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Mastering Digital Photography
$14.95 incl GST lrd Edition
EPSON EXCEED YOUR VISION
CHAPTER 1 Equipment Choices How to select the right camera and accessories for your requirements.
CHAPTER 2 l enses and Focusing How to ensure the right partS of the subject will be sharp in your pictures.
CHAPTER 3: Controlling Subject Brightness Understanding and uSing exposure controls.
CHAPTER 4 Getting Colour Right How to ensure your photos have natural-looking colours.
CHAPTER 5 Equipment for Photo Editing Discover what hardware and software you need to ed~ your photos.
CHAPTER 6 Editing Basics Basic editing tools and how to use them.
CHAPTER 7 Scanning and Archiving HOW to copy preciOus analogue photos p lus practical strategies for storing digital images.
CHAPTER 8 Choosing a Printer Factors you should consider v.1len buying a digital printer.
CHAPTER 9 Inks and Papers Choosing the best papers and inkS for long-lasting. great·looking prints.
CHAPTER 10 Image Sharing, Display and Preservation A survey of the latest and most effective ways to share your dig~aI photos.
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INTRODUCTION:
Get More Out of Your Digital Camera
Corrm..ricatng with pictures is al essential pM of
CU ~ life so ~'s ~ to have at least
a basic LRJerstMdng of how to take, ad;Jst and
share digital photos. Today's cameras and pri'lta-s
can deliver great resutts 'Nhen thai' capabilities
we hAy utiSed.!\rd, regardless of ...methl:w' yoa
pictl.l'eS ate holiday ~ts, ccreUy (;(l(rfXlSEId
creative mages, goup shots of farriy rnerrtJers
MCilO" friends 0" a gsat shot of yoa pet; all these
subjectS make engagng vieYkg,
'Mlen they're yoo- 0'M'l shots they have al
9'TlOIiOnaI CO'YleCt01 because they're of places
and people you know and ate I'lvoo'ved with. It's
nati.ffl 10 Walt to shcwe yoa besl iTIages - and ~'s
never been easiEw' to do so.
Pmtng yoo- photos is the best way to ~
they ate preserved fO" the tutl6e - and one of the
best ~ 10 shcwe them. But ~'s roN iJSI as easy
to sI'I<n! yoo- JXtues via SOCial websites, tablets
ike the iPad and the latest srna-t-phones,
The latest cameras and printers make It easy t o produce photographs you're proud to share.
ThiS 9(itiOn of Mastering Digital Photography
has been written 10" everybody, !rem faTjies
buyhg thai' fIrSt ama-a to ~ts who have
traveled from ftTl 10 digKaI. It's desigled to help
aI 0V0KlEII'S Of digital stil cameras to master the
eQI.IPnent and processes that &Jerf day become
easiEw' to use and ~ faiUe-prool.
OJ oI::ljeCtive is to assist you to become a better
photcgrap'ler and expb'e more w(rf$ to share
the iO'! 01 phot~ with others. In ttMs pocket
guide you'l fnd a wide ra'lge of topics, startrog
with d'loosirg equipfnenl that will best meet yoo-
"""'. The Wsl ~er outliles the different types 01
e<rnera available and ~ thai' advantages and liTlilatiOns, It also ksts key featl.l'eS to look
for MIen selectng a mnera and provides ~ for assessi'lg the potential iTlage quafty from them,
along with accessories that e<n make yoo- pictl$e
t<Nlg more successfIJ.
From there, we move on II"rou\tlIlYee chapters coverng a series of tips on the mnera setlilg$
used 10 control mage~, trig'1Iness and
coIou' to two chapters deaIi'lg with edilng. The frst
looks at the eq..ipment you need to ed~ iTlages
and movies. The second covers basic adjuStments
that c1 photographers $hO.j(I be able to make.
The next chapter looks at ~ and
arctMlg preci:xJs mages, We then swap to
ilvest'gatrg priltng optiOns, I'1ck.JdI'g c:hoosrIg a pri'lter for home use and SliIabIe media for pri'lll'lg
with. We end with an CNf:IView of optiOns for
sh<ril;J and dispIa'yYlg yoa best photos.
