the aperture in the lens and the length of time the
shutter is open in order to get the right amount of light onto the sensor.
Your DSLR offers a variety of exposure modes to enable you to do just that.
Semi-automatic modes
Shooting using program modes is so camera, is represented by a high f/stop
easy that it can be tempting to simply number (eg f/22). Conversely, a wide
use them all the time. But then, there aperture, that allows more light in, is
will come a time when you want to shown by a low f/stop number (eg f/4).
start taking more creative control over But apertures dont only control light,
your pictures. Thankfully, DSLRs provide they also effect what is and isnt sharp
a middle ground between these point- in an image. The wider the aperture
and-shoot program modes and full-on you choose, the smaller that zone of
DIY manual exposures, in the form of sharpness. So if, for example, you were
semi-automatic modes. shooting a portrait and wanted the
The most common semi-automatic background to be out of focus, youd
modes on your DSLRs exposure mode select a wide aperture such as f/4.
dial are aperture-priority (Av or A) and

shutter-priority (Tv or S). Selecting
either of these modes allows you to Apertures control
take control of one half of the exposure
light, and sharpness too

equation, while the camera takes care
of the other.
In Av mode, then, you set the Conversely, if you were shooting a
aperture and the camera matches it landscape and wanted everything from
with a shutter speed to suit. Think of the gate in the foreground through to
the aperture as a hole in your lens that the hills in the background to be sharp,
can be made wider or smaller to let in youd select a small aperture (eg f/22).
more or less light. Apertures are As well as being the other half of the
represented by numbers called f/stops. exposure equation, the shutter speed
A small aperture, that reduces the you use also effects subject movement,
amount of light coming into the so if you want greater control over this,
ABOVE Selecting a wide aperture

(f/5.6) makes a cluttered
background look less messy.
choose shutter-priority (Tv or Time BELOW Shutter-priority is best for
value). In this mode you can, for sports and movement pictures.
example, freeze action with a fast
shutter speed, such as 1/2000sec, or
blur movement with a slow shutter
speed, such as one second.
Semi-automatic modes are perfect for
learning how shutter and aperture
values are linked. Many photographers
use them for the majority of their shots.
One note of caution: if the aperture or
shutter speed number starts flashing,
youll need to increase or reduce the
number to adjust the exposure.
moving objects such as kids TOP LEFT Program (P) allows you
Program modes playing or sports. Others (eg to concentrate on composition,
and catch a fleeting moment.
portrait mode) veer towards
Program (or P) mode is easiest to selecting larger apertures to throw ABOVE Manual (M) mode gives
use when you want a correct distracting backgrounds out of you full control over the way a
scene records. This was taken at
exposure. The camera selects the focus. Again, theyre handy for 1/8sec at f/5 and ISO 400.
exposure time the time the quick shooting and generally
shutter is open and size of the getting acquainted with your DSLR. RIGHT Explore the cameras sub
aperture. The advantage of using P Experiment with a few of them menus to find special preset
scene modes this shot was
is that it allows you to concentrate and study the results. Taking the taken using sunset mode.
on composing your shot, or simply same image using different scene
to take shots quickly when you modes will help you spot changes
dont have the time (or inclination) the camera is making.
to set the controls yourself. Some DSLRs let you change
Most DSLRS include additional aperture and shutter values while
scene modes the symbols on the youre in P mode, without affecting
mode dial next to P. These are exposure. This is termed Program
essentially fancy P modes, which Shift. You might, for example, want
are tailored to specific picture- to select a smaller aperture such
taking situations, altering as f/16 for greater front-to-back
exposure, focus and frame rate sharpness (depth-of-field). Do this
settings to get the best result. in P mode and the camera will
Some modes err towards faster automatically set a shutter speed
ABOVE A typical exposure dial
shutter speeds to freeze fast- for an accurate exposure. offers manual, program, semi-
automatic and scene modes.
Manual modes
Program mode is like driving a car that
has two settings: on and off. You can
steer the car from A to B but you have
no control over how fast it goes. Semi-
automatic modes give you a gearbox
and a sense of control. Manual mode
gives you a steering wheel, an
accelerator, air conditioning and Radio 2
playing loudly on the stereo.
In the manual mode denoted by an
M you make all the decisions for both
aperture and shutter speed, giving you
maximum creative control.
Use manual and therell be flashing
numbers but no pop-up flash. If you
want to get the exposure wrong, you
can! Thankfully, however, shooting in
manual is not based completely on
guesswork your cameras built-in
exposure meter will help you out.
Select M and a metering bar will
typically appear in the viewfinder and
Shooting
manually is not
all guesswork
the meter will
help out

