Understanding Your Digital Camera, 1

Welcome and thanks for spending some time learning more about your digital camera!

This first lesson unveils the basics of how any camera works; film or digital. The information will be kept simple but some of the concepts can be discussed in much greater depth as you start to grasp the ideas presented. But to best understand your digital camera, you should know how all cameras work...

Ok, a camera is a light-tight box in which a method of capturing illuminated images is kept. Simply put, the method of capture is film or digital sensor. The illuminated images are seen through a lens. If the illuminated images (the scene you want to take a picture of) is not bright enough, a flash is employed... pretty simple, right?

Now, if the lens isn't set at the right distance from the film or digital sensor, the image won't be in focus. The correct distance of the lens to the image capture is held by the body of the camera. The lens is mounted on the body in just the exact position to place the focused image at the "film plane," or the place where focused image and film or sensor meet.

You might ask at this point, what actually takes the picture? Well, a shutter or door is put in front of the film or digital sensor to block light from hitting them until you push the exposure button to trigger the exposure. This shutter has a timing mechanism assigned to it. The time of the exposure is calculated by the camera's metering system which can be automatically or manually used to set the appropriate "open time" of the shutter or exposure... phew!

Notice the Exposure diagram at left. The more light there is to illuminate the image, the less time is needed to make the exposure. If the light dims, the exposure will be longer in most cases. If even less light is present, such as dusk or night, the exposure may be very long... this is why blur happens in some pictures you've taken.

The flash that is usually built into your camera will help temporarily illuminate the scene. Some of these flash units have enough power capability to light up a scene one or two dozen feet. Generally, you need to keep your subject of the image within five to eight feet of the camera.

More about the flash on your camera will be discussed in future lessons. There is a lot to know about proper exposure and how to achieve the optimum images from your electronic tool. Be ready to dive into the menu settings as we move into more ad more detail... you are on your way!