Mastering Digital Photography is writter'l n nontecmballanguage and preser1ts the 1lformat01
It's now easier than ever to improve your photography and e~plore new ways to share the joy of photography.
you need i1 a wert thaI is etaSf 10 LJXIefsI(W"lCL
H's a handy general.p!..fJXl66 guide to assist all
ph)togapher$, from flrS\-tine C<YIl&'3. tx.rye-s to
experienced C<YIl&'3. 0'Ml€IfS who pIcn to L.P;T<Ide
to a reN model with ~ resokJIiOn ardfor erhanced featues Md f1.nctiorlaity.
fJ.s with other pocket guides i1 the Photo
Review series, the thrd editiOn of the Mastering
Digital PtJotography pocket guide is backed by
Photo Review Pustraia rnagame Md webSite,
The rnagame is po.bIi:shed qua1:etty Md ccmes i1Sprationai p::rttoIios, t:luyrg guides and
i1formatOlai /eatues on stootilg end edi\i)g
dignal photos.
The Photo Review 'N9bsiIe (www,pholoreview.
com.au) po..bIistles reviews of the latest caneras,
lenses and othEr i'nagI""g ~t. H also
provides reguIcY reN up:jales, i1formatiOn sheets
on specific product types Md tips on buyi"lg Md
USi1g digital cameras, along witI1li'kS to soflw<re you e<n clowr*:lad. You e<n also Ioc;ale Australian
retai&'s that OffEr" good deals on ~t
p!..fChases Md have knowledgeable staff to help
you make the rig'1I t:luyrg decisions.
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CHAPTER 1
Equipment Choices Today's camera buyefs have plenty of options
to choose from and H should be possible to find
the right type and model for just about anyone,
as long as you clearly identify your requirements.
The following factors are usually listed as having
the greatest W1fluence on buying decisiOns:
percetved image quality, zoom range, desirable
camera functions and price and value for money.
Different tx.yers win have different priorities,
although most wil want a camera that delivers
the best mage quality for ~s priCe and comes
at a size and wHh as many as possible of the
functions they would like. This chapter will cover
the different types 01 camera you can choose
from and outline some of the useful accessories
What Kind of Photographer AreYou?
The best w<JI to find out wtic/1 cameras will be
the best buys for you is to match the abil~ies and
I1terests Of the camera user to the CM"l€!ra type.
Poinl-and-press photographers are mainly
interested in the end resu~ and don', want to
f(ldle around w~h lots of complex controlS.
DigiCams are usually the best choice for thiS
group, a~hough they could also considef an
entry-level OSLR or mirrorless camera if they
want the best image quality plus an optiOn to
lake their photography to the nexllevel.
Intermediate level photographers require
the reassurance of poi1t-ancHx8SS ~ity but would like to be ~ to use some more
complex controls, partiCularly if they want to
learn as they shoot. Photographers n thiS goup
that can make photography more enjOyable.
We'll also look briefly at some special
capabmties, suc/l as video and panorama
recording and conSider the value of n -camera
speci31 effects.
CAMERA TYPES
Essentially the camera market can be dMded
nto Six main sectors:
1. Digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras
offer the highest feature levels and picture quality.
Because they come with interchangeable lenses,
they are also the most versatile, Most recent
modelS can record both still pictures and HO
video rTlO\Iies.
may also be anracted by the creative shooting
f'1'lOdes and special effects offered by many
cameras. AI typeS of caneras wil suH this QIOl.P
of PlOtographer$ but advanced digicams and
entry·1eveI DSLRs wil provide the besl startng
poilt for leami'lg more aboul photography.
Photo enthusiasts and professional
photographers usually have a goOO
undarstanding of how cameras work and prefer to take full oontrol over all camera functiOns.
In·c:&'Tlera effects are usually Wrelevant to thiS
group, whiCh is more likely to be attracted to
sopI"i$tiCated OSLRs thaI provide excelent
:mage QUality. MirrOr1ess interchangeable-lens
carreras Mel ac:tvMCed digiC<wns are the
prefened choices when they want a ~
·wat{-arOl ..... Cf camera for ~ photography.
A typical DSLR camera fined with a mediumrange zoom lens. This type of camera will best suit photo enthusiasts. (Source: Pentax.)
