Tour around your digital camera
Discover what your digital camera can do, from the most basic functions to the most advanced. Learn how to use the modes of your camera to select the best settings every time. Once you understand how the camera works, you will be ready to get into action. Let’s prepare the camera.
There are some general elements in your camera you should know what their function is and how to use them if you want to take good pictures. Try to locate all of them in your digital camera. These elements may be present or not, or take a different shape than the one explained depending on the model.
Front
Lens – This is the window the camera opens to the world. What the camera sees is what the lens sees. Be sure not to cover accidentally the lens with your fingers when you take the picture, a mistake more common than you think.
Shutter – Usually a round button at the top the camera. Only when you press the shutter you take the picture.
Flash – It will generate a burst of light when light outside is not enough for a good photo.
Timer lamp – Used for self-timer mode. When you program the camera to shoot some seconds later then you have time to get into the picture. The closer to the shot, the faster it flashes.
Back
Viewfinder – The small square with a glass that lets you frame your shot. You view your subject through the viewfinder as the camera views it. You can also use the LCD screen to frame your shots, although the viewfinder may be more precise.
LCD screen – LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. This looks like a mini TV screen. You can use it to frame your shots, play back your photos or watch any video footage you have taken. This screen will also display the menu for the camera so you can change the settings before any shot, or enter the date the first time your use it.
Menu control – There will be some kind of buttons, arrows or knobs to control the menu. There will be, at least, a button to access the menu.
Miscellanea
Mode switch – The control to switch among different camera modes. it can be at the top or the back. Some cameras may have an independent button for macro mode, used to take close-up shots.
Zoom control – Zoom is very useful to take close pictures when you cannot actually get close to the subject yourself. Most cameras have a hard control for the optical zoom. When you activate it, the subject will appear enlarged on the LCD screen.
Flash control – To activate, or deactivate the camera flash or control how strong the flash of light will be. Not all cameras have a button for this and many will implement this feature as a menu option.
Memory – There will be a slot for the memory card at one side or, more common, at the bottom of the camera. It will be covered. The memory card is where images are stored. Most cameras have removable memory devices, only a few don’t.
Battery – Well, you need power to make the camera work and it is not practical to have the camera plugged to the mains, surely there are not plugs in the middle of nowhere. So the camera needs batteries. They are usually of the kind you can charge over and over.
Power switch – Usually at the back but may be found at the front. You need to turn your camera on first. Most cameras have a power saving facility and would turn themselves off if not used for a while.
Power input socket – To connect your camera to the mains. Saves battery power. Use it to view your pictures in the camera and such.
USB socket – To link your camera to the PC, laptop, games console, digital frame or printer. You probably will find transferring photos via the memory card, but it is nice to have another option.
The power input socket and USB socket often are hidden under a flap.
Microphone – You can speak into the microphone to add comments or leave a message to remind you about details of the shot. This is not general. Just a few models will have it.
Ricoh CX1 compact digital camera.
