No matter how long you’ve had your digital camera, there’s always something to learn. And if you’ve just bought your first camera body, the learning curve can seem impossibly steep. But it needn’t be a painful slog. In this tutorial we’ll help you get the most from your DSLR by explaining some of the key camera features found on almost every camera body. Learning these camera features early on in your development will ensure you avoid some of the common camera mistakes and get much better shots as a result.
Camera features on the front of your camera body
Camera features on the back of your camera body
01 Red-eye reduction
To stop the flash bouncing off the subject’s retinas and causing glowing red eyes this lamp will emit a burst of light to make the subject’s pupils shrink before the flash is triggered. The lamp also acts as a handy self-timer countdown indicator.
To stop the flash bouncing off the subject’s retinas and causing glowing red eyes this lamp will emit a burst of light to make the subject’s pupils shrink before the flash is triggered. The lamp also acts as a handy self-timer countdown indicator.
02 Focusing ring
In Auto Focus mode this ring rotates until the camera has focussed on the subject. In Manual Focus mode you can rotate the focus ring with your hand to focus on a specific subject.
In Auto Focus mode this ring rotates until the camera has focussed on the subject. In Manual Focus mode you can rotate the focus ring with your hand to focus on a specific subject.
03 Zoom ring
Rotate this ring clockwise to zoom out for a wide-angle view. Rotate it anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise) to zoom in for a close-up on your subject.
Rotate this ring clockwise to zoom out for a wide-angle view. Rotate it anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise) to zoom in for a close-up on your subject.
04 Flash button
When shooting using the Creative Zone or manual modes you can tell the built-in flash to pop up by pressing here.
When shooting using the Creative Zone or manual modes you can tell the built-in flash to pop up by pressing here.
05 Focus mode switch
Leave this set on AF (Auto Focus) if you want the camera to control the focusing. Flip the switch to MF (Manual Focus) when you want to control the focus yourself. In MF mode you can still use the AF points in the viewfinder to tell you when the subject is in sharp focus.
Leave this set on AF (Auto Focus) if you want the camera to control the focusing. Flip the switch to MF (Manual Focus) when you want to control the focus yourself. In MF mode you can still use the AF points in the viewfinder to tell you when the subject is in sharp focus.
06 Image Stabilizer switch
The lens’s IS (Image Stabilizer) is designed to stop blur caused by camera shake (which is especially noticeable when you’re zoomed in on a distant subject. Nikon IS lenses have a similar VR (Vibration Reduction) switch.
The lens’s IS (Image Stabilizer) is designed to stop blur caused by camera shake (which is especially noticeable when you’re zoomed in on a distant subject. Nikon IS lenses have a similar VR (Vibration Reduction) switch.
07 Built-in microphone
Most cameras such as the Canon 500D (pictured above) can now record video. Sound to go with it is recorded through a microphone like this (though it will also record camera handling noises like the zoom ring being rotated!).
Most cameras such as the Canon 500D (pictured above) can now record video. Sound to go with it is recorded through a microphone like this (though it will also record camera handling noises like the zoom ring being rotated!).
08 Depth of Field preview button
By pressing here, you can get the camera to stop down to the lens’s current aperture setting. You can then preview how much of the shot will be in focus by looking through the viewfinder or by checking the Live View display.
By pressing here, you can get the camera to stop down to the lens’s current aperture setting. You can then preview how much of the shot will be in focus by looking through the viewfinder or by checking the Live View display.
01 Aperture/Exposure Compensation button
On Manual mode hold this button down and turn the Main dial to open or close the aperture. In some other modes (like Aperture Value) you can set the camera to open up or close down a stop using this button and the Main dial.
On Manual mode hold this button down and turn the Main dial to open or close the aperture. In some other modes (like Aperture Value) you can set the camera to open up or close down a stop using this button and the Main dial.
02 AF point selection
Press this button then rotate the Main dial to select which Auto Focus point the camera will use. It also enables you to zoom in on a shot when you play it back on the camera’s LCD.
Press this button then rotate the Main dial to select which Auto Focus point the camera will use. It also enables you to zoom in on a shot when you play it back on the camera’s LCD.
03 AE Lock button
This button enables you to lock the camera’s exposure once you’ve taken a reading of the scene’s lighting. You can also use it to zoom out of a shot when viewing it on the LCD in playback mode. It also lets you focus the camera when using Live View.
This button enables you to lock the camera’s exposure once you’ve taken a reading of the scene’s lighting. You can also use it to zoom out of a shot when viewing it on the LCD in playback mode. It also lets you focus the camera when using Live View.
