Now, buying a digital camera is very easy. But for users, do you really use the camera in your hands? Especially for novices, there will be many problems in the process of using the entry-level SLR or entry-level micro-single. Should I use aperture priority or shutter priority? How to save power on the camera? Looking at the viewfinder with your left or right eye?
1. When taking a photo, should I focus first or compose the image first?
What is focusing first? When taking a picture, first press the shutter halfway, move the camera to compose the picture after the focus is locked, and then press the full shutter to take the picture. What is framed first is to focus and take pictures after the composition is completed. The dispute between these two methods has never stopped.
I have used both methods, but I would like to talk to you first. I suggest you compose the picture first and then focus. why?
Why focus first and then compose the picture? Because the number of focus points of early cameras is very small, usually less than 10 focus points, so you need to focus before you can compose the picture, otherwise there is a high probability that the focus point no longer wants to focus after the composition. . But now is different. Today’s cameras, especially mirrorless cameras, have hundreds of focus points at every turn, so after composing the picture, these focus points are enough to meet any “abnormal” focus needs of yours.
The method of focusing first and then composing the image has been used before. This method can be used for ordinary kit lenses, but if you are using a large aperture fixed focus lens such as F1.2 and F1.4, then this method is not Apply again. With a large aperture, a slight displacement after focusing may cause the focal plane to change, which will cause the things you originally wanted to focus on to be blurred.
How about using the method of composing the image first and then focusing? This method is a completely error-free way of use for current cameras. After you compose the picture, move the focus point to the place where you want to compose the picture, and you can complete the whole shooting process. Therefore, it is recommended that you compose the picture first, and then focus.
2. Should I use aperture priority or shutter priority?
Aperture priority is the AV file in the camera, the user mainly controls the size of the aperture, and the shutter speed is determined by the camera; the shutter priority is the TV file of the camera, the user mainly controls the shutter size, and the aperture is determined by the camera (will not exceed the lens support range). So when we take pictures, should we use aperture priority or shutter priority?
The camera actually has many gears, the core of which is Auto (full automatic), P (program priority), AV (aperture priority), TV (shutter priority), and M (manual). If you want to learn photography, you must first get rid of Auto files and P files, these are too “dumb”; M files require a certain foundation before they can be used, and they are not recommended for new photographers. Then you have to choose from AV files and TV files.
According to experience, more than 95% of the scenes need to use AV files, and the remaining 5% will use TV and M files.
Many well-known photography enthusiasts and photographers usually use AV files to shoot most scenes when they go out. In this way, the degree of blurring in the picture can be controlled and the picture can achieve different effects. But if you encounter a scene where you need to capture a dynamic picture, the TV file is preferred, such as capturing athletes, racing cars, horse racing, etc.
Although it is recommended that you use the AV gear for most scenes, everyone’s photography habits are different, and it’s no problem if you keep using the TV file. Whether to use the AV file or the TV file first, this is determined by personal habits, there is no right or wrong.
3. The camera’s battery life has always been a shortcoming in use.
Most SLR cameras have a practical endurance of 800 frames or more, but card cameras and mirrorless cameras cannot reach this level. I have experienced many related products. Basically, I only took 200-300 shots in the morning and the battery was tight. This is still summer, and the battery life is worse in winter. Therefore, if you want to improve the battery life, you need to perform power-saving operations in use.
3-1. Don’t switch the machine frequently
Many people have this misunderstanding. Turn off the camera after taking a photo, and turn it on when you take another photo. Turning on and off the camera are actually very power-consuming links. Frequent turning on and off of the camera will waste a lot of electricity, and it is unnecessary. When you are not taking pictures, the camera will soon enter the standby state. This time can be set in the menu, and the camera will not wake up until the user operates.
This standby state is similar to shutdown, and it will not experience some complicated shutdown and startup actions when the machine is turned on and off, so it will save more power. When in use, the camera will be turned off only if you do not take pictures for a long time, otherwise the camera will be in the state of taking pictures or standby.
3-2. Don’t delete photos or replay too much in the camera
Many people have the habit of deleting photos when they are taken. In fact, this is a power-consuming operation. After the photo is taken, the camera screen is used for a long time browsing and deleting the photo, and the screen is one of the most power-consuming parts of the camera. Lighting the screen for such a long time will cause a lot of electricity to be wasted. Therefore, it is more appropriate to return to the resting place at night to browse and delete the photos.
3-3. Reduce unnecessary operations
Many people have the habit of half-pressing the shutter button, which is the problem of half-pressing the shutter button unconsciously while holding the camera. If you press the shutter button halfway frequently, the camera cannot enter the standby state, and the focusing system and metering system will always work, which will waste a lot of electricity. If there is this problem, it must be corrected.
3-4, reduce the use of screen viewfinder
If your camera does not have a viewfinder and only has a screen viewfinder, please ignore this one. If the camera has a viewfinder, you can choose to use the viewfinder first. As mentioned before, the screen of the camera is one of the most power-consuming parts, so if you can use it less, you can use it less.
3-5. Reduce the use of built-in camera flash
For example, some SLR cameras, most mirrorless cameras, and most card cameras are equipped with built-in flashes. The use of flashes is also very power-consuming. And some beginners or ordinary users like to use the camera’s automatic gear, and often automatically turn on and use the flash. If possible, try to choose the option of turning off the flash in the mode to avoid automatic pop-up use.
I believe that friends who try to use SLR or high-end mirrorless cameras will have a problem. Should they look at the viewfinder with the left eye or the right eye? There is no uniform statement here.
We can see that in all kinds of TV commercials and print photos, almost all photos are taken with the right eye in the same water, so many people think that the camera must be designed for the right eye. The cameras are all right-handed, but no manufacturer has said that the camera is only designed for the right eye.
Whether to use the left eye or the right eye to view the viewfinder is completely a matter of personal habit, and there is no difference or design difference. Therefore, at the beginning of photography, you are accustomed to using which eye as the main visual eye, so there is no need to entangle this issue.
In fact, the above mentioned are mainly photography habits and photography misunderstandings, especially for beginners. Maybe no one will systematically explain these issues for everyone. The most important thing to do to start a photography journey is to lay a good foundation, have a good photography habit, and avoid photography misunderstandings. These are very important for the future growth of photography.
