SLR cameras come in film and digital formats.
The SLR camera stands for "single lens reflex." It contains a pentaprism which directs light so that exactly what you see through the viewfinder is what you will capture on the film or chip. This type of camera has many advantages, such as exchangeable lenses and manual exposure controls. Getting to know use one takes a little practice, but it is worth it for the ability to control your image.
Instructions
1. Set your camera's ISO. This determines how sensitive the film or chip is to light. This can be set to your choice for a digital SLR, but film camera ISOs should match the speed of the film used with the camera. The ISO may be set digitally or as part of the dial within the shutter speed that is lifted and twisted.
2. Decide which shooting mode to work in. In Program -- P -- mode, the camera decides settings based on the available light. Shutter Speed Priority mode is Tv and lets you choose the shutter speed and have the camera decide the aperture. Aperture Priority mode, or Av, lets you set the aperture with the camera deciding shutter speed. Manual mode -- M -- lets you choose both settings based on the light meter's information.
3. Locate your camera's light meter display if you are working in manual mode. This may be a needle on one side of your viewfinder that leans toward plus and minus signs. It could also be a digital display of bars placed under a minus sign, large dot and plus sign. Once the needle lines up between the signs, or only one bar appears below the large dot, the exposure settings are ideal for the given composition.
4. Adjust the aperture and shutter speed settings to achieve this proper exposure. Film SLRs may have an aperture ring around the lens and a shutter speed dial on top of the camera body. Digital SLRs show the shutter speed and aperture numbers in a display panel. Separate dials may be available to change each value, or there may be one dial used in combination with another button to change one value.
5. Focus the image by using the automatic or manual focus mode. In automatic mode, focus is achieved by half-way depressing the shutter release button. In manual mode, turn the focus ring located at the front of the lens. Some cameras have a microprism or split-focusing aid to help. Turn the focus ring until the dots in the microprism disappear or the split-focused images join together.
6. Press the shutter release button to capture the image. With some film cameras, you may have to turn a film-advance lever to move the film to the next exposure, or the camera may do so automatically.
7. Press the rewind release button, located at the bottom of the camera body, when the roll of a film SLR is complete. This allows you to use the winder, located at the top-left side of a camera body, to wind the film back into its cartridge. Pull up the winder to open the camera back and retrieve the film.
Tags: shutter speed, camera body, mode lets, release button, cameras have, film chip, focus ring