on your DSLRs LCD. Above this bar is a
metering marker changing aperture
and/or shutter speed will cause this
marker to move. For an accurate
exposure, get the marker in the centre
of the bar: its that simple.
Manual mode is a great tool for
learning more about exposure, but you
shouldnt feel that its the only mode to
use if you want to shoot professional
quality pictures. Your DSLR has a full
set of exposure modes so theres no
point in tying yourself to just one.
Sure, youll have your favourite mode,
but photographers who know and
understand the merits of each one, plus
when to use them, are more likely to
bring home images of a consistently
high quality.
MULTI-ZONE
Get perfect
exposures Would Henri Cartier-Bresson have been a better photographer if hed have
used a lightmeter? The famous photojournalist was notorious for his disdain
of photographic gadgets of any kind, including lightmeters. These days,
meters are built into every DSLR and very sophisticated they are too, but
even so, there are certain situations that will trip them up.
SPOT/PARTIAL CENTRE-WEIGHTED
TYPES OF METERING
Multi-zone Spot/partial Centre-weighted

Manufacturers use various terms If you want to take a meter Back in the early days of SLRs,
for their multi-zone metering reading from a very specific part centre-weighted was the only
patterns. Canons is called of a scene, then you should metering pattern available. It does
Evaluative, Nikons Matrix while choose spot or partial metering. exactly what it says on the tin;
Sony goes for Honeycomb. These metering modes essentially biasing the metering towards the
In essence, each type performs perform the same task; taking a centre of the frame, but still
the same job; taking readings reading from just one part of the taking the rest of the frame into
from all zones across the image frame and disregarding account as well. The split in
and then using the results to everything else. emphasis is typically 75/25, but
deliver an accurate exposure. The only difference between some DSLRs allow you to define
These systems have become spot and partial metering is that the size of the central area.
increasingly advanced and many partial takes a reading from a Centre-weighted metering has
use additional information from larger area of the frame usually lately been eclipsed by multi-zone
other parts of the camera the the central 10 percent, as metering, but some
focusing system, for example to opposed to three percent with photographers still like to use it
further improve accuracy. spot metering. for general picture-taking.
OVEREXPOSURE
Reading histograms
The histogram that pops up on your Try this experiment. Take a picture of
cameras LCD after youve taken a a scene using your DSLR in program
picture may look like a mountain mode, but first dial in an exposure
range, but its job is to measure the compensation of -2. If the histogram
range of brightness values in an image, doesnt show up, consult the manual
from pure black to pure white. to find out how to turn it on.
By reading the peaks or bars, you Because youve deliberately
can work out a pictures contrast underexposed the picture by dialling in OVEREXPOSURE
range that is, how many tones there -2 stops, the bars dominate the left-
are between pure black and pure hand side of the graph, showing the
white and whether the picture is picture is too dark. When this happens
correctly exposed. The brighter an normally, increase exposure by dialling
object, the further towards the right of in +1 or +2 stops of compensation.
the histogram its bar will appear. Now take a second picture, dialling in
Conversely, the darker an object is, the +1 or +2 stops exposure
further to the left its bar will be. The compensation. Now the bars in the
far left of the graph represents pure histogram will bunch towards the right,
black and the far right, pure white. indicating overexposure. In severe
An average picture with good cases, the bars will be off the scale. To
contrast and even tonal range will be retain detail in the highlights, reduce
represented by bars spanning evenly exposure by dialling in -1 or -2 stops of
across the histogram, left to right. exposure compensation. Highlight peaks are bunched to the right.
+1 STOP CORRECT
Exposure
bracketing
All lightmeters are confused by certain
situations especially tricky lighting
such as strong back-lighting, which
tends to confuse a lightmeter into
underexposure. Subjects that are
predominantly black or white will also
confound; this is because meters like to
record the world as a muddy grey tone.
If you took all the tones in a picture
and averaged them out, the result

