5. Lenses
Camera Use Basics
•
•
Fisheye ‘sees’ 180 degrees
•
5
Lens focal length is really about
field-of-view, called FOV
500mm ‘sees’ 5 degrees
Canon Training Network.
7. Understanding
Camera Use Basics
lens names
•
The name of a lens tells you all the important information about it
EF
100-400mm
The focal length and lens type (zoom or prime)
f/4.5-5.6
The maximum aperture
L
An L series lens (not present on Non-L series lenses)
IS
Features Image Stabilizer
USM
7
The lens type (EF, EF-S, MP-E, TS-E)
Features an ultrasonic motor for silent and fast auto focusing
Canon Training Network.
11. Camera Use Basics
Lenses
•
Super- telephoto
lenses
– 400mm to
800mm
•
•
11
Used for subjects
you can not get
close to
Sports and
wildlife
Canon Training Network.
12. Camera Use Basics
Lenses
Zoom lenses
•
Provide a range of focal lengths in one
•
E.g. EF24-105mm f4L IS USM
•
More versatile than single focal length
•
Can be Wide-angle, Standard or
Telephoto lenses
•
Smaller maximum aperture than
prime lenses
•
Usually heavier and larger than
prime lenses
Use Stabilizer Mode 1 for everyday use
•
12
Canon Training Network.
13. Camera Use Basics
Lenses
Prime lenses
•
•
Usually high quality
•
Usually faster maximum aperture
•
E.g. EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
•
13
Single focal length
Can be Wide-angle, Standard or
Telephoto type
Canon Training Network.
14. EF or EF-S
Camera Use Basics
•
Canon has two types of lenses
– EF fits all cameras
– EF-S fits APS-C cameras
•
EF and EF-S lenses mount
differently
•
Cameras that can use both
feature two alignment marks
– Red dot – EF lenses
– White square – EF-S lenses
14
Canon Training Network.
15. Camera Use Basics
•
EF or EF-S
Two lens types in the Canon system
– EF – approx. 50 current lenses
– EF-S – approx. 10 current lenses
•
•
EF lenses for cameras such as
EOS-1D Mark III and EOS-1Ds Mark III
but can also be used on all other
models
•
15
EF-S for cameras such as EOS 450D
and EOS 40D
EF-S lenses have a short back-focus
design making wide-angle lenses
possible with APS-C sensors
Canon Training Network.
16. Camera Use Basics
Lens ranges
Kit lenses
•
•
E.g. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and
EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS
•
16
Basic lens range aimed at beginners
Low-cost and good image quality
Canon Training Network.
17. Camera Use Basics
Lens ranges
Mid-range lenses
•
•
Higher image quality
•
Better build quality
•
17
Largest section of the Canon lens
range covering a wide range of focal
lengths
Aimed at mid-range consumer users
Canon Training Network.
18. Camera Use Basics
Lens ranges
L lenses
•
•
Highest image quality
•
Most durable
•
For professionals and enthusiasts
•
18
The ‘Luxury’ lenses
Red band on lens
Canon Training Network.
21. Focus modes
Camera Use Basics
•
AF mode
–
–
–
–
One-Shot AF
ONE SHOT
AI FOCUS
Four focus modes on consumer models
AI SERVO
•
One Shot
AI Focus
AI Servo
Manual focus
Three focus modes on professional
models
– One Shot
– AI Servo
– Manual focus
22
Canon Training Network.
22. Camera Use Basics
One Shot AF
•
Most commonly used autofocus mode
•
Used for static subjects
– Portraits
– Landscapes
23
Canon Training Network.
23. Camera Use Basics
•
AI Servo AF
Used for moving subjects
– Sports
– Wildlife
•
24
Predictive tracking focus keeps
following the subject until the picture is
taken
Canon Training Network.
24. Camera Use Basics
AI Focus AF
•
•
One shot normally
•
25
A combination of One Shot and
AI Servo
AI Servo when subject movement
detected
Canon Training Network.
25. Camera Use Basics
Dioptre dial
Dioptre
correction
Everyone has different eyesight –
all models offer viewfinder dioptre
adjustment
•
Use the dial next to the viewfinder
•
+3 to -1 dioptre range
•
Remove lens, look through the
viewfinder and rotate the dial until
the viewfinder info and focus points
are sharp
•
26
•
Accessory lenses are available for
further correction
Canon Training Network.
27. Camera Use Basics
Drive modes
•
EOS cameras offer a selection of drive
mode choices
•
Drive modes control how the camera
takes a picture
•
EOS Cameras typically offer three
choices
Single Shot
Continuous
Self Timer
28
Canon Training Network.
28. Camera Use Basics
Single shot
•
•
Takes only one image when shutter
button pressed
•
29
Used for static subjects
Release shutter button back to
half pressure and re-press to take
another image
Canon Training Network.
