My current photography goal is to get comfortable using the Advanced Modes on the Canon EOS 400D. However, for me it is helpful to know some of the theory behind relevant technical terms before I actually try to put anything into practice, so in the next few blog entries I am going to attempt to get a basic grip on some of the technical features I have encountered when playing around with the various Advanced Modes.
ISO - changing the camera's sensitivity to light
The ISO figure indicates the sensitivity of the camera's imaging sensor to light. In the Basic Modes examined in the previous blog entry the ISO speed is automatically set within ISO 100 - 400 as appropriate to the light levels. However, when using the Advanced Modes the Canon EOS 400D has the following ISO Speed options: 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1600. Basically the higher the ISO number you select the more sensitive to light the camera will be and vice versa. Therefore if you are taking photos in a dark room then you should select an ISO figure towards the top of the range (since higher light sensitivity will enable the camera to make the most of any available light there is), whereas if you are in a sunny park you should select a lower ISO figure. This is the very minimum you probably need to know to effectively use the ISO setting in Advanced Modes.
ISO and shutter speeds
Additionally, changing the ISO will affect the shutter speeds that are available for taking the photograph. For example, if you are taking a photo in a low light and you select a high ISO number the camera will allow you to use a faster shutter speed than would have been the case with a lower ISO number. This is because the increased light sensitivy of the camera's imaging sensor means that the shutter can be open for a shorter period of time and still get enough light to properly expose the picture. Having a faster shutter speed in such situations is good since it means that the camera will take the photograph more quickly, which really reduces the likelihood of camera shake occurring (particularly useful if, like me, you lack the steady hands of a surgeon and do not carry a tripod around with you wherever you go!). You can clearly see this effect in the two photos below:
Photograph taken in a relatively dark room in P-Mode with ISO Speed of 1600
Photograph taken in relatively dark room in P-Mode with ISO Speed of 100
As you can see the first photo that was taken with ISO 1600 setting is much sharper, whereas the second photo taken with an ISO speed of 100 is blurry. The shutter speeds in the photos were as follows:
- 1st photo (ISO 1600) - a shutter speed of 1/15th of a second, which is very fast and accounts for the much sharper image produced.
- 2nd photo (ISO 100) - a shutter speed of 0.8 seconds - this is quite a slow shutter speed - I actually had to wait for the camera to take the photograph after pressing the button - in that time clearly my hands weren't still enough!
ISO and picture quality
One disadvantage to using a high ISO speed is that it may result in slightly grainy images; this may be seen if you examine the full size (original) version of the above 1st photo on my flickr account - therefore it is important to experiment with the whole range of available ISO speeds in order to find the lowest one that works in the light conditions rather than just opt for the highest ISO all the time.
Additionally, according to the Canon Manual using a high ISO speed may cause irregular colours in the image. I don't think there is such an effect in the photos above, but when playing about with ISO settings previously I have noticed that if you set the ISO speed too high in already light conditions it does affect the colours. I'll try to get an example up here soon.
Submitted by vinay (not verified) on Sat, 11/08/2007 - 05:14.
Well,am from mumbai-india
Want to presume my career in photography....
I own a cannon powershot A520 and am interested to know more about the theoritical part of digital photography,if you could please help me out with that..have been taking pictures for some time now..hope you could guide me.
Sat, 11/08/2007 - 05:14
Submitted by Jigar (not verified) on Fri, 17/08/2007 - 21:06.
Good article and a good tip. I plan on reading your other blogs as well. Manual is handy, but it always makes sense to read something less technical
Fri, 17/08/2007 - 21:06
Submitted by Wahoo (not verified) on Sat, 06/10/2007 - 21:00.
Thank you for sharing!
Sat, 06/10/2007 - 21:00
Submitted by naz (not verified) on Wed, 09/01/2008 - 23:03.
Fantastic explanation! Very easy to understand once explained properly! Thankyou very much.
Wed, 09/01/2008 - 23:03
Submitted by ZUlfi (not verified) on Wed, 05/03/2008 - 21:27.
thanks for the article. i had been looking for smthng like this quite some tme now...
Wed, 05/03/2008 - 21:27
Submitted by Max (not verified) on Thu, 06/03/2008 - 02:25.
ISO Explained thanks for this post!
Thu, 06/03/2008 - 02:25
Submitted by Dakku (not verified) on Mon, 30/07/2007 - 12:47.
Excellent article Kate, well done. You have explained the Aperture issue so nicely without techy jargon. I am sure it will help out many beginner who just bought a digital SLR!
PS: I like the demo pics very much!
Mon, 30/07/2007 - 12:47
Submitted by Technical Terms - “Aperture” Basically Explained (not verified) on Mon, 30/07/2007 - 13:03.
[...] Read More… [...]
Mon, 30/07/2007 - 13:03
Submitted by David Herreman (not verified) on Mon, 30/07/2007 - 13:41.
Great article! thanks.
Mon, 30/07/2007 - 13:41
Submitted by Photo News Today » Technical Terms - Aperture Basicall (not verified) on Mon, 30/07/2007 - 14:01.