would be middle-grey. A simple
experiment will prove this: take a Lightmeters record the
picture of a white object such as a
world in middle grey

white-washed wall that fills the frame.
Take it in program mode using any of
your cameras metering methods. The way to do this is by using your
result might not be what you expected. cameras exposure compensation
The white wall is probably grey! button, usually represented by a +/-
A white object in bright sunlight can sign. Go back to your white wall and
be up to eight times brighter than dial in one stop (+1) extra exposure.
middle grey. That means you need to Then try +2 and +3. The wall will be
increase the amount of light hitting the brighter in each picture.
sensor to render it white. The easiest For a portrait of a Caucasian subject,
CORRECT UNDEREXPOSURE
CORRECT UNDEREXPOSURE
Highlights and shadows are evenly spread. Shadow peaks are bunched to the left.
-1 STOP
LEFT Autoexposure bracketing

allows you to take one exposure
at the estimated correct setting,
then a sequence of other
exposures in plus and minus
increments... eg +1 and +1.5
stops, then -1 and -1.5 stops.
You get to choose the expousre
you like best.
or a shadow on a white wall, dial in one the presumed correct exposure and the
stop (+1) extra exposure. The opposite subsequent exposures will vary by one
applies to a black wall, or dark subject. stop either side plus and minus. This
When youre uncertain about way you can be sure one of the
exposure, use autoexposure bracketing. exposures is good.
It may be hidden in the menu system, The mode youre in also determines
so check the camera manual. Once how the camera changes the exposure.
activated, your camera will take several In P mode, the camera will change both
pictures in succession at different shutter speed and aperture. In Av mode,
exposures, each varying by a specified it will keep the aperture constant,
increment from the estimated correct changing only shutter speed. In Tv
exposure. If you dial in +/- 1, the mode, it will keep the shutter speed the
camera will shoot the first picture at same, changing the aperture instead.
Sharpen your
focusing skills Autofocus has to be one of the greatest focusing feature that provides the best
inventions for the DSLR user but, like of both worlds, where the camera
most great inventions, its easy to get detects whether the subject is moving
blas about this impressive technology. or static and selects Continuous or One
As with most other DSLR functions, Shot focusing accordingly. Each
autofocusing systems have become manufacturer gives this dual-function
more and more sophisticated, with autofocusing a different name; Canon
most offering a range of AF options. calls it AI Focus.
Straight out of the box, your DSLR is Often, a DSLRs metering system is
likely to be set on One Shot linked to the active focusing point. This
autofocusing with all focusing zones assumes that the main focus point is
active. In this case, the camera will aligned with the main subject in frame.
automatically determine where the Peer through your cameras
main subject is in the scene and lock viewfinder and youll typically see a
With a moving subject

activate Servo or Continuous
focus onto this point. With the focus

series of squares or dots that signify
locked, you can reframe the image by your cameras focusing points. The
keeping light pressure on the shutter number of points can range from under
release, then pressing down fully to five to more than 50, depending on
take the shot. This option is fine your DSLR model.
for a large proportion of images Leave the choice of focusing point to
where the subject is static. your camera and it will illuminate the
If youre focusing on a selected point in the viewfinder when
moving subject, you need you press the shutter release to focus.
to activate a focusing DSLRs also allow you to select the
mode that constantly re- focusing point yourself. Such a feature
focuses, right up to the comes in handy if the autofocus isnt
point the image is taken. detecting the subject automatically, or
This is typically known as youre using One Shot autofocus and
Servo or Continuous dont want to reframe before taking
autofocus. In this mode, each picture. To select a focus point,
the camera will track the press the AF point selector button then
subject across the focusing points scroll through the points with the
ABOVE Most DSLRs offer a variety and, essentially, predict where the camera to your eye, until the required
of autofocus options such as subject will be at the precise moment point is illuminated in the viewfinder.
One Shot, Continuous or AI Focus.
Dont forget theres always when the picture is taken, ensuring One final piece of jargon to explain
manual focus to fall back on! sharp focus. Many DSLRs also offer a when it comes to autofocusing: cross-
ONE-SHOT SELECTIVE FOCUS POINT
type focusing points. Most DSLRs offer AI FOCUS