29. Camera Use Basics
Continuous
shooting
•
Used to capture
action
•
Continues taking
images while
the shutter button
is pressed
•
The maximum
frame rate varies
depending on the
model
–
–
30
EOS 450D =
3.5fps
EOS-1D Mark III
= 10fps
Canon Training Network.
30. Camera Use Basics
Self-timer
•
•
Delays the release of the shutter after
pressing the shutter button
•
31
Used for static subjects and selfportraits
2 or 10 second delay
Canon Training Network.
31. Camera Use Basics
•
•
A limited range of cameras have this mode
Self timer operation with the option to set a continuous number of frames
to be captured – very useful for self-portraits
Not quite in place
32
Timer
continuous
Expression not right
Just perfect!
Canon Training Network.
32. Camera Use Basics
Buffer
•
The buffer is an internal memory that
determines how many images can be taken
in a burst
•
Images are written into the buffer and out to
the card simultaneously rather than waiting
for the buffer to fill before writing to the
memory card
•
Once the buffer is full, shooting can only
take place when there is space for at least
one image in the buffer
•
Usually quoted as the number of Large
JPEG files that can be captured in a
sequence
1.2 buffer.swf
34
Canon Training Network.
34. Shooting
modes
Camera Use Basics
BASIC
modes
•
Shooting modes determine the settings
used to capture an image
•
Mode dial has two sections
– BASIC modes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Full Auto
Portrait
Landscape
Close-up
Sports
Night Portrait
Flash off
– Creative modes
Creative modes
36
•
•
•
•
•
P
Av
Tv
M
A-DEP
Canon Training Network.
35. Camera Use Basics
Green square
•
Designed with general photography in
mind
•
Aperture and shutter values set
automatically to prevent camera shake
•
Camera sets:
– AI Focus
– Auto Flash
– Auto ISO
•
37
Shutter speed appropriate to focal
length
Canon Training Network.
36. Camera Use Basics Portrait mode
•
•
Provides a sharp subject against a
blurred background
Degree of blur depends on lens
– Tele
• good blurring
– Standard
• some blurring
– Wide
• little or no blurring
•
Camera sets:
– One Shot focus
– Continuous shooting drive mode
– Auto flash
38
Canon Training Network.
37. Landscape
mode
Camera Use Basics
•
Designed to give a good depth-of-field
•
Aperture permitted will be controlled by
lens fitted and available light
•
Camera sets
– One Shot focus
– Single shot drive mode
– Flash Off
39
Canon Training Network.
38. Camera Use Basics Close-up mode
•
Designed to avoid camera shake and
give good depth-of-field if possible
•
Maximum magnification (1:3 to 1:5) on
all zoom lenses is at highest focal
length
– Designed for subjects 10-15cm
diameter close up not macro
•
Camera sets
– One Shot focus
– Single shot drive mode
– Auto flash
40
Canon Training Network.
39. Camera Use Basics
Sport mode
•
Sets highest shutter speed available
•
AI Servo focusing set
•
For a better effect pan during exposure
•
Camera sets:
– AI Servo focus
– Continuous shooting drive mode
– Flash off
41
Canon Training Network.
40. Night portrait
Camera Use Basics
mode
•
Designed to combine long exposures
with flash
•
A tripod is essential as shutter speeds
will be too slow to hand-hold and an
external flash is recommended as the
built in flash may not be powerful
enough for many subjects
•
Camera sets
– One Shot focus
– Single shot drive mode
– Auto flash
42
Canon Training Network.
41. Flash off
mode
Camera Use Basics
•
Allows night and lowlight photographs
to be taken without the flash firing when
not required
•
For all lowlight work a tripod is essential
•
Camera sets:
– AI Focus
– Single shot drive mode
– Flash off
43
Canon Training Network.
42. Camera Use Basics
Basic mode
comparison
Name
Drive Setting
Flash
Full Auto
AI Focus
Single Shot
Auto
Portrait
One Shot
Continuous Shooting
Auto
Landscape
One Shot
Single Shot
Off
Close-up
One Shot
Single Shot
Auto
Sport
AI Servo
Continuous Shooting
Off
Night Portrait
One Shot
Single Shot
Auto
Flash Off
44
Auto Focus
AI Focus
Single Shot
Auto
Canon Training Network.
43. Camera Use Basics
Creative
modes
•
•
45
Additional menus for further settings are
displayed
•
Creative modes
Creative modes give the user more creativity
and ability to change more settings but require
more input from the photographer and a
greater understanding of photography
5 creative modes (to be covered in Level 2)
–
–
–
–
–
Program (P)
Aperture Priority (AV)
Shutter Priority (TV)
Manual (M)
Auto Depth (A-DEP) – on consumer models only
Canon Training Network.