[...] Source and Read More: Kate’s Photo Journal [...]
Mon, 30/07/2007 - 14:01
Submitted by HP (not verified) on Sun, 12/08/2007 - 09:00.
Please keep 'em coming, Kate - these are just great for a beginner!
I'm just bought my 2nd point-and-shoot compact, but I'm determined to learn more about how to get the best out of it, rather than just using the AUTO mode.
Most other so-called beginners' guides are still horribly technical, and don't show or tell you what the practical effects of changing the settings are. What you're doing is absolutely perfect - showing the differences with real photos is hugely helpful.
More, please!
Sun, 12/08/2007 - 09:00
Submitted by aaron (not verified) on Thu, 23/08/2007 - 10:08.
hey! I recently bought a 400d camera same as yours and this resulted on the front page of google. thanks heaps, I actually have 5000 actuations with barely any good pictures and this guide really helped. :)
Thu, 23/08/2007 - 10:08
Submitted by Daniel (not verified) on Thu, 06/09/2007 - 19:15.
I couldn't understand some parts of this article Technical Terms - Aperture Basically Explained, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
Thu, 06/09/2007 - 19:15
Submitted by HP (not verified) on Fri, 07/09/2007 - 11:27.
More please, Kate!
Fri, 07/09/2007 - 11:27
Submitted by Chris (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2007 - 10:46.
I'm going to be getting a 400D tomorrow (my first SLR) and this article has been a huge help. Lots to learn!
Mon, 03/09/2007 - 10:46
Submitted by Carla (not verified) on Fri, 31/08/2007 - 08:57.
This is the first website I've found tht makes things simple! Thank you so much :) I'm planning on doing a lot of action shots of water sports with my 400D and knowing how to use all the bits will help so much :)
Fri, 31/08/2007 - 08:57
Submitted by Maureen (not verified) on Tue, 18/09/2007 - 19:32.
Thanks Kate,
I am glad to see an explanation of aperture and what it actually does to a picture explained so well. I would love to read more tips from you.
Tue, 18/09/2007 - 19:32
Submitted by Khalid (not verified) on Sat, 10/11/2007 - 12:03.
Simplicity.........Genius!
Thank you!
Sat, 10/11/2007 - 12:03
Submitted by amberger35 (not verified) on Mon, 12/11/2007 - 14:09.
I've always had a talent for seeing the right angle of how to take a picture and to be really creative. However, I've never spoke cameraese before. The jargon was confusing and overwhelming to me. This last year, I've decided to learn everything I can about photography and have been on the hunt to find the most practical, understanding information out there. I searched through books, manuals, guides, cheatsheets, videos, articles, pictures, and search engines. You my dear, are one of the best recources I've come across yet! I have a Nikon D200, but the basics are the basics no matter what brand or model you have. I appreciate your ability to explain what I'm desperately trying to learn. It's the foundation for the next building block of information I need to lay down upon. thank you for your time and effort!
amberger35 =)
Mon, 12/11/2007 - 14:09
Submitted by Andy (not verified) on Sat, 22/12/2007 - 10:22.
Excellent
Sat, 22/12/2007 - 10:22
Submitted by Rob J (not verified) on Sun, 06/01/2008 - 21:20.
Kate,
Just picked up the 400D today and for someone who is comfortable with most things technical........I am quick to learn that photography is definitely not numbered among them. Thanks so much for making the potentiallly complex accessible. Please continue to post, it is greatly appreciated!!
Slainte from Canada,
Rob
Sun, 06/01/2008 - 21:20
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Sat, 12/01/2008 - 22:06.
Thanks Kate, what a great article :-)
Sat, 12/01/2008 - 22:06
Submitted by Ed (not verified) on Mon, 04/02/2008 - 21:14.
Kate,
What a fantastic website. I just bought an EOS400D myself and your website is making things so much easier for me than the manual!
I really hope you get round to some more updates soon
Ed
Mon, 04/02/2008 - 21:14
Submitted by Qutaiba Mageed (not verified) on Tue, 12/02/2008 - 15:14.
Dear Kate:
Thank you so much for the wonderful informartion and the illustrative photos.I liked the one with the candels so much. I live in sweden and about to buy my first new DSLR camera and have narrowed the choices to Canon EOS 400D and Sony alpha 100. I was about to buy the Canon RebelXTi but then I learned about the SUPER STEADY SHOT function of Sony camera.Sweden has a rather dark weather most of the year so it is important to have a SUITABLE camera.Keeping the shutter open for longer times will ,as far as I know, give better time for proper exposure and there comes the need for the SUPER STEADY SHOT function but I donot know. I would really appreciate it if you can help me make the decision.
Thanks for your time and effort.
Qutaiba
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 15:14
Submitted by Aaron Tan (not verified) on Thu, 13/03/2008 - 12:28.
Like, you, I have always used compact "point and shoot" cameras, and have just recently bought a Canon EOS 400D, so I can take better holiday snaps.
Thanks for writing this great article, which explains everything *clearly*, and in terms that any beginner / aspiring amateur photographer, like myself, can understand.
Thu, 13/03/2008 - 12:28
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