Camera Basics

Knowing is half the battle

Objective
Students will be able to:

● Define terminology
● Understand the basics of the DSLR camera
● Understand the different parts of the DSLR camera
● Be able to properly and safely use the cameras in and out of the classroom
● Know how to check out and in cameras
 Vocabulary
DSLR
Digital single lens reflex camera. They are the most versatile of the digital
cameras.
Front of the Camera
 Power Switch
To turn on or off the camera.

You must ALWAYS have the

camera OFF when putting in
or taking out SD Cards or
batteries.

You must ALWAYS have the

camera OFF when switching
lenses.
 Display button
To toggle the display on the screen.
 ISO Button
Hold this down to be able to
adjust the ISO in camera.
 Main Dial
You use this to adjust
Shutter Speed, Aperture,
ISO, etc in the camera.

Hint: maindial
 Shutter Button
You use this to take a photo.

If you press it down half way it will focus

the camera in Auto Focus.

When you push it all the way it will take

your photo.

Hint: shutterrelease
 Focus
You always want to try to get focus in
your photography.

There’s a difference between having a

focal point(Something is in focus) or
just the entire photo being out of
focus!

Hint: focus
 Grip
What you hold onto the camera with.
 Mirror
NEVER TOUCH THE MIRROR ON
ANY PART INSIDE THE CAMERA!

This is what the camera uses to bounce

from the lens onto the sensor.
 Lens Mount
What connects the lens to the camera.

Make sure to be careful and not scratch

up this part of the camera when
switching lenses.

Never leave a lens off the camera and

open to the environment, it’ll get dust
which is bad.
 Lens Mount(continued)
You need to line up the red/white marks
on the lens mount with the lens mount
of the lens to connect the lens with the
camera body.

Once you’ve lined these together and

put the lens and body together, you just
twist and you’ll hear a click when it’s
locked in place.
 Mode Dial
This is where you adjust the mode that
you are shooting in.

You will always shoot in MANUAL for

this class.
 Built In Flash
Do not use this for class projects.

We will be going over external light

devices later in class.
 Hot Shoe Mount
This is where you put any
accessories for the camera, from
flashes to remotes for lights to
microphones(Film students).

Hint: hotshoe
 Strap Mount
This is where you thread your camera
straps onto the camera.
 Camera Strap
For photo students, you
MUST always wear your
camera strap around your
neck.

For film students, if your

camera is not on a tripod
or in your camera bag, it
must be around your
neck.

If you are not using your

camera, it should be in
the camera bag!
 Camera Strap
When you are walking around
campus(Or anywhere else), if you
have your camera around your
neck you should have at least one
hand on your camera so your
camera isn’t swinging around and
hitting into things.

Hint: camerastrap
 Microphone
This isn’t needed for photo students but
for film students.

This is where the camera records

sounds for video files.
 Flash Button
You use this to pop open the Built in
Flash.

Remember, you should never use the

on body Flash.
 Terminal Cover
This is the cover to protect the
different plugins for external use,
like HDMI, micro-USB,
microphone, etc.
 Lens Release Button
You use this to be able to switch lenses.

To remove a lens, you hold this down

and then twist the lenses.

NEVER FORCE THIS!

Hint: lensrelease
 External Microphone Port
For film students, this is what you plug a
external microphone into the camera.
 Body Cap
If the camera doesn’t have a lens on it, you put
the body cap on it to keep the internal pieces
protected.
Back of the Camera
 Eye Cup
To keep sunlight out when looking
into the Viewfinder
 Viewfinder Eyepiece
See what you’re looking at and
what you’re about to take a photo
of(Film students won’t use this
when recording video).
 Info Button
You use this to bring up information
about the photo or your settings
when taking photos.
 Menu Button
You use this to open up the menu.
This is where you’ll need to go
when you want to format your SD
card once you’ve transferred all of
your images to a computer.
 LCD Monitor
What you guys
review your images
on and your camera
settings/menu.

Hint: lcdmonitor
 LCD Monitor for T6
The Canon T6 LCD
Monitor cannot be
repositioned.
Aperture Button
AV button, this is what you hold to
adjust the aperture.
 Tripod Socket
This is where you put the QUICK
RELEASE PLATE from the tripod
onto the camera.
 Quick Release Plate
For film students especially, you put
the quick release plate in the Tripod
Socket on the camera.

Do not leave this on the camera

when you turn it in. It should always
remain on the tripod.