04 Live View
Press here to display what the camera will capture on the LCD screen. Most new cameras have a live LCD function, which saves you from having to look through the viewfinder.
Press here to display what the camera will capture on the LCD screen. Most new cameras have a live LCD function, which saves you from having to look through the viewfinder.
05 Cross keys
These cross key buttons allow you to navigate through the camera’s menus and sub-menus. You can then press the Set button to choose a specific menu setting. Nikon calls these buttons the Multi-selector. Each button also acts as a shortcut to popular functions like WB (White Balance) or AF (Auto Focus).
These cross key buttons allow you to navigate through the camera’s menus and sub-menus. You can then press the Set button to choose a specific menu setting. Nikon calls these buttons the Multi-selector. Each button also acts as a shortcut to popular functions like WB (White Balance) or AF (Auto Focus).
06 Self-timer
This cross key button lets you change the camera from Single shooting to Continuous shooting mode (or change the self-timer settings).
This cross key button lets you change the camera from Single shooting to Continuous shooting mode (or change the self-timer settings).
07 Playback button
The Playback button enables you to review the shots that you’ve captured on the camera’s memory card.
The Playback button enables you to review the shots that you’ve captured on the camera’s memory card.
08 Erase button
The universal trashcan symbol lets you delete the file you’re currently viewing on the camera’s LCD screen.
The universal trashcan symbol lets you delete the file you’re currently viewing on the camera’s LCD screen.
09 Menu button
Click here to access a vast array of menus and sub menus so that you can alter the way it behaves to suit your requirements. This button lets you access and change the Quality settings for example.
Camera features on the top of your camera bodyClick here to access a vast array of menus and sub menus so that you can alter the way it behaves to suit your requirements. This button lets you access and change the Quality settings for example.
01 Built-in flash
When there’s not enough available light to capture a decent exposure, your DSLR’s built-in flash can pop-up to shine some light on the situation. In some modes, you may need to pop it up manually. If there’s not enough light for the camera’s Auto Focus to function the flash unit can also produce a burst of light to help, called an AF-assist beam.
When there’s not enough available light to capture a decent exposure, your DSLR’s built-in flash can pop-up to shine some light on the situation. In some modes, you may need to pop it up manually. If there’s not enough light for the camera’s Auto Focus to function the flash unit can also produce a burst of light to help, called an AF-assist beam.
02 Shutter button
Press this button all the way down to capture a shot. Press it half way down to focus and take an exposure reading of the scene’s lighting. Also press here to wake the camera up after it has gone into sleep mode.
Press this button all the way down to capture a shot. Press it half way down to focus and take an exposure reading of the scene’s lighting. Also press here to wake the camera up after it has gone into sleep mode.
03 Main Dial
Rotating this dial enables you to manually set the camera’s aperture or shutter speed. It’s called the Command dial on a Nikon.
Rotating this dial enables you to manually set the camera’s aperture or shutter speed. It’s called the Command dial on a Nikon.
04 ISO button
Click here to choose an ISO speed for the camera to use. You can then use the Main Dial to select a faster ISO speed to make the camera more sensitive to low light. You can also set the ISO speed manually by going through the menu system on most digital SLRs and many compacts.
Click here to choose an ISO speed for the camera to use. You can then use the Main Dial to select a faster ISO speed to make the camera more sensitive to low light. You can also set the ISO speed manually by going through the menu system on most digital SLRs and many compacts.
05 On/off switch
Turn the camera off when not in use (though it will automatically fall asleep to save power after 30 seconds).
Turn the camera off when not in use (though it will automatically fall asleep to save power after 30 seconds).
06 Mode Dial
Rotate this dial to choose a shooting mode. The camera will then set the appropriate aperture and shutter speed setting (as well as processing colour in different ways depending on the mode). There are Basic shooting modes for every type of subject (like Portrait or Landscape).
Rotate this dial to choose a shooting mode. The camera will then set the appropriate aperture and shutter speed setting (as well as processing colour in different ways depending on the mode). There are Basic shooting modes for every type of subject (like Portrait or Landscape).
07 Flash hot shoe mount
All DSLRs enable you to mount a more powerful flashgun on top of the camera so that you can illuminate distant subjects (and perform more creative and effective flash-related shots).
All DSLRs enable you to mount a more powerful flashgun on top of the camera so that you can illuminate distant subjects (and perform more creative and effective flash-related shots).
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