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Technologyi -----------Q�

How does Main dial Built-in flash
Most DSLRs will accommodate a 'built·in' or 'pop up'
All the shooting modes are
positioned on this dial including;
flash tucked into the top ledge. In some shooting
modes the flash will pop up automatically and in other
Auto, Program (P), Aperture
priority (A), Shutter priority (S/ scenarios photographers can activate the flash
themselves. Behind this sits the flash hotshoe where
Tv) and Manual (M). Some
a camera shortcut scene modes such as
portrait, landscape and macro
are also available here.
tal<e a Top dial Flash button
Depending on the shooting
This dial enables users to
alter values such as the mode or creative purpose
users may need to activate
f·stop (aperture) and the flash manually, in
shutter speed when in
picture? shooting in manual. which case this button
the appropriate modes
(AP or S) or when
Lens mount
Many camera owners are When the markers are
aligned correctly,
content to shout "Cheese" photographers can
slot a lens on to the
and push the shutter mount and twist it
button to get an image, but
we go under the hood to
find out how it happens
Shutter button
Depressing this button halfway will focus
the lens on the scene in front of the lens
when set to Auto Focus. Pressing this
button completely will take the shot.

Focus Assist beam
When shooting in low light levels
a light will emit from this area,
illuminating the subject to help
the autofocus find its focus point.
In many cameras this also
doubles up as the self timer
indicator, where it will flash during
the countdown. The mirror flips up out of the way when the shutter is
released to reveal the image sensor behind it, this then
electronically captures and records the picture.
Lens Lens switches
The larger ring on the lens body On the side of the lens there is a switch marked AF and MF- these refer
operates the lens's focal length and to auto and manual focus. Some lenses will also include a stabilisation
the front, the smaller ring controls switch, which can be activated or deactivated. It is recommended to have
the focus when in manual. this on when shooting handheld and off when resting on a tripod.
here's no doubt that the digital format employs a mechanical mirror system that The sensor is formed of millions of pixels laid
has revolutionised the imaging industry directs the light travelling through the attached out in thousands of rows and columns: the
T and in turn the way we work our lens upwards at a 90-degree angle allowing the more pixels or dots of light, the higher the
cameras. Furthermore the internal DNA of the photographer to compose the shot through the mega pixel count and in theory the higher the
camera has been entirely restructured to make viewfinder. As the shutter button is pressed the resolution. The light travels through a colour
way for the new electrical system ... or has it? exposure takes place: the mirror swings out of filter above the sensors and is converted from
In fact film and digital cameras operate ina the way and the shutter opens allowing the light waves into an analogue signal which is
similar manner. Varying the size of the lens's lens to project the light onto the image sensor. then processed through a digital convertor.
diaphragm !aperture) in tandem with the In low light scenarios the shutter will need to Next the conversion is fine tuned through a
amount of time the shutter is open, focusing stay open for a longer period of time for the series of filters that adjust aspects such as white
light onto the image detection material... the image to be recorded, which is why balance and colour. The resulting image can be
only difference is that now received in an photographers support their cameras with made into a JPEG by compressing the file size
electrical rather than chemical form. tripods as the smallest degree of camera shake and discarding unnecessary pixels. The final
A DSLR !digital single-lens reflex) camera will disturb the quality. image is shown on the LCD. 0

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