ThiS category ranges from sophistiCated
profeSSional cameras to models designed for
photo enthus~sts and snapshooters who want
to develop their picture·taking SkillS. DSLRs offer
the fastest autofocusJng because they use phase
d ifference detectiOn.
The main downside of these cameras is their
larger, heavier OOdles and lenses. In acld itiOn, the
viewfinders in entry·level DSLRs are often small
and not partiCutarty bright. Both are significant
d isadvantages in dim lighting. Camera OOdies
tend to be more expenSive than other camera
types and this is one category in whiCh you need
to invest in more than one lens to take advantage
of the camera's capabilities.
A typical mirrorless camera with a standard 3x zoom kit lens, This model, like others In Olympus's PEN·E series, lacks a viewfinder, and requires users to frame shots with the LCD monitor or attach an optional EVF. (Source: Olympus,)
2. Mirrorless cameras are relativety new. In
these cameras the rellex mirror systems used in
OSLRs are replaced with electrOlliC viewfinders
(or sometimes the LCD monitor m.JSt be used for
composing shots). These cameras provicle many
of the advartages of DSLRs but in smaller and
lighter came-a OOdles. Most models come with
interchangeable lenses, although there are a few
in whiCh the lens is fixed.
The main advantage of the cameras in this
category is their larger sensors, whiCh ensure
high image qual~y in most types of lighting.
The main downside is that some models
are supplied without viewfinders and, where
viewfinders are provided, most tend to be
electroniC ra:her than optiCal (see comparison
later th is chepter). Autofocusing is also usually
slower than 'N~h DSLRs because these
cameras use the same contrast· based systems
as digiCams
3. Small-sensor d igicams are the most
commonly·found cameras today and prOVide
the widest variety of features. Most ilClucle
automated contrds to make it easy to take
correctly·exposed shots. This category is easiest
to understard ~ broken into sub·categories.
The Ricoh CX5 is typical of many polnt-andpress digicams, boasting a slim, pocketabte body plus automated functions to make It easy lor users to obtain cOfTeCtly·exposed photos. (Source: Rlcon.)
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A viewfinder allows photographers to see
the image the camera will record, isolatilg
it from distracting eIemeIlts outside the
scene. OpHcal viewfinders are like reversed
telescopes mounted in the camera bocty.
Most include small suppiemeotary displays
(usual~ along the lower or right edge of the
screen) showing shootmg informatiOn such
as aperture and shutter speed seUings.
Focusng targets are commonly overIaki
on the field of view, partiCularly in more sophistiCated cameras.
ElectroniC v~rxlefs consist of small
LCD screens that reptay the same image
as the camera's mannor displays. They
can also be used to browse the camera's
fTle(IUS or replay shots from the camera's
memory. The table below compares the
main advantageS and disadvantages of
both typeS. -, --- ... ....., ....... -~ ...
Fujifilm's Innovative Xl00 has a new Hybrid Viewfinder that combines the besllealures of optical and electronic viewing systems. Photographers can choose which system louse with the flip of a leve,. (Source: Fujifilm.)
ResolutiOn is a critiCal iSsue lor both ~nder
typeS afthough it is less of an issue with optiCal
view1ir.clers. Low resolutiOn makes manual
focusng diffiCuH and thiS is one area where
optiCal viewfinders are preferable to electroniC
,.-.,.
""""" """ ...... DeperdII oo....ww Ii_
Ilo!perds 00 Image prtO'!SSIl\I
,-"""'" onen si(1ltly leSS 1rIaO_ -.-...... low", rM'Ij enuv_ ........ , • In ~ V.n.tJle -bo.I~_ ~ -- ....... -.....
l<M1igIt .... Doo:I$""~llJ~ tI'j _ ~1O_JiI,1IIjngllJ <31 _jef1<y .- ---",.,.- Sao1'Olas atlject Mzr rID! reIecI~ ~farogII -- - fUldaIa~""----- ....... '-'" f~~.-IayS ... o.mm Resp:inse Iall_ ... ....-
a) Sl im, pocketa.tlle models weighng less than
200 grams. Popular w~h snapshooters, these
cameras are highly automated and usually lack
viewfinders.
b) Advanced digiCams w~h a range of manual
controls, inCluding Jetls aperture and shutter
speed adjustments.
