There are plenty of price points. Digital SLRs are not the most expensive camera option. While some are extremely pricey, many consumer models cost less than most tablets.
❯❯ You can make money with them. Become a semi-pro or professional photographer with your dSLR. Start a studio. Become a wedding photographer. Make money selling news photos, sports photos, nature photos, the stars, advertising photos, stock photos, or artistic prints.
❯❯ You’re in control, but you don’t have to be. Digital SLRs enable you to control the camera as much or as little as you want. If you're new to photography, you can pick up an entry-level consumer model and start taking photos right away. If you're a professional, you have access to cameras with tremendous features and power you need to succeed.
FIGURE 1-25: The proof is in the pudding – photography worth pursuing.
FIGURE 1-26: The ability to change lenses is a strength of the dSLR over a compact camera.
FIGURE 1-27: Digital SLR viewfinders just work; rabbit not included.
FIGURE 1-28: Pop up the flash for extra light.
In the final analysis, my advice is this: Don’t spend years messing around with point-and-shoot cameras, smartphones, or tablets struggling to take better photos. If you’re interested in photography, pick up a dSLR or dSLT and start taking gorgeous pictures and movies that you’ll treasure for a lifetime today.
Chapter 2
Handling, Cleaning, and Protecting Your Camera
IN THIS CHAPTER
❯❯ dSLR anatomy class
❯❯ Getting a good grip
❯❯ Changing batteries and memory cards
❯❯ Cleaning and protecting your camera
Good woodworkers know how to handle and care for tools like saws, hammers, screwdrivers, and lathes. Good photographers should know how to handle and care for their tools too. This practical chapter emphasizes working with your digital SLR, batteries, memory cards, developing cleaning techniques, protecting your camera, and more. These are important skills to master. With a little bit of practice, you’ll quickly become proficient at them – and your photography will only get better.
Anatomy of a dSLR
I think one of the most effective ways to learn photography is to become more knowledgeable about your camera. Knowing what and where the controls are enables you to use them without having to stop and think about it all the time. When that happens, you'll find that you're focused on photography, not operating a sophisticated gadget. That's the good news. The even better news is that it's not really hard (like most things, effort is the greatest hurdle to get over).
Different cameras have different controls, but dSLR design is pretty standardized. The figures in this section show a mix of recent and older dSLRs.
Front and center
Figure 2-1 shows the front of a Canon T6i with the lens attached. The most obvious feature in this view is the lens, which secures to the camera body using the lens mount. Aside from the lens, the front of most cameras may have several other features. Examples include the lens release button (most often on the left as you look directly at the front of the camera; Pentax cameras are on the right), focus and flash controls, a depth-of-field preview button, remote sensors, self-timer lamps, AF illuminators, and possibly a microphone or two.
FIGURE 2-1: Camera fronts do not typically have many controls.
Around back
Your office and the camera command center are around back. You’ll do most of your work here: view and compose the scene, focus, adjust settings, review photos, and take photos. Learn the names and functions of all the buttons, knobs, levers, and screens. That will enable you to work them without hesitation.
Figure 2-2 shows the back of the Canon EOS Rebel T6i. Aside from the plethora of buttons, two other important features are the LCD monitor and viewfinder.
FIGURE 2-2: The back of this camera has a wide variety of buttons.
You'll use the monitor to display camera settings, shooting functions, and the menu; to play back photos and movies; and to frame and focus when shooting in Live View mode (a special viewing mode that displays the scene on the monitor instead of through the viewfinder). Your camera's LCD monitor is so important that you can't operate a modern dSLR without it. Protect it and keep it clean.
Many dSLRs and dSLTs come with articulated monitors. Although the style may vary, they all swing or move up and out from the back of the camera so you can position them. They can be faced inward to protect the monitor.
The primary purpose of the viewfinder is to show you the scene, but it also displays lots of helpful information relating to the shooting mode, exposure details, and the focus and metering modes you’re in.
The other features on the back of the camera are normally organized into functional areas related to focus, exposure, or playback. Many times, buttons can have more than one purpose, depending on the mode your camera is in.
Top and bottom
Figure 2-3 shows the top of the Canon T6i. At minimum, the top will have a power switch, a dial or button to set the shooting mode, and the shutter button. Some cameras have more than one large dial on the top of the camera (the Pentax K-1 has three!). You may also see one or more shooting function buttons that let you set the ISO speed and enter exposure correction. More expensive cameras have a top LCD panel. The pop-up flash (if applicable; many full-frame models and the odd cropped-frame model do not have a built-in flash) and accessory shoe (also called the hot shoe, which is used to mount accessories and an external flash to the camera) are located here.
FIGURE 2-3: This Canon has several buttons and other controls on the top.