Hint: quickreleaseplate
 Quick Control Button
This will allow you to switch between
different settings.

It will give you descriptions of what

each setting does, and allows you to
adjust with the main dial from there.
 Playback button
Allows you to see the photo/video
you just did.

Pressing it or the shutter button

goes back to the settings display.
 Settings Button
You can adjust the settings of the
camera here.
Cross Keys
You can use this to cycle through
photos in playback, and you use
these to move through the menu
screen. Each button also has a
specific function when in the default
screen.
 White Balance (Up Arrow)
White Balance Selection.

When in default screen, this will

allow you to adjust the white
balance.

This is the only time you can have

something in auto.
 Drive Mode Selection (Left Button)
Drive Mode Selection allows you
to choose between single shot,
multiple shot, and timer.

If your camera starts beeping

when you try to take your photo,
the timer is on.

You will use this as the LEFT

arrow, too.
 Picture Style Selection (Down Arrow)
You don’t need to worry about
Picture Style Selection.

You’ll be using this for the down

arrow.
 AF Mode Selection (Right Arrow)
Allows you to choose how Auto
Focus will function.
 Dioptric Adjustment Knob
Important if you wear glasses.
 Live View Shooting/Recording
You will not use live view mode
when shooting photos. This is only
for the film students.
 Zoom Out
Allows you to zoom out in a photo/go
into a grid when looking at multiple
images.
 Zoom In
Zoom into a photo during playback.
This also allows you to leave the
grid of images while in playback.
 SD Card Slot cover
Protects the SD card. Make sure
this stays shut and only open it
when you’re removing the SD card.
 Battery Compartment Release
This is what allows you to open up
the camera battery compartment.
 Battery Compartment
This is where you put your battery.
Never try to force it in.
 Erase Button
This is how you delete an
individual photo.

Do not delete photos like this.

Use format in the camera menu.

 Card Slot
This is where you put the SD card.

Never force this.

 Card Slot on T6
On the T6, the SD Card slot is in the
battery compartment.

Never force this.

Canon Lens
 The Basics
Lenses are measured with their focal
length. This is measured between the
lens and the image it forms on the film.

We will have a class specifically about

lenses and their different types.

Hint: focallength
 Hood Mount
This is where the hood or the Lens
Cap goes.
 Filter Mounting Ring
This is how you screw on your
filters.

There should be a UV filter on each

camera.
 Zoom Ring
This is the ring that you adjust to
zoom in or out when taking a
photo.
 Focus Ring
This can change depending on the
lens.

This is how you focus if not on Auto

Focus.

When in Auto Focus(AF),

NEVER adjust this ring manually!
 Distance Scale
This just allows you to see the
distance meter on the lens.

Not on all lenses.

 Focus Mode Switch
This adjusts the lens from either
Auto Focus or Manual.

Photo students can use auto focus.

Film students MUST use manual

focus!

NOTE: Auto focus is not a

guarantee to get the focus YOU
want.
 Lens Mount Index
Look at the little square on the side
by the mount.

You line this up on the mount ring to

put the lens on the camera.
 Lens Caps
Remember, when you are
not using your camera or
when it’s in the camera
bag, it needs a lens cap
on to avoid getting the
glass scratched.

Hint: lenscap
 Lens Wipes
Lens wipes are the only thing
you should be cleaning your
lenses with.

There are dry lens wipes by the

Battery charging station, and Mr.
Nistas has wet lens wipes.

Only EVER clean the front part of

the lens. If the back glass of the
lens needs to be cleaned, give it
to Mr. Nistas to clean it.

Hint: lenswipe
 Spot Metering Circle
This is the area that your light meter
will be detecting. To get proper
exposure for your photos, have the
area you’re trying to expose correctly
be in this area.
 AF Mode Points
These points will be what your
camera’s sensors will try to focus on.
 Focus screen
This is the area that is your image
you are photographing.

The most common aspect ratio for

cameras is 4:3 or 3:2. Aspect Ratio
is the height and width of your
photo.

Hint: aspectratio
 White Balance
This is where your current White
Balance setting is located.

The White Balance is the setting

used to adjust for the different color
of light sources.

Hint: whitebalance
 Focus Confirmation Light
If you are using Auto Focus, this dot
will come on if your focus is set.
 Max Burst
How many shots you can get in burst.
If you try to take to many photos this
will go to 0 and you will have to let
the camera load the photos you took.
 ISO Speed
This is where your current ISO speed
will be located.

