- Setting the exposure using the histogram
The best way to tell if your exposure is correct is by consulting the histogram.
- RAW
Shooting in RAW format will give you access to the full capabilities of your camera.
In other words, RAW format is a good format
- Selecting Focusing points manually
Learning to change the AF points manually is a useful skill because the camera cant always anticipate them correctly.
- Learn all AF modes
The AF modes consist of One-shot AF, Servo AF and AI Autofocus.
One-shot mode: Will stop refocusing once it’s locked onto the subject.
AI-Servo AF Mode: Won’t lock the focus and will constantly refocus.
AI focus mode: Automatically moves from one-shot to Servo if it detects movement in the frame.
- Aperture Priority
In this mode your camera will vary the exposure settings depending the aperture value you set.
- Shutter Priority
It’s very useful for low light situations where you don’t want the shutter speed to be slower than what you can use to shoot hand held.
- Control motion blur
Motion blur often comes from using a shutter speed that is too slow for holding the camera in your hands.
- Manual White Balance
All digital cameras have a few white balance presets, these presets do a decent job but its good to know how to learn to set white balance manually.
- Drive Modes
There are 3 Drive Modes; single shot, continuous low and continuous high.
The first mode allows you to shoot one frame at a time (single shot). CL is great for portraits when you have an expressive model. CH is the shooting mode for sports or anything that moves fast.
- Metering modes
The best way to master metering modes is to start by reading the camera manual.
- ISO
Higher ISO value are needed for working in low light, and vice versa.
- Auto-ISO
Auto ISO will help you when shooting hand held.
- Exposure compensation
A +/- scale that will tell your camera to increase or decrease exposure.
- Manual exposure
To control your exposure manually.