Activity 2.2: Camera Basics

• Image size/quality: The image is measured by the number of pixels. The quality of pictures depend on the pixels. The higher of the pixels are, the higher resolution of the pictures could get.  JPEG is a default format that is used by every digital camera. RAW images are often better than the JPEG images because they are not processed on your camera but on your desktop. RAW images can be edited, viewed, and converted to any other formats on a photo editing program such as photoshop, photobucket ...  

• Picture modes and Custom color modes: There are many picture modes on a digital camera such as manual mode, automatic mode, landscape mode, portrait mode ... These modes are used in certain situations like where, when, what and how you are taking photos. Custom color modes are used in different times, locations such as day mode, night mode ....

• Burst shooting, timer shooting, and intervalometer: Burst shooting is also known as high speed shooting which means it allows the photographer to capture every moment of the motions quickly such as a soccer player runs on the field. Then, the photographer can choose the best image. Timer shooting is when the photographer sets a limit time and the camera will shoot automatically after the countdown.  

• Metering modes: Spot, Area, Dynamic: the metering mode refers to the way in which camera determines the exposure. Spot metering is the metering that camera will only measure a very small area of the scene. 

• AF modes: Continuous, Servo: AF stands for Auto focus. It is a system that is used in the digital camera: sensor, control system, focus point. Once you learn how to focus, it would be easier for you whether you want to blur something on purpose.

• Histograms: It is a graph which displays where all of the brightness contained in the picture, from the darkest to the brightest. 

Sources: 

Reichmann, Michael. "Understanding Histograms." Understanding Histograms. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml>. 

"DSLR Autofocus Modes Explained." Photography Life. PHOTOGRAPHY LIFE, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://photographylife.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained>.

"Metering Mode." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metering_mode>.