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Using a DSLR for the first time
By Brett Turner
You bought a digital single lens reflex camera for more photographic control. However, if you keep the dial set to fully automatic (green) mode, your DSLR simply turns into an expensive point and shoot.
If you’ve used a compact digital camera, you’re already familiar with its automatic capabilities. In green mode the camera, whether compact or DSLR, selects the ISO, aperture, shutter speed and even the image quality. The camera also determines when to turn on the built-in flash.
The better option is to switch to program mode. The DSLR still does most of the thinking for you but program mode provides menu settings for more creative control. Let’s take a look at some of them.
DSLR focus points
As of this writing, DSLRs have between 3 and 45 focus points. They are all active unless you opt to choose only one.
Which focus point I select depends on the Auto Focus mode used. If I am in One Shot then I only use one point, usually center. In Servo mode, I set the camera to all focus points.
In One Shot the camera will focus faster and more accurately. Servo modes work best when the camera uses all targets to track motion and predict where the subject will be.
RAW + JPG - shoot both
DSLRs can shoot JPEG and RAW, or JPEG + RAW, simultaneously. The problem shooting only JPEG is that it is a one-shot deal. If anything goes wrong, there may be little chance of correcting it when editing.
When shooting RAW, most settings such as white balance and exposure can be changed with little or no harm to the original image. The downside is that RAW takes up a lot of space on a memory card and usually takes more time to process at the computer.
I shoot RAW + JPEG. It gives pictures that can be used immediately (JPEGs) and provides a safety net (RAW) if I need to make improvements when editing.
DSLR auto white balance
If you shoot RAW, leave the camera set on auto white balance. With RAW files, you can correct white balance even if it’s wrong. It can be more difficult to correct JPEGs.
If shooting JPEG only, pay closer attention to the white balance setting. As you become more familiar with the camera, use custom white balance. Just remember to change it when the light changes.
ISO - keep it low
Unlike film cameras, the ISO setting on a digital camera can be changed between shots. While DSLRs produce much better quality images with less noise at high ISO numbers than compacts, it’s still best to shoot at the lowest possible ISO.
Rather than use auto ISO, keep your camera set to ISO 100. Many DSLRs have a dedicated ISO button, so changing the setting when necessary is quick and easy.
Part two: Suggested DSLR modes