a cross-type focusing point in the
centre of the frame, but others offer
further cross-type points at other
focusing points. They all perform the
same function; focusing on image
contrast both vertically and horizontally,
which delivers a more accurate
focusing result. Naturally, the more
cross-type sensors your DSLR has, the
better the system will work.
Last but not least, dont forget about
manual focusing. Most DSLRs offer a
switch on the lens or camera body
which enables you to flick over to
manual focus. Why should you bother
focusing manually? Well, there will be
times when autofocus wont be able to
cope, typically when faced with
subjects that have little or no contrast,
are in low light or are highly reflective.
When this happens, its time to go
switch to manual and use the focusing
ring on your lens to ensure you get
sharp pictures.
File formats
When you take a digital picture, data comes off your DSLRs sensor in a
string of binary ones and zeros. The cameras processor then bundles the
information and saves the image as a file format. DSLRs typically use two
file formats JPEG and Raw although some top end models also
offer TIFFs. So which should you use?
JPEGs Each manufacturer has its

A JPEG is way of compressing own Raw format and
information, which means certain data provides Raw converter
from the image is regarded by the software free with your
cameras processor as redundant and DSLR. To make a Raw file
ignored. This is why the JPEG format is accessible to all, youll have
sometimes called a lossy format. to convert it into a TIFF or
The advantage of JPEGs is that the JPEG first. Programs such as
more compression takes place, the Adobe Photoshop
smaller the resulting file. You can store Lightroom and Apple
many more JPEGs on your DSLRs Aperture are designed to
memory card than Raw files. The catch handle and process large
is that as data is discarded, so image quantities of Raw files.
quality becomes compromised. Theres a lot of fuss about Raw files, ABOVE Raw files allow you 100%
Youll find settings to change the but heres some common-sense advice. control over the final image. Here
you can see that RAW is
quality of JPEGs in your cameras menu. Shoot the format you feel most selected on the LCD monitor.
Stick with the highest quality JPEG comfortable using. Some DSLRs will
setting. Depending on your cameras enable you to simultaneously capture RIGHT Raw and JPEG files can
both be manipulated in image
megapixel count, this will enable you to both Raw and JPEG files. editing software for instance
get a high quality print at least to A4. converting to B&W. Save Raw
JPEGs are readable by most software TIFFs files as TIFFs to retain maximum
image data.
programs and at the highest quality Although very few cameras shoot this
settings, you can achieve excellent file format in-camera, TIFF is a popular
results. If youre just finding your feet format for saving a Raw file after
with DSLR photography, shoot JPEGs. adjustment in an image-editing program
DSLR purists will tell you to shoot Raw such as Photoshop. This is because it
but the fact is, JPEGs are easier to use.

They can be emailed and uploaded to
websites and occupy much less space
on your computer.
DSLR purists will tell
you to shoot Raw...
Raw
If you dont want to lose data from your
images, shoot Raw. In Raw files, data
remains untouched by the cameras
processor and comes straight from the
sensor, leaving you in total control over
stores information without discarding
image data. Its sometimes called a
lossless file format for this reason. This
means a TIFF may be edited and re-
saved many times without losing image

the final image. The disadvantage with quality. Most image-editing programs
WILL CHEUNG
Raw is that files occupy more space on can read TIFFs but the file sizes are
your memory cards. considerably larger than JPEGs.
ABOVE Canons own Raw