44. Camera Use Basics
What have we
covered?
Lenses
Autofocus
Drive Modes
Shooting Modes
46
Canon Training Network.
Editor's Notes
These are the topics we will cover in this presentation
Lens focal length really tells us about the field-of-view of the lens – how wide it can see. Longer lenses have a narrower field-of-view, often referred to as FOV.
Lens choice has a big impact on the final image. It is one of the major advantages of SLR cameras over compacts.
Here is the same scene photographed with lenses from the 15mm fisheye through to a 600mm.
This name or description of the lens tells you most things that you need to know about it:
The Type of lens, e.g. EF or EF-S tells you what type of EOS body it will fit. EF lenses fit all EOS bodies but EF-S lenses fit only certain bodies such as the EOS 400D, 450D and 40D. Certain specialist lenses for extreme close up photography (macro photography) are designated MP and Tilt and Shift (TS-E) lenses are for architectural and studio photography.
The Focal length is indicated in millimetres. A double number e.g. 100-400mm indicates the zoom range.
The maximum aperture is indicated by its f/number. A double number e.g. f/4.5-5.6 means the maximum aperture varies according to the zoom position.
L indicates an L Series lens. IS indicates Images Stabilizer function and USM stands for Ultra Sonic Motor – a very fast and silent form of autofocus motor.
Wide-angle lenses capture a wide view of the subject. They are useful for landscapes and range in focal length from 10mm to 35mm.
Standard lenses are so called as they used to be the ‘standard’ lens provided with a camera. The lenses range from 35-50mm and give a field-of-view similar to that of the human eye. They also give a natural perspective and do not distort subjects.
Because they are similar to the human eye, they require extra input from the photographer to get the best from them and to find the best angles.
Telephoto lenses are used for everything from portraits to more distant subjects. They range in focal length from 50mm to 300mm.
They have the effect of compressing perspective so subjects, such as mountains, can appear to be layered 2-dimensionally.
Super-telephoto lenses range from 400mm to 800mm. They are used for subjects you can not, or do not want, to get close to.
They help isolate a subject from its surroundings and are mainly used by sports and wildlife photographers.
Depth-of-field: The amount of the scene from front to back that is rendered acceptably sharp in the photograph.
Zoom lenses are the lenses most photographers use. They provide a range of focal lengths in one lens and therefore offer more versatility and reduce the need for a photographer having to carry as many lenses.
Mode 1 - is the standard IS mode on an Image Stabilizer lens. It is used for general shooting.
Prime lenses are single focal length lenses. They usually have higher image quality, and are smaller, lower cost and lighter than zoom lenses. They are also easier to manufacture. There is also usually less design compromise with a single focal length lens, hence the higher image quality.
Kit lenses are the basic lenses supplied with the consumer cameras such as the EOS 450D. They are lightweight and offer good image quality in a small, cheap package aimed at the beginner or low-end consumer user.
Mid-range lenses are those which are in between the kit lenses and L lens standards. They feature higher build quality and better optics than the kit lenses, and they are also usually heavier and more expensive. They are aimed at the mid-range consumers. This is the largest group of lenses within the Canon lens range covering a wide range of focal lengths.
L series lenses are the highest quality lenses in the range. They are aimed at professionals and enthusiast photographers looking to get the highest image quality. They feature the best image quality and generally have the fastest maximum apertures. They are signified by a red band on the lens barrel and in focal lengths over 200mm the lenses are also usually white to reflect heat.
Since these are the Luxury lenses, they generally cost more than those in other lens ranges.
Before autofocus, we used split screen viewfinders to judge focus. These showed the image split into two halves. By changing the focus on the lens the two halves were bought into alignment and then the image was in focus. An AF system effectively does the same thing, but it measures how far out of alignment the two halves of the image are and then makes adjustments to bring it into focus automatically. It can do this at any of the focus points within the viewfinder allowing the user to focus using whichever focus point is closest to the subject.
Before autofocus, we used split screen viewfinders to judge focus. These showed the image split into two halves. By changing the focus on the lens the two halves were bought into alignment and then the image was in focus. An AF system effectively does the same thing, but it measures how far out of alignment the two halves of the image are and then makes adjustments to bring it into focus automatically. It can do this at any of the focus points within the viewfinder allowing the user to focus using whichever focus point is closest to the subject.
Consumer EOS Models feature 3 Autofocus modes.
Professional EOS models feature 2 Autofocus modes.
All cameras can also be focused manually where you adjust the focus distance using the focus ring on the lens
One Shot AF is used for subjects that are stationary. Once autofocus is activated and locked in One Shot mode, it will not re-focus until the shutter button is released and autofocus reactivated.
AI Servo is used for moving subjects. The camera will track the subject and calculate the speed of travel so that at the point you take the picture, it will be focused at the correct point, despite the momentary black-out that happens between pressing the shutter button and the image actually being taken.
