Photography tips

Important things in a photo:

  1. Subject
  2. Color
  3. Clear
  4. Story
  5. Good Background
  6. Focus
  7. No use of flash
  8. Back lighting
  9. Angle of camera and subject

 

Types of Cameras:

 

1. Compact cameras- heap, small, light and fool proof. As the name suggests, just point it in the general direction of the subject and press the button. The camera does the rest.

2. Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras (DSLRs)- Though this comes at the price of a serious increase in weight and bulk (and, well, price), they are also much more uncomprimising on everything that matters. In particular, they have interchangeable lenses which allows you to always have the best lens for the occasion.

3. Mirrorless- ) cameras are new hybrids which started appearing in 2008. There are different standards: Sony has NEX, Panasonic and Olympus use micro-4/3 and Fuji has the X-series. The concept is to remove the bulky mirror and pentaprism necessary for the optical viewfinder of a DSLR, but to keep the other capabilities, in particular large sensors and interchangeable lenses.

ADVANTAGE of COMPACT CAMERAS- Their main advantages, as said, is their low profile. They are so small and unobtrusive that you are likely to carry them all the time, and to have them handy when you need them. After all, even the crappiest camera you have with you beats the amazing one you left at home. Their small size is also an advantage when you want to be discreet. Most people will assume you are just a tourist and won’t give you a second look, whereas even a small DSLR will attract attention.

DISADVANTAGE of COMPACT CAMERAS- Unfortunately, the downsides are many, as this type of camera will make many – too many – compromises. In particular, the sensor will be very small. This means that low light capabilities are very bad, and images are often unusable from ISO 400 due to noise. Another consequence is that depth of field (the total area in focus, more on this in another lesson) is always huge, which is sometimes a good thing but limits the ability to separate a subject from its background. Except in high-end compacts, lenses tend to be of rather mediocre quality and with limited maximal apertures, which has an impact on image quality, among other things.

ADVANTAGE of DSLRs- In particular, they have interchangeable lenses which allows you to always have the best lens for the occasion. Even APS-C (DX) cameras have big enough sensors to allow shallow depth of field and good low light/dynamic range quality. There is an optical viewfinder, which allows framing in the worst light conditions and is generally more responsive than any electronic screen.

The annoyances of compact cameras are also gone: shutter lag is virtually unknown, autofocus generally very fast (though this depends on the lens) and even entry-level cameras provide full manual control along with their scene modes.There are several different sensor sizes, commonly called “cropped sensor”, “APS-C” or “DX” for the smaller versions, and “full frame” or “FX” for the bigger ones, which correspond exactly to the size of 35mm film.

DISADVANTAGE of DSLRs- One of the obvious drawbacks of DSLR cameras, when compared to mirrorless digital cameras and even smartphones equipped with high-end cameras, is their size.The main body of these cameras is generally bulky due to the reflex design scheme. Of course, the body would not suffice alone. Photographers also carry with them different add-on gears that include lenses of varying sizes and for different purposes, detachable flash, battery pack, and other peripherals.hese cameras have simpler design schemes generally made of a digital viewfinder, digital image sensor, and computer processing hardware. Smartphones are more compact than both DSLR and mirrorless cameras and thus, more ideal for casual photography.

ADVANTAGE of MIRRORLESS CAMERAS- The concept is to remove the bulky mirror and pentaprism necessary for the optical viewfinder of a DSLR, but to keep the other capabilities, in particular large sensors and interchangeable lenses. This allows for a drastic reduction in size, putting them closer to compacts than DSLRs. Whether the sacrifice of the optical viewfinder in exchange for a smaller size is worthwhile will be an entirely personal choice.

DISADVANTAGE of MIRRORLESS CAMERAS-

When you change the lens on a DSLR, the sensor is mostly protected by that mirror that sits right in front of it.  Dust can still get into the camera housing when you change lenses, but floaties in the air are less likely to land on the sensor. When you change the lens on a mirrorless camera, bam, the precious, delicate sensor is vulnerable to the world, right there in front.  This is one of the most expensive disadvantages of mirrorless cameras.