conversion software is Digital
Whats the fuss about RAW?
Photo Professional, allowing for
batch processing, quick previews Some photographers see shooting however, only has 8 bits, or 256 tones
and saving to TIFF or JPEG. Raw akin to playing a piano with half per channel, so when you shoot a
the keys missing! Thats because JPEG, the camera has to dump the
when you shoot a Raw image, the excess tones. That said, the human
data coming off the sensor is 12-bit, eye can only see around 16 million
which gives 4096 tones for each of colours and, as an 8-bit JPEG contains
the red, green and blue (RGB) colour just over 16 million colours, you might
channels. (Some DSLRs shoot 14-bit question whether its worth the extra
images, giving 16,384 tones.) A JPEG, effort to get the most from Raw.
Simultaneous shooting
the best of both worlds!
Many DSLRs offer the facility to shoot Raw and JPEG files
at the same time check in your cameras instruction
manual to see if yours does.
The huge benefit of this is that after downloading all
the shots to your computer, you can quickly scroll through
the JPEGs to see if any may be worth working on. If youve
captured some crackers that require some tweaks, simply
find the corresponding Raw file and process it accordingly.
The bad news? Shooting in both file formats reduces
memory card capacity even more, especially if youre
capturing Raw files and large JPEGs.
Making light
work of ISOs DSLRs have many advantages over Noise is seen in pictures as pixels that
other types of camera, but high on the are abnormal, such as dark pixels on a
list has to be the ability to change ISO light area, or a red pixel in a blue sky.
at the press of a button. No need to Its most prominent in shadow areas
wait until the end of the film as with and dark colours in an image. The
traditional SLRs, just select the ISO for greater the ISO speed, the greater the
your needs and keep shooting. noise visible in the final picture. You
If ISO is an unfamiliar term to you, it could say its like grain in film; the
refers to the cameras sensitivity to higher the film speed, the more
ABOVE Changing the ISO setting light. This sensitivity is measured in ISO prominent the grain.
alters your DSLR sensors numbers, typically running from ISO 100 As with film, image quality is higher at
sensitivity to light, also affecting
the signal to noise ratio. The to ISO 3200, although some models lower ISOs, where tones will be
higher the ISO, the more noise. offer sensitivities both above and below smoother and colours more accurate.
these figures. Every DSLR performs well up to ISO
Each ISO step upwards represents a 400, but some start to struggle when
doubling in the sensors sensitivity to the sensitivity increases to ISO 1600
light. So, a picture taken at 1/60sec at and beyond. Try shooting the same
f/11 at ISO 100 will be the same scene at all ISO settings on your DSLR
The greater the ISO speed,

the greater the visible noise
exposure as one taken at 1/60sec at

so you can ascertain how many of your
f/16 at ISO 200. cameras settings are actually usable.
In the early days of digital, the light Noise also occurs during long
sensitivity of film was measured using exposures. Most DSLRs include some
the ISO (International Standards type of built-in noise reduction (or NR),
Organisation) standard, and so it was which combats noise at the processing
natural for image sensors to be rated in stage. Some DSLRs allow you to choose
the same way, even though the science between types of noise reduction,
is different. What were really talking strengths of application from normal to
about is a sensors ISO-equivalent, high, and some allow you to turn noise
because when you adjust the ISO speed reduction off altogether.
of a sensor, youre really adjusting its Why would you want to turn noise
gain or amplifying the signal that reduction off? Noise reduction does a
comes off the sensor. good job of reducing noise but all
Increasing the ISO speed or gain of a techniques to reduce noise involve a
sensor affects its signal-to-noise ratio. compromise. Fine detail is often
sacrificed. Activating noise reduction software such as Adobes Camera Raw, ISO 100 ORIGINAL
also slows your shooting speed and which ships with Adobe Photoshop
there may be a shift in colour, especially Elements, ignores in-camera settings
with high ISO noise reduction. like noise reduction.
To minimise noise in the first place, Sometimes when shooting long
use a low ISO sensitivity between 100 exposures you may see stuck pixels
and 400. on the final image. These are pixels that
Raw images are unaffected by noise are always on or always off. If theyre
reduction unless youve selected on, they usually appear as a single red,
noise reduction in-camera which will be green or blue speck. If theyre off, youll
activated by your DSLRs supplied see them as a single dark speck on a
software during Raw file conversion. light background. Most sensors have
Canons Raw Image Task software is them and noise reduction can help to
one example. Third-party conversion remove them.
Explore your ISO settings

