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How To Use Your New Digital Camera

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strider_mt2k
12/26/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
The exhale trick is the BEST.
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dc-united
12/26/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
For 99% of people using digital cameras, shooting RAW is a waste of time and space. I'd be willing to be that they wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an image captured in RAW mode and one captured as a JPG.
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ripfire
12/26/08

@dc-united: Yep. RAW would only be best during post processing which most people don't do. Most of the time, they take a picture and have it printed directly from Costco or Target.
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FuturePastNow
12/25/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
I have to disagree on the RAW thing. You should shoot RAW if you know that you need it, but if you know that, you don't need Gizmodo's advice.

There are situations where RAW is useful, but for most people, most of the time, JPEG is a better choice. Even with a DSLR.
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wayale
12/25/08

@FuturePastNow: Well, most people don't pack DSLRs, which was what the usage of RAW advice applied to. Do you think JPEGs are a better choice because they take up less space and don't require any post-processing for the average consumer? I think the intention of the whole post is not to find the best photography methods that adapt to the average consumer but to advise on photography methods that make you a better photographer.
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FuturePastNow
12/25/08

@wayale: The only way to become a better photographer is to go out and take lots of pictures of lots of different people, places, and things. Many of those pictures are going to be junk and few will be worth editing in Photoshop, so why bother using a format that friends and family can't even view?
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ripfire
12/26/08

@FuturePastNow: I agree. The only time I need to use RAW if it's something I'm intentionally setting up for a shot and I have the intention to *heavily* post-process it in the end. Even then, I use JPEG+RAW. During post, I experiment on the JPEG, then apply my final process on the RAW. It just runs faster that way.

@wayale: If this post intended to make someone a better photographer, then it shouldn't matter whether you're shooting digital or film. In my opinion, the number 1 rule is always composition. For starters, I would recommend the rule of 3rds.
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ifstone
12/25/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
Have to disagree with the sepia recommendation or the use of just about any other in-camera effect. Much better to apply things like this on the computer, so you have more flexibility.

And conversions to black-and-white or tinted B&W can often be better if you choose particular channels (RGB) rather than using overall luminance. The red channel often looks best.
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ripfire
12/26/08

@ifstone: Yeah. It seems weird how RAW is recommended yet in-camera effects are included as well.
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Urban-Sophist
12/25/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
On DSLRs, try experimenting with focus points other than the one in the center, especially if you tend to "focus and recompose" on your subject.

Also, play with different aperture settings. The results can be pretty interesting. Setting your mode to Aperture Priority (Av) helps ensure that your exposure will be correct if you're not comfortable in full manual mode.
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ripfire
12/26/08

@Urban-Sophist: I don't think there's anything wrong with "focus & recompose". It's easier to focus on the spot exactly where you want it. Although, I find the multi AF points handy on fast moving objects or scene.

As for full manual mode, I wouldn't use it unless I'm in a studio or a setting where lighting is controlled or shooting only at the same spot several times. Most of the time, I use AE lock.

Heck, it's digital. Shoot and experiment as much as you want. :)
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balls187
12/25/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
Thanks Giz, but a couple nit-picks:

Proper white balance has you use an 18% grey card, not pure white.

Shoot in Raw if it makes sense. RAW requires a conversion process to get usable prints (if you has space RAW+JPEG is a good option). Personally I shoot raw, but I also don't have deadlines to meet.

Tips:

Just get out there and shoot. You're ability is directly proportional to the number of images you take.

Try to get out of full-auto mode, and learn how to shoot full manual. You get a lot more control of how your exposure turns out.
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discounteggroll
12/25/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
how dare you have summer glau and the word crappy in the same sentence.
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Monkey Bars
12/26/08

@discounteggroll: No one said crappy. Other than you.

I know this because I had no idea what a "summer glau" is.
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discounteggroll
12/26/08

@monkeybars:

Apparantly Mark Wilson has access to an edit button an ninja exchanged "on crappy photos" with the words "whenever humanly possible"

thanks for taking the initiative and doing the right thing Mark!
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Ruud
12/25/08

In reply to How To Use Your New Digital Camera
I totally disagree on manual whitebalance, it't too much of a hastle and most cameras do a great (!) job as long as there's not too much green in yout shot. Most non high-end DSLR owners don't even know what whitebalance is, let alone pick the right setting...

Whitebalancing on paper is a no-no as well, because 'white' paper isn't white, it's blue-ish.
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Mark Wilson
12/25/08

@Ruud: Yeah, that's definitely a fair point about white/grey. I will say, having shot pro video for a few years, a white piece of paper was often the most realistic solution to white balance in a pinch. But WB to a white or even off-white wall will generally get you closer than auto mode will on lower end cameras.
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ifstone
12/25/08

@Ruud: Have to disagree because I see too many amateur photos with incorrect white balance, probably due to auto WB getting confused. One sees so many outdoor shots with an unnatural blue cast.

Years ago I had a Sony camcorder with no manual white balance, and the auto WB was often wrong at the worst time. It would interpret golden evening or morning sun as an incandescent bulb, resulting in horrible blue cast. And there are times when you want to shoot in incandescent light using the outdoor white balance.
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