Learning Photography Basics: Camera Settings

Full Manual Mode

Most digital cameras also come with a full manual mode. In this mode, photographers can set both the aperture and shutter speed, usually with the help of a display that blinks if one or both numbers will result in what the camera's sensors determine will be an over or under exposure. The nature of manual mode requires the photographer to have enough time to setup their shots. Using the camera's manual settings for taking portraits on a tripod is a useful technique, for example.

Auto Flash, Flash On, and Flash Off

Different pictures call for different flash settings, and today's cameras are happy to help. Cameras can be set to automatically flash when the detected light is too low or they can be set to always flash (useful for fill flash or when bright backgrounds will throw off the camera's light sensor). Cameras can also be set to not flash no matter what. This is useful for places where flash photography is not allowed, as well as anywhere one will be photographing through glass or other reflective materials. Also, turning off the flash when doing wildlife photography is useful since the long zoom lenses typically are taking photos of subjects well beyond the flash's range.

Some cameras set the flash via the same menus and buttons as camera modes, while other, typically larger cameras, may have a dedicated button, often indicated with a lightning bolt.

Finally, most cameras allow the photographer some options regarding the actual file that is stored when a picture gets taken. File settings and RAW mode (as well as advanced settings like white balance and ISO settings) are almost always set via the camera's menus, even on more expensive DSLR cameras.

Higher-end cameras offer the ability to shoot in RAW mode, a setting that results in the biggest file sizes but also preserves every bit of data captured by the camera. This setting is the choice of professionals and also for those shooting in a home based photography studio or other environment where "little things" like white balance can make all the difference between an amazing photograph and an OK picture.

Cameras with and without a RAW mode option often offer the ability to choose a smaller file size to store pictures in. Although this results in a lower quality image and may limit the options available via photo editing software, it is a necessary compromise for photographers with limited space available on their storage devices and a need to shoot numerous shots. Better a lower quality picture of an amazing moment than no picture at all. However, photographers shooting in the studio with plenty of time to download files to new memory cards or to a laptop will be better off taking advantage of big high-quality files offered by the top digital cameras for portrait photography.