Explore both extremes of your DSLRs ISO dial right up to the fastest
settings. Here weve tried ultra-fast ISO 25,600. Image quality is always
compromised at high ISO, with image noise, errant colours and pixellation.
ISO 100 ISO 400
ISO 800 ISO 1600
ISO 6400 ISO 25,600
White-balance White-balance ensures white objects Take full control

come out white in your images; the Sometimes youll find yourself facing a
principle being that if the white is right, subject lit by two or more light sources,
all the other colours in the scene will each one with a different colour
also be accurately rendered. Every type temperature. You could simply choose
of light sunlight, shadows, tungsten, Auto white-balance and let the camera
fluorescent etc has a colour figure it out, or you could create your
temperature, which refers to the own custom white-balance setting
warmth or coolness of the light. using an A4 sheet of white paper.
Our eyes and brain combine very DSLRs employ various methods of
well to assess what is white under setting custom white-balance, but
different lighting, automatically getting essentially you should place the sheet
rid of any colour cast the light may of paper in the light for which you want
have, but DSLRs are less savvy and so to get a correct white-balance reading.
need a helping hand. Take a picture of the paper, filling the
Your DSLR will have a range of white- frame, then tell the camera to tweak
balance settings and theyre all there to settings so the paper records white.
White-balance can be used

for all sorts of pictorial effects
help you to get the whitest whites.

This will, in turn, be saved in the
Most photographers leave white- cameras custom white-balance setting
balance set to Auto, which is fine. In and can be used for all subsequent
this mode, the camera will assess the shots taken in those same lighting
conditions and take a best guess at the conditions.
white-balance setting often getting it If the light changes, youll need to
spot on. take another shot of the paper and
There will be occasions, though, when repeat the process.
Auto wont achieve the right white- If the idea of carrying sheets of paper
balance for the conditions youre around doesnt appeal, there is another
shooting in. So, if youd prefer to take option; shoot using the Raw file format.
matters into your own hands, turn to Once you get the files on your
your DSLRs preset options and scroll computer, you have all the same white-
through to find the one which describes balance controls as you do on your
your lighting most accurately. camera, so you can use the one that
For instance, if youre shooting best suits your image.
indoors under conventional household Its worth remembering that white-
bulbs, you should select the tungsten balance is there to be played with and
preset. Conversely, if youre shooting can be used for pictorial effects. Try
outdoors in overcast conditions, choose taking the same shot using all your
ABOVE The white-balance setting the cloudy preset. cameras white-balance settings and
is easy to adjust according to the Just remember to change back to assessing the results. They wont all be
available light. If your camera has
a WB button, press it; if not, its Auto (or another preset) as soon as the good, but some could add an extra
probably hidden in a sub-menu... lighting changes. dimension to your images.
AUTO WB CLOUDY
CUSTOM DAYLIGHT
FLASH FLUORESCENT
SHADE TUNGSTEN
ABOVE Compare the various white-balance settings on your DSLR and youll see how the camera will correct the orange light from
domestic light bulbs (fluorescent and tungsten) by adding blue. You can use these settings outdoors for a cool blue look.
Using your
built-in flash A large percentage of DSLRs feature to activate your DSLRs anti red-eye
a built-in flash, and while its not feature. People pictures taken with a
powerful enough to light a cameras built-in flash can often suffer
cathedral interior, its handy for a from this ghoulish effect where the
range of photo situations. subjects pupils appear bright red. This
If youre shooting with a program occurs because the flash is so close to
or scene exposure mode, chances the cameras lens axis it can record the
are your DSLR will fire its redness inside the subjects eyes.
built-in flash automatically. DSLRs use various methods to
Or, a flash thunderbolt icon counter the problem, from firing a
will blink in the viewfinder, series of rapid flash bursts to shining a
advising you to switch the constant torch beam of light just prior
flash on. Once the flash is to the picture being taken. Whatever
charged and ready to fire, the method, they all perform the same
the thunderbolt will function: reducing your subjects pupils
stop blinking. to minimise the effect.
If youre shooting Its always worth warning your
portraits with flash its best subject(s) before taking the picture!
WITHOUT FLASH
Using flash outdoors

