From Point & Shoot to DSLR:
A compact guide to transitioning to an interchangeable-lens camera.
By Bob Gallimore
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Bob Gallimore
All contents and cover photographs copyright © 2011 by Bob Gallimore. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.
The information provided in this publication is provided “as is.” No warranties are made with regard to the information provided in this publication, and the author and publisher shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by the use of any information provided in this publication.
Once you are finished using your e-copy of this guide, you may pass it along to a friend or family member as you would a printed book. If you wish to retain your copy, or want to distribute multiple copies, please purchase additional copies for distribution as you would a printed book. Please do not make the text or file of this guide available for download from the Internet. Additional copies of this guide can be purchased by visiting http://photoguide.aboutbob.net.
1. Auto / Scene Modes: "Just like my point-and-shoot!"
2. Program Mode: First step toward freedom.
3. ISO / White Balance / Exposure Compensation /Flash Compensation: Minding the details.
4. Shutter / Aperture Priority Modes: Learning to control light.
5. Manual Mode & Manual Focuus: Flying solo.
6. Post-processing: Raw? JPEG? What?
9. Accessories: Serve and protect.
Introduction
I
didn’t learn photography from a camera manual or a 400-page
“how-to” book. I learned it from my dad, who introduced
the features of my old Minolta SLR to me one-by-one. We started with
the basics, and once I had a workable grasp of one concept, we moved
to another.
That’s the idea behind this guide. It
assumes you’ve used a camera phone or a point-and-shoot,
compact camera, so you have some familiarity with using a camera. You
now have a new DSLR or other interchangeable lens digital camera, and
you want to begin using it--meaningfully--without trying to decipher
the manual or reading hundreds of pages in a comprehensive
guide.
We’ll begin with the basics and work our way up.
You’ll be able to understand and use some of the advanced
features of your new camera within 10 minutes, and each subsequent
topic should take a similar amount of time.
We’ll avoid
most of the technical jargon of the camera manual or the information
saturation of the comprehensive guides. There are plenty of places to
go to learn that information when you’re ready for it. For now,
you want to use your camera, and this guide is here to help. Think of
it as the helpful relative next to you on Christmas morning, ready to
assist you in using that shiny new present right out of the box.
One
note regarding terminology: we use the term DSLR throughout this
guide. However, there are many interchangeable lens systems available
today that do not fit within the traditional definition of a DSLR.
These include the Olympus and Panasonic Micro 4/3 system, the Nikon 1
system, and the Sony NEX system. Because these systems all offer
interchangeable lenses, full manual control, and the other features
discussed in this guide, it is equally applicable to them.
And
that’s enough introduction; let’s go take photos!