This mode is mainly used by sports and wildlife photographers.
AI Focus is a combination of One shot and AI Servo. When the subject is static, it will act in One shot mode. Once the subject is moving the camera will switch over to AI Servo to track the subject.
It is only found on the consumer models as professionals will generally shoot in either One Shot or AI Servo, and will know when to switch between them as they see fit.
Everyone’s eyesight is different, so the cameras feature a dioptre correction so that the camera can be tailored to the user’s eyes. The dioptre dial is located next to the viewfinder and offers a range of +3 to -1 adjustment. For extra adjustment, accessory lenses are available.
To adjust the dioptre, remove the lens and look through the viewfinder, then rotate the dioptre wheel until the camera information is in the viewfinder and the focus points are in sharp focus. DEMO this with a real camera.
EOS models offer three basic drive modes. The drive mode determines whether the camera takes one shot at a time, a series of shots continuously or a shot after a fixed period of time.
Self-timer continuous is only found on the EOS 450D.
Single shot is for when you only want to take a single image at a time. It is perfect for use with static subjects when you only want one photograph.
Continuous shooting mode allows you to keep taking pictures by simply keeping the shutter button pressed. The maximum frame rate will depend on the EOS model. This mode is used for capturing action, and is most widely used by sports and wildlife photographers.
The quoted frame rate is the maximum attainable, it is not a guaranteed rate as it depends on shutter speed and the charge available in the battery.
Self-time mode delays the firing of the shutter for a fixed period of time after the shutter button has been pressed.
It is very useful for static macro subjects without using a remote release cable, where pressing the shutter button could create camera shake.
Timer continuous is new on the EOS 450D. It acts as a self timer so delays the shutter release after the button is pressed, but allows the user to program in a number of images to be captured in a sequence.
The images show a self portrait shot using the Timer Continuous setting. In the first image the subject was not quite in place, in the second the expression is not quite right, but in the third everything came together to produce the best of the series.
The camera’s buffer determines the number of images that can be captured in a continuous sequence. It is quoted as the number of large JPEG files that can be captured before the camera has to stop to write data to the memory card. Models higher in the EOS range have a larger and faster buffer memory capacity.
The camera’s buffer determines the number of images that can be captured in a continuous sequence. It is quoted as the number of large JPEG files that can be captured before the camera has to stop to write data to the memory card. Models higher in the EOS range have a larger and faster buffer memory capacity.
Shooting modes determine what settings you can make to the shutter speed, aperture and ISO when taking an image. There are two sets of shooting modes, the BASIC modes and the Creative modes. In Level 1 we will only look at the BASIC modes and what they set.
Creative modes give more control to the user, whereas BASIC modes control almost all the settings for you.
For general shooting. Green square sets all the required settings. This makes the camera like a point-and-shoot compact model.
In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
Green square mode specifically sets: AI Focus, Auto Flash, Auto ISO, and Shutter speed fast enough to ensure hand-holding based on the focal length of the lens.
Designed for shooting portraits of people. Tries to provide good background blur to help the subject stand out. Amount of blur will depend on the lens being used.
In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
The Landscape Mode is designed for taking photographs of landscapes with wide angle lenses. If a wide angle lens is used then the camera will select an aperture capable of giving a good depth-of-field.
If a telephoto lens is used then the requirement of a shutter speed fast enough to hand hold the camera may override other characteristics that are set within this mode.
In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
The Close-up Basic mode is designed to avoid camera shake and then to give a good depth-of-field if possible.
The best magnifications are obtained with zoom lenses when set to the maximum tele-setting on the lens. But this also increases the shutter speed needed to hand hold the lens and makes it difficult to get the depth-of-field desirable for close up photography. It should be noted that this mode is designed for close up and not true macro photography (magnifications greater than 1:1). In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
Sport Basic mode sets the highest shutter speed available to freeze the subject. The focusing is set to AI Servo mode to ensure that the camera can track and follow the subject as it moves.
In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
Use of an external flash is recommend in this mode, but not essential. This mode allows the flash to fire to illuminate near subjects, then uses a long shutter speed to capture the ambient light. A tripod is also advised when using this mode as shutter speeds can be long.
In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
Used for taking pictures of floodlit buildings at night. Flash cannot be used as it is not powerful enough to light up an entire building.
A tripod is recommended in this mode.
In each of the Basic modes, the camera will always set the ISO, white balance, focusing, exposure and flash.
The table shows what is set in each of the Basic modes.
Creative modes are for photographers who want to be involved in the photograph taking process. They require more thought and input from the photographer and can give better results if used properly.
5 modes on consumer cameras. Professional models do not have the A-DEP mode.
These modes will be looked at in depth in level 2.