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FIGURE 1-23: Attach an external microphone for superior audio quality.
FIGURE 1-24: Remotes are totally worth it; wireless remotes even more.
I don't have the space to list every type of dSLR accessory. Use this list as a start and keep looking!
Embracing dSLRs
Ultimately, only you can decide if a dSLR is the right camera for you. Every system, every camera, and every technology has tradeoffs. Digital SLRs aren't as small as compact or mirrorless cameras, as cool as tablets, as handy as your smartphone, or as simple to use as a paper weight. However, they have a lot going for them.
❯❯ They take great photos. The dSLR is a fantastic tool that can help you take great still and moving pictures. That’s what this is all about. In addition, they are flexible enough to perform well in a wide variety of situations and lighting. Whether you use your dSLR professionally or as a family camera, you will appreciate the quality of the photos, especially compared to those you can take with most smartphones and tablets. You’re right in the action in Figure 1-25. As fun as other devices are, this shot would have been impossible for me to take with a smartphone, tablet, or a less capable camera.
❯❯ You can change lenses. Tailor your camera to take the photos you want. Shoot close-ups, sweeping landscapes, macros, ultra-wide-angle shots, telephoto action, intimate portraits, family gatherings, slow waterfalls, and everything in between. Invest in superior quality lenses to make photos look even better. Figure 1-26 illustrates the point perfectly. While the compact Canon camera is adequate, it will never have a lens other than the one it was built with. The Nikon dSLR, on the other hand, is sporting an outlandish 300mm telephoto lens. It can be swapped for something completely different in about 5 seconds.
❯❯ Focusing is a strength. Digital SLRs have world-class autofocusing technology and features. This is an important point. If you’ve tried to capture action or focus on a specific point using a smartphone or tablet, you know how frustrating it can be. Digital SLR autofocus technologies work with precision and flexibility to enable you to reliably focus on what you want, when you want.
❯❯ The viewfinders are awesome. The worst dSLR viewfinder is larger, clearer, brighter, and better (see Figure 1-27) than any viewfinder you’ll find on a compact or super-zoom camera, assuming it even has one. Many don’t, which makes you rely exclusively on the LCD monitor on the back. Under many conditions, LCD monitors are okay. However, they don’t work well in bright light. In addition, smartphones and tablets seem to suffer from display-lag at the worst time when taking photos. Digital SLR viewfinders outperform LCD monitors on most devices. And if you want to use the monitor on the back of the camera, you can.
❯❯ They have flash. Most dSLRs have a built-in (see Figure 1-28) flash that is capable of lighting your scenes and subjects. All dSLRs have a hot shoe on top of their viewfinder, which enables you to mount an external flash (and other accessories) that you can rotate, swivel, and bounce. Try that with your iPad.
❯❯ There are plenty of price points. Digital SLRs are not the most expensive camera option. While some are extremely pricey, many consumer models cost less than most tablets.
❯❯ You can make money with them. Become a semi-pro or professional photographer with your dSLR. Start a studio. Become a wedding photographer. Make money selling news photos, sports photos, nature photos, the stars, advertising photos, stock photos, or artistic prints.
❯❯ You’re in control, but you don’t have to be. Digital SLRs enable you to control the camera as much or as little as you want. If you're new to photography, you can pick up an entry-level consumer model and start taking photos right away. If you're a professional, you have access to cameras with tremendous features and power you need to succeed.
FIGURE 1-25: The proof is in the pudding – photography worth pursuing.
FIGURE 1-26: The ability to change lenses is a strength of the dSLR over a compact camera.
FIGURE 1-27: Digital SLR viewfinders just work; rabbit not included.
FIGURE 1-28: Pop up the flash for extra light.
In the final analysis, my advice is this: Don’t spend years messing around with point-and-shoot cameras, smartphones, or tablets struggling to take better photos. If you’re interested in photography, pick up a dSLR or dSLT and start taking gorgeous pictures and movies that you’ll treasure for a lifetime today.
Chapter 2
Handling, Cleaning, and Protecting Your Camera
IN THIS CHAPTER
❯❯ dSLR anatomy class
❯❯ Getting a good grip
❯❯ Changing batteries and memory cards
❯❯ Cleaning and protecting your camera
Good woodworkers know how to handle and care for tools like saws, hammers, screwdrivers, and lathes. Good photographers should know how to handle and care for their tools too. This practical chapter emphasizes working with your digital SLR, batteries, memory cards, developing cleaning techniques, protecting your camera, and more. These are important skills to master. With a little bit of practice, you’ll quickly become proficient at them – and your photography will only get better.
Anatomy of a dSLR
I think one of the most effective ways to learn photography is to become more knowledgeable about your camera. Knowing what and where the controls are enables you to use them without having to stop and think about it all the time. When that happens, you'll find that you're focused on photography, not operating a sophisticated gadget. That's the good news. The even better news is that it's not really hard (like most things, effort is the greatest hurdle to get over).
Different cameras have different controls, but dSLR design is pretty standardized. The figures in this section show a mix of recent and older dSLRs.
Front and center
Figure 2-1 shows the front of a Canon T6i with the lens attached. The most obvious feature in this view is the lens, which secures to the camera body using the lens mount. Aside from the lens, the front of most cameras may have several other features. Examples include the lens release button (most often on the left as you look directly at the front of the camera; Pentax cameras are on the right), focus and flash controls, a depth-of-field preview button, remote sensors, self-timer lamps, AF illuminators, and possibly a microphone or two.
FIGURE 2-1: Camera fronts do not typically have many controls.
Around back
Your office and the camera command