Digital SLR Camera Basics
Anyone looking to buy a digital camera should first understand the camera basics which is helpful in selecting the right camera. An SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Camera can produce pictures of much higher quality than point-and-shoot cameras while a DSLR even allows for interchangeable lenses.
Shutter speed: The speed of closing and opening of the camera shutter opening determines the amount of time (longer for night shots and shorter for bright sunlight) that light can pass through the aperture.
F-stops: The F-stops or F-number on the lens’s aperture ring and the camera's LCD (where applicable) indicate the aperture size.
The lower the number the larger is the aperture (i.e. lets more light into the camera).
Focal Length: It is the distance from the film/sensor to the lens’s center measured in millimeters. Lenses which allow varying focal lengths without changing focus are called zoom lenses.
Depth of field (DOF): It refers to the distance from the focal point that a photo will be sharp, while the rest becomes blurry.
Autofocus (AF): It refers to the ability of some cameras to automatically obtain correct focus of a subject.
Resolution: Camera resolution is specified in megapixels. A camera with higher resolution will therefore produce better image quality.
White Balance: White balance adjusts the white color quality of your image.