Fill-in flash is handy when cameras flash menu. Once
taking pictures outdoors. Its the flash is up, try taking a
most commonly used for shot to see what you get.
portraits on bright days Chances are your DSLR
when your subjects face or will be sophisticated enough
features may be casting to handle the exposure
shadows, but can be equally automatically. If not, find WITH FLASH
useful for nature images, too. your DSLRs flash exposure
Confusingly, most DSLRs compensation function,
dont offer a specific fill-in select -1, -1.5 and -2 and
flash mode. Instead you take additional shots at
have to force the flash to least one will look more
fire in conditions when natural. What youre doing
ordinarily it wouldnt. This is here is reducing the output
typically done either by of the flash, so it combines
popping the flash up or naturally with the daylight to
activating Flash On in your fill-in the shadows. A burst of gentle fill-in flash removes shadows.
NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE
NORMAL FLASH
speed) is flashing in the viewfinder, it means that the

Using flash at night light is too low for handholding the camera. Get it on
a tripod or suffer shots with camera shake.
If you shoot a lot of images outdoors in low light DSLRs do offer one feature, however, thats very
using a tripod, you wont always want the flash to handy for use outdoors at night: night portrait mode.
fire. In these circumstances, its best to turn the flash This is ideal for those times when you want to
off. This can be done via your cameras flash menu. photograph someone in front of a floodlit building. In
Even with the flash turned off, your DSLR will usually this mode, the camera couples a burst of flash with a
advise you to turn it back on via the flashing long exposure so both the person and the building
thunderbolt in the viewfinder. Its handy to use this as are correctly exposed. Again, youll need your camera
a reminder to put your camera on a tripod or some on a tripod as the shutter speed will be too long to
other support. If the thunderbolt (or the shutter avoid camera shake if you handhold it.
FLASH Your DSLRs built-in

flash isnt that
If you have a lens
hood on your lens,
Setting it to minus
figures will make the
TOP TIPS powerful dont

expect it to illuminate
take it off before you
use the built-in flash,
burst more subtle.
Make sure your
anything more than a otherwise it could subject isnt too close.
few metres away. block the light. At less than a metre
The higher the ISO Get to know how the flash may be too
you use, the greater your flash exposure strong and coverage
its effective distance. compensation works. may be affected.
Next month
Continue your quest for
great pictures with our
32-page guide free with
the April 2009 issue of
Photography Monthly.
On sale March 12
Essential
Photo
techniques
explained
Depth-of-field demystified! Composition conquered!
Focusing fixed! Perspective sorted!
LEE BEEL

Master Your DSLR: in Minutes

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PM MARCH SUPP 01:Layout 1 22/1/09 14:37 Page 1

23 ALL YOU NEED TO

28 GET THE MOST FROM

SELECT AN ISO SETTING

CHOOSE A DRIVE MODE

SET THE PICTURE STYLE

UPLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE

CHARGE THE BATTERY

STORE YOUR IMAGES

Most photographers are

ABOVE Selecting a wide aperture

Multi-zone Spot/partial Centre-weighted

LEFT Autoexposure bracketing

With a moving subject

ONE-SHOT SELECTIVE FOCUS POINT

type focusing points. Most DSLRs offer AI FOCUS

JPEGs Each manufacturer has its

ABOVE Canons own Raw

The greater the ISO speed,

Explore your ISO settings

ISO 100 ISO 400

ISO 800 ISO 1600

ISO 6400 ISO 25,600

White-balance White-balance ensures white objects Take full control

White-balance can be used

Using flash outdoors

NIGHT PORTRAIT MODE

speed) is flashing in the viewfinder, it means that the

FLASH Your DSLRs built-in

TOP TIPS powerful dont

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