Nikon's Coolpix PSOO combines a wide range of manual controlS with a 36x optical :loom lens. (Source: Nikon.)
c) Super-zoom cameras with very long (grealer
lhan lOx) zoom lenses.
d) Walerproof cameras that can be used
underwater to depths of 5 metres or more. Most
models have limHed room ranges and high levels
Of automation.
e) Dedicated 3D cameras.
Fujifilm is the only manufacturer currently producing dedicated 3D cameras with the W3 model (shoWfl above) the most recently released. (Source: Fujifilm,)
4. Camera-phones and camcorders are often
used for spcntaneous picture-taking but, even
though many recent models prOVide quHe high
resolution, they can't matcl1 dedicated cameras
in three key respects:
1. Image Quality,
2. Lens performance.
3. Adjustabilty.
Photographers looking for high Quality and
functiOnality for shooting movies wUt be better
off wrth a camcorder than a digital still camera.
Although camcorder sensors may be smal l. they
are adequate for recording high·definitiOn video.
Camcorders are also designed for superior
functiOnality and ease of use when shooting
"'"'"". FEATURES TO LOOK FOR
Although th&,t may differ in size, weight, shape
and functiQrelity, all cameras share some
corMlOrl features. In this section we'll lQok al the
most important of these.
1. The lens is the camera's 'eye' and its role
is as important as the set1sor's in determining
mage Quality. The price of a camera often
reflects the Quality of ~slens because high
Qual ity optiCs don't come cheap. More
information on lens characteristiCs can be found
in Chapter 2.
2. The image processor converts the
information collected by the sensor into the
pixels (piCture elements) that make up the mage. Each camera manufacturer develops ilS own processor system and different processors
account for different camera capabil~ies and
differences in appearance between photographs
from differerr. camera brandS.
The processor also determines whether lhe
camera can record video and the maximl.rn
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The size of the Iight-capturhg elements
(known as 'photosites1 on the canera's
sensor is the best guide to arry camera's potential mage qualfty. Larger photOSites
coI~ more IigI1t, givng the camera's mage processor more 'nformatiOn to wor'K with,
Larger photos~es can capture a wider
range Of tones (from dark to light) and
produce more accurate colours and less
granularity with high ISO settings. Photos~e
Size has very I~tle to do with a camera's rnegapixel count and, in fact, most snapshootefS would ooten better piCtures
~ they used cameras w~h fewer megapixels
but larger photos~es.
The largest sensors are found in professiOnal DSLR cameras and account for the superior image quality these ~s
produce, partiCularly in low light situatiOns.
Cor'lsum€f-JeveI DSLRs and mirrorless
cameras have slightly smaller sensors but
thefe's a signifiCant drop in sensor Size
when yw look at digital compact cameras.
You can estimate the Size 01 the
photosites in any sensor by COI'I'IJ)a'ing
the Size 01 the sensor with the I'II.rnbEw" 01
pixels in the mage ~ produces at maxm.rn resolutiOn. 5nlp/y dMcie the k:ngth of the
longest Side of the sensor in rTU!inelres by
the longest dimenSion of the pixel array. The
The re:ationships between the sizes of typical Image sensors:
I. 1I4.flch type (3.6 1 2.7 mn) sensor used in carnc:o-ders and camera...... 2. 1I2J-i1ch type (6.16 x 4.62 rrm) used in many dlgicams 3. Flll.lr Thirds System sensor (18 x 13.5 mm) used in many ffillTorteSS
~,
4. 'APS-e sized' (23.5 x 15.8 mm) sensor used In some DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. 5. 35mm film frame (36 x 24 mm). Sensors Ittis sire are used in professional
'"" table beiow compares the 1110$1 popular sensor Sizes i1 today"s digital cameras and gives the a-ea of the pholOSiles for ead1 for a 12·megapixel
-..a. Video camcorders and camera-phones often
have 1I4-inch or 1I6-nch sensors in whiCh the
photootes are smaller than one SQuare miCron
in siZe. While thiS won't produce problems with
resojutiOn for video ClipS. still shots often suffer
from bIov;n-out highlighls and blacked·out
shadows and shots taken in normal room lighting
may appear 'grainy" due 10 image noise.
