Basic Manual Control of a DSLR Camera

Naixn 2008

Photographers don’t just take photographs -

they make them !

© Produced by Yon Ankersmit for curious-eye.com 2009

Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera
The basic operation of a DSLR is as
follows: for viewing purposes, the
mirror reflects the light coming
through the lens upwards at an
approximately 90 degree angle. It
is then reflected by the pentaprism
to the photographer's eye. During
exposure (when the photograph is
taken), the mirror swings upward,
and a shutter opens, allowing the
lens to project light through the Cross-section view of DSLR system
aperture onto the film / sensor. 1 - 4-element lens + aperture
2 - Reflex mirror
3 - Focal-plane shutter
4 – Sensor / film
5 - Matte focusing screen
aperture 6 - Condenser lens
7 - Pentaprism
8 - Eyepiece

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-lens_reflex_camera
 Photography is the Art of Recording Light
In order to record light successfully you need to know how to
control your camera settings manually. Understanding
photography exposure allows you to give correct instructions to
your camera about:

Film / Sensor Speed

Your camera
Aperture
is just a tool -
Shutter Speed you are the

Light Metering artist

 Basic DSLR Camera Operation

The constant = ISO setting = sensitivity of film / sensor to light

The variables = Aperture = adjustable opening in lens
= Shutter Speed = duration of exposure

The aperture controls volume of light = the science of photography

The aperture controls depth of field / focus = the art of photography

The shutter controls duration of exposure = the science of photography

The shutter controls appearance of motion = the art of photography

Aperture + Shutter Speed = Exposure the science of
photography

Aperture + Shutter Speed = Pictorial Outcome the art of

photography

Camera: Mamiya RB 6x7 + 65mm wide angle lens*

Exposure Pictorial Outcomes

Scene: strong Medium format negative:
directional sunlight detail retained when
from behind the enlarged
photographer
100 ISO: broad tonal range
Film ISO: 100
f/22: broad depth of field;
Aperture Priority: f/22 precise edge definition
Camera mounted on No camera shake
tripod
*distortion of space
Clive Stone, mid 198o’s
 Film / Sensor ISO
ISO
rating sensitivity to light doubles each stop

50 100 200 400 800 1600 3200 6400

sensitivity to light halves each stop

the science:
sensitivity of
Slow Fast
film/sensor more light required less light required
to light

the art: fine grain coarse grain

pictorial
outcome (DSLR) less noise (DSLR) more noise
more tonal detail less tonal detail - high contrast
precise edge definition looser edge definition
 Shutter Speed

duration of exposure halves each stop

30” 15” 8” 4” 2” 1” 2 4 8 15 30 60 125 250 500 1000 2000

duration of exposure doubles each stop

the science:
slow shutter speed sensitivity of fast shutter speed
= longer exposure to light film/sensor
to light = shorter exposure to light

the art:
Motion appears blurred * pictorial Motion appears frozen*
outcome

* relative to speed of motion being photographed

 Aperture
aperture size halves each stop

f1 f1.8 f2 f2.8 f4 f5.6 f8 f11 f16 f22

aperture size doubles each stop

the science:
Large aperture sensitivity of small aperture
film/sensor
larger volume of light to light smaller volume of light
the art:
narrow depth of field pictorial wide depth of field
outcome
 The f/stop = focal length of the lens
diameter of the lens

The f/stop number is

the ratio between the
diameter of the
aperture in the lens
and the focal length
of the lens. The focal
length is generally 50mm
measured in
millimeters. = f/2
On a standard 50mm

25mm
SLR lens with an
aperture diameter of
25mm, the f/stop
number is 2 = f/2.
Images not to scale
On the same 50mm
lens with an aperture
diameter of 12.5mm,
the f/stop number is 4
= f/4

50mm

12.5mm
= f/4
and with an aperture
diameter of 6.25mm,

6.25mm
the f/stop number is 8 = f/8
= f/8
Images not to scale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number
 Exposure Combinations

“Correct” exposure can be selected by

using various combinations of film / sensor
speed, shutter speed, and aperture setting.

One way to think of apertures and shutter speeds is to use the analogy of a
tap for the aperture and a timer for the shutter speed.

When you open a tap all the way, water pours out and a container is filled
in a very short time.

When you open a tap just a little, water trickles out and so it takes a much
longer time to fill the same container.

No matter which combination of volume (flow of water) and duration

(length of time the tap is on) you choose, the bucket will be filled the
same amount.
 Likewise, the film or sensor in a camera can be exposed the same amount
by various aperture and shutter speed combinations.
For example, the exposure combinations below allow the same volume of
light to enter the camera. However, the pictorial outcomes are quite
different.

Pictorial Outcomes
Exposure Combinations =

f/2 @ 1/1000 Depth of field is

Shutter speed lengthens

Aperture size increases

shallow and there is

f/2.8 @ 1/500 little possibility of
subject or camera
same volume of light

f/4 @ 1/250 blur.

f/5.6 @ 1/125 Depth of field

increases slightly
f/8 @ 1/60 and the possibility of
subject or camera
f/11 @ 1/30 blur increases.

Depth of field
f/16 @ 1/15 increases even more
as does the
f/ 22 @ 1/8 possibility of subject
or camera blur.
 Using the Aperture and Shutter Together

Aperture Priority - manually Shutter Speed Priority -

select the aperture first, then manually select the shutter
use light meter to select the speed first, then the light
shutter speed meter to select the aperture
Aperture Priority Mode - Shutter Speed Priority
manually select the aperture, Mode - manually select the
and the camera aperture, and the camera
automatically selects shutter automatically selects
speed shutter speed

The photographer The photographer

prioritises the zone of sharp prioritises the appearance
focusing, that is, the depth of motion, whether it is
of field. blurred or frozen
 Through the Lens (TTL) Light Meter
The TTL meter is a reflective meter as it measures the light bouncing
off the subject and into the camera lens.
DSLR cameras provide limited area metering including centre-
weighted and spot metering options.

The light meter is calibrated to “read for” average light reflectance

(18%). This equates to in black and white photography, hence
the need to overexpose in bright lighting conditions and
underexpose in dark lighting conditions.

This drawing shows how the exposure meter

system of a DSX1000 works, the red lines
describing the electric circuit. There is one light
sensitive sensor for spot metering in the mirror,
and two sensors (only one shown) for the area
metering behind the prism.
 Using the Light Meter in Manual Mode

Set ISO rating Select either Aperture Priority

Set the aperture
Use the light meter*
to assist you in
Shutter Speed Priority selecting the
Set shutter speed “correct”
corresponding
Use the light meter* shutter speed
to assist you in coordinate
selecting the
“correct”
corresponding
aperture (f/stop) Compose your shot
and focus the lens

Press the shutter release button to make the shot

*Learn about light metering: http://www.moosepeterson.com/techtips/flash.html

 No light meter??
Don’t worry … use the
Rule of f/16
A “correct” exposure will be obtained on a sunny day
using ISO 100, an aperture of f/16 and a shutter speed of
1/125 (the closest equivalent) of a second.

f/16 @ 1/125

At an aperture of f/16 on a sunny day, a suitable shutter

speed will be 1 / the film speed. For example if you are
using ISO 200, your shutter speed will be 1/250 (the
closest equivalent).
f/16 @ 1/250