The 15 Features of Your DSLR That Every Photographer Should Know

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The 15 Features of Your DSLR That Every Photographer Should Know

There’s a lot to learn when you first get a DSLR. The first things you need to know is how to get out of auto mode and start using your camera’s manual function.

Jeff covers a heap of ground – some is quite introductory but he does get a little more advanced too with lots of great examples.

The video is around an hour long so grab yourself a cup of your favourite beverage and settle in for some good learning.

15 Things You Should Know:

  1. Shooting Modes – Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Mode. Each has their own purpose.
  2. Depth-of-Field – This is a measure of how much of the scene is in focus and is most easily controlled by changing the aperture.
  3. ISO – This increases the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light, but also increases that amount of digital noise.
  4. Focus Modes – There’s fixed focus and servo focus, as well as a hybrid mode. Which is best to use depends on the movement of your subject.
  5. Focal Points – Selecting one or several focus points can help you fine-tune your focusing.
  6. Back Focus – Using the button on the back to focus can help you snap photos faster.
  7. Exposure Compensation – This is handy for tweaking the exposure values that the camera determines.
  8. Custom White Balance – If you want perfect white balance, customizing it is you best option.
  9. Highlight Control – Shows areas of the photo that have been blown out.
  10. Metering Modes – This controls how your camera determines the exposure.
  11. Live View Mode – This helps for previewing your exposure and fine-tuning your focus.
  12. Flash Control – Knowing when and how to control your flash is important when lighting your image.
  13. Image Stabilization – More importantly, when NOT to use this because it’s not always needed.
  14. The Beep – That beep when you focus for the most part is unnecessary.
  15. Customizable Menu – For an easier time navigating your menus, you can make your own.

Video overview

  • 2:46 shooting modes
  • 6:30 aperture
  • 15:50 ISO
  • 22:23 burst mode
  • 24:59 focus modes
  • 30:27 back button focus
  • 35:58 focal points
  • 41:10 exposure comp
  • 44:30 white balance
  • 46:28 highlight control
  • 49:17 metering
  • 53:14 live view
  • 56:27 flash
  • 1:03:26 image stabilisation
  • 1:04:23 the beep
  • 1:05:13 custom menu