Sensor "Type" Imaging Area Dimensions Photosit e area at 12MP Width (mm) Height (mm) In microns squared
t!3·inch " 36 '2 112.s-inch 5.76 ,,. 1.44
112.3-inch 6.17 '.55 '" 1/1.7·inch 7.6 57 " 213·irlch ,., 6.6 2.2 4!3-inch 160 13.5 '5 'APS-C' (Canon) 22.3 14.9 5.2 APS--C (others) 23.6 15.6 5.56 35mm ("F\AI Frame') 360 24.0 8.24
resolutiOn and recordlng times for video clips.
Most recently-released cameras can record HD
video ClipS: some with Full HD (1920 x 1080
pixels or 1080p), the remaincler at a reduced
'72Op' (1280 x 720 pixels) resolutiOn the Quality
of whiCh is more than acceptable on most
widescreeo TV setS.
Another functiOn controlled by the processor
is the maximum speed at whiCh the camera can
record a continuous burst of shots. The camera's
buffer memory limits the number of shots that
can be recorded in a burst.
3. Shooting m odes are a good way to gauge a
camera's capability - and the extent to whiCh you
can control camera settings for creative effects.
POint-and-shoot cameras restriCt the range of
user-adjustable controls to a selectiOn of Scene
modes that match stanclard reQuirements for
the selected type Of scene.More sophisticated
The mode dials on consumer OSLRs usually inClude several pre-set scene modes. (Source: Nikon.)
Professional cameras usually provide only four shooting modes. (Source: Sigma.)
digicams - and all DSLR and mirrOrless cameras
- provide a fJU range of contrOls for adjusting
aperture and shutter speed settings as well
as sens~ivity. white balance and many other
parameters. Serious enthuSiasts and anyone
who wants to learn more alXlut photography
should faVOl.J" these camera typeS.
USEFUL ACCESSORIES
Some accessories are mandatory, while others
are optiOnal- and some are supplied w~h
the camera, while others must be purchased
separately. All digital cameras are supplied
with battene, and most interchangeable·lens
cameras come with at least one lens (although
you can often buy the body on its own).
Memory cards are seldom, if ever, provided,
although many 6giCarns come with nternal
memories. I-bwever. these are usuaty too smaI to
CCNer anything more than a brief shooti1g session.
Memory is relatively cheap so purchase at
least one hi!;;h-capacity (4G8. 8G8 or 18GB)
memory card with your dig~aI camera. Get at
least 8G8 if '/00 plan to shoot movies as video
consumes rremory very QuiCkly, partiCularly
at high resolutiOn. Buy extra cards if you're
travelling - or consider a portable storage device
- so you can store photos as they're taken.
The follov>ing camera accessories can
enhance yOU" shooti1g experiences:
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1. Le nses range from the uHra-wide ·fish-eyes·
with their characteristiC distortion to the ultra
long telephoto lenses favoured by sports and
wildlife photographers. In between are.zoom
and prime (sngle focal length) lenses w ith local
lengths to suit most subject types.
ZOom lenses ccrrt>ne versatility with affordability
ald are Cfi excellent choice 'Nhen you need to
keep yQlI" kit compact and lXJrtabie. Pmle lenses
provide the best mage QUaity and the widest
maxrn.m aper\ll"eS >Mlen you want total control
~ the rkne of sharpness n yQlI" shots.
2. Flash guns enable you to light up dark areas. If your camera has a buiH-in flash you may only
need an accessory flash when you require much
more light, for example when pIlotograp/1ing
large groups Of people or large n terior spaces.
'Nhen using flash, n'S important to understand
that light output decreases with the square of the
distance. A subject four metres from the camera
(the limn for many digiCams) receives one quarter of the light that falls on a subjeCt two metres
from the camera. Consequently, Ws pointless to
use flash when photograp/1ing the Sydney Opera
House (or a Similar structure) at night from a
passing ferry.
3.. Tripods and m onopods ~ 10 stEOOy the
ccrnera 'Nhen shooIi"lg with OON shJtter speeds.
