Understanding Advanced Camera Modes

You might have seen AE-lock, AF-lock, and FE-lock buttons on your DSLR camera, but these three "lock" buttons are rarely used by many people, because they simply don't know what they do. Read on to learn about AE-, FE- and AF-lock.

Using full manual mode on your DSLR camera can seem like a daunting prospect. In this mode, the camera gives the user full control of all settings, and there can be a fair amount to remember. But, if you've practiced using aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes, it's a simple step to move on to full manual mode.

One of the easiest ways to improve your photography is to master depth of field. To do this, however, you need to understand aperture. A good way to experiment with this is to use your camera in aperture priority mode. Aperture priority is represented by an "A" or "AV" on the mode dial on the top of your camera.

Learning how to use your camera's shutter speeds will help you create dramatic and correctly exposed images. The shutter speed controls the length of time the shutter of the camera is open, and, therefore, how much light strikes the image sensor. One way to learn about using shutter speeds is to put the camera into "shutter priority mode."

If you want to begin having control over your DSLR, a good place to start is by using Program Mode. Program Mode gives you some control over your images, but still offers some automatic options, such as choosing your exposure settings.

Most DSLRs have three distinct autofocus modes, and it's important to understand the differences between them. In this article, we'll look at their different functions and explain: What are autofocus modes?

Most DSLRs provide exposure compensation, allowing you to adjust the exposure measured by the camera's light meter. But what does that actually mean, and how do we apply it in practical photography terms?

The metering modes in DSLRs measure the amount of external light in a scene, and they then apply the best exposure values according to the metering mode selected. Automatic exposure is a feature on all DSLRs, but you can try these tips for using exposure metering modes.

The viewfinder is located at the top of the back of digital cameras, and you look through it to compose a scene. Three different types of viewfinders exist, and each one has its own advantages.

Whether you're using a compact camera with a built in flash, a DSLR's integrated pop-up flash, or a dedicated speedlight on your DSLR, use these flash photography tips to improve your overall photography results.

Here is a guide to the five main shooting modes on your DSLR, and an explanation of what each mode does to your camera. Understanding camera shooting modes can make a real difference to the quality of your images.

Most of the time, the Auto White Balance (AWB) setting on your DSLR will prove extremely accurate. However, occasionally, your camera's AWB can become confused and need a little help. Use these tips to figure out which white balance settings to select manually.

Light has different color temperatures throughout the day, and white balance is the process of removing the color casts that different color temperatures produce. Learn about the different white balance modes, and understand the effect color temperature has on images.

The dynamic range of a sensor is defined by the largest possible signal that it can generate divided by the smallest possible signal. The tonal range of a digital image relates to the number of tones it has to describe the dynamic range.