Even th::u;;tl modem image stabisatbn $ySI€JTlS
ae good, they rafJ.I provide rrore IhcI1 ttree or !oJ
EV (exporuevakJes orf·stops) d ~ 50,
whEn 'PJ need to use SOw sh..Jtter speeds some Kind d stabisaticJ1 is 1"9(JkeCf.
Monopods, whiCh have one leg, are compact
and light to carry but only stabilise the camera in
one directbn and aren't much use for eXjXlSUres
longer than one second. Even compacttrip:xfs
can provide enough stability for eXjXlSUres many
seconds long.
Joby's Gorilla-series 01 tripods are the lightest and most adjustable camera supports available and come In sizes to suit all cameras from diglcams to DSLRs. (Source: Maxwell International Australia.)
4. Rem ot e controllers let you trigger the
cameras shutter from a distance, a useful facility
for very long exposures and when shooting
easily·spooked wild life. (The camera MUST
be tripod-mounted!) Two types are available:
wired and wirelesS. Wired remotes usually have
cables between two and IIvee metres long:
wirela>s remotes use radio freQuency or nfrared
communiCatiOn and can trigger the camera from
more than 10 metres. IR remotes require direct
line-a-sight to the camera.
Remote controllers are uselullor wildlife photographers and anyone who enjoys taking long exposures atter dark. (Source: Nikon.)
5. GPS dat a logg ers allow you to embed
locatiOn data in the image file . (Some C8o'T1eras
have 1hem buiH-n.) They must be able to pick
up signals from several satell~es and, therefore,
won't work under dense tree cover or in urban
areas dominated by tall buildingS.
6. A cam era bag is a wrse investment that
can protect yo.x equipment against impact
damage, adverse weather Mel theft, QIoose
one that is comfortable 10 'werar', ~abIe for the
activities you partq,ate In Mel Ia'ge 8I"IOI.J!1l to
accorrvnodate the ~t you wi use on a
t')1licaI shoot.
7. Waterproof houslngs are available lor
many d9tal caToEII'as Mel offer varying levels
of t.rdefwater protection, ranging from one
metre to 40 metres or more. Some camera
manufacturers offer hovsngs for pwtiCul¥
models. while specialist manufacturers like
Fantasea and I~ite cater for several brands.
8. Bluetooth connections are also available
for wi"eIess printing from some cameras. Some
cameras come with buiH -1n facilit~ for uploading
mages and video clips to social ne\WOI1( sites.
AI C&'nWas Sl.pporI direct printing via Sl.ppIied
USB """".
USEFUL URLS
The foIbW'9 websites ~ adcifunaI ir*lrmatioo 00 the
~ a-ed i11tis~.
• ~ 01 ti1gs )OJ strud kdI at v.ften w,;ng a
-~ _,~.c::un~.»-oonsider_
'ihn-w,;ng·a·dW-<:amefa.aspc
• FiICbn to cmsi:Ier befmI tv,;ng orb
'INNI.~.CQ'I1~·~·a·
camera·orb.aspl(
• AI.Mce 00 eq.ipment l.WlIIIiog 'INNI,byth:)m,COII\ItIame.htm
• lists 01 recorMlel1ded camefa accessaies
httpJlcameras,about,coovbI2OtOltW3itles!·camera·
acctISSO'ies·is\s·posted.htm
•
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Mastering Digital Photography
The It*d ecttIcn of PhaIo Rrttaw'I A', rOr 'tIg DIg/IJIl PhotofIJ.,my pocIeI: QL*ie '-been COITIIllellt)' I,f)dat8d to teIect r8C*1I ctwQI!I8ln dgIIaIlmIIgIng .m .....,. IechIOIogIea. It'l been wrIhen 10 help 8'o'If)'dIy phcIagiaphM 10 "*' more "'!ektlO. fn:m ~
IIIIctv b¥ chooeIng the ~ eQIJpment, UlldlietallCillg toN to uae • .., rnakqJ the belli: a:Ap.C dIc:iIIoI .. Regaide88 d)'OLl" ..... €A expertIIe. lhIa Iwxti gUde wi por!IiCtt the reeoucee you naad to like bItI8r dIgIbII ..-.