Remember from our lessons that ISO

determines how sensitive the camera
is to light.

Remember that the higher the ISO,

the more digital noise you have.
 Exposure Meter
This is your exposure meter.

Exposure determines how light or

dark the image is.

You will want to have the arrow set

to 0 for a proper exposure.

Hint: metering
Underexposed
Overexposed
 Aperture
This is where your current Aperture
setting is located.

Remember that we measure Aperture

in f-stop’s.
 Aperture
Remember from our
lessons on Aperture that
it is the size of an
opening within the
camera lens that allows
light to pass through the
lens.

Hint: aperture
 Aperture
Remember from our
lessons on Aperture and
Depth of Field that bokeh
is the aesthetic quality of
the blur produced in the
out-of-focus parts of an
image produced by a
lens.

Hint: depthoffield
 Shutter Speed / Card Info
This is where your current Shutter
Speed setting will be located.

Remember that Shutter Speed is

measured in seconds.

If there is an issue with the SD card,

you will see it here.
 Shutter Speed
Remember from our lessons that
shutter speed is the amount of time
which the shutter is open to allow the
film/sensor to be exposed to light.

It also determines how blurred actions

might be.

Hint: shutterspeed
 Shutter Speed
Remember from our
lessons on Shutter
Speed, then the shutter
speed is slow, it is a long
exposure.

Hint: longexposure
SD Card
 What is an SD Card?
SD cards are the storage devices we use to save
our images from our cameras when we take
photos.

They come in different storage sizes(example: 4gb,

8gb, 16gb, 32gb, 64gb, etc), and different
sizes(You can get a microSD card or a regular one,
for this class we use SD Cards).

The proper way to delete images is FORMATing.

Hint: sdcard
 SD Card Contacts
These are the contacts that allow
your camera/computer to connect
with the SD Card.

NEVER TOUCH THESE!

 SD Card Lock Switch
This will lock and prevent you from
taking photos if this is in the LOCK
position. If your camera is not letting
you take photos, check this before
seeing Mr. Nistas.
 Don’t go home without one!
Remember that it is the STUDENTS
responsibility, not Mr. Nistas’, to check to
see that there is a SD card in the camera.

It is also the students responsibility to check

the camera to see if the SD card was
formatted when they check out a camera,
and it is the students responsibility before
checking in the camera that they have
formatted their card.
 How to Format Your SD Card

To format your SD Card, you need to

click on Menu(Hey, you know where that
is now!) and then go here.

It will then want to confirm that you want

to format your SD Card. This means all
data will be lost! Click OK.
Tripods
 Quick Tips about Tripods
The tripod is used to help stabilize
the cameras, for filming and long
exposures for photography.

Make sure to always stay no more

than an armslength from the tripod.

Make sure to never leave a camera

on the tripod.

NEVER carry a tripod by it’s arm.

NEVER WALK AROUND WITH A CAMERA ON A
TRIPOD

CA
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Bags
 Camera Bags

Cameras should be in their

camera bag when not in use.

Each camera is assigned to it’s

own bag, so do not switch them
around.

Camera bags must ALWAYS be

with you.
Procedures
If anything ever happens...
Always EMAIL Mr. Nistas on [email protected] if there are any issues with
your camera gear. NEVER wait to tell him if there’s an issue, even if it seems
minor.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED
TO USE THE EQUIPMENT YOU SIGN
OUT!

You are financially responsible for your camera equipment that you check out.
YOU CAN NEVER USE SOMEONE
ELSE'S WORK FOR YOUR OWN

It’s still plagiarism

 Water
You need to keep
cameras and accessories
away from water at all
times. Remember that
cameras have a lot of
sensitive circuitry in them.

Lenses can get fungus in

their insides if they’re
exposed to the elements.
In Class Procedures
 Checking Out Cameras During Class
When it’s shoot days, you will see the instructions on the projector/TV screen that
it is a shoot day. You will need to get a camera and any possible accessories and
sign it out.

Batteries will only be handed out and students will be able to begin once
EVERYONE has signed out their cameras.
 Photographing/Filming Around Campus
You must ALWAYS be respectful when taking photos around campus and
classrooms. This means no yelling/shouting/etc if you are close to classes.

You are NEVER allowed to take students out of class to take their photo or include
them in your film. (Hint: no-one)

Thanks to a previous student, the parking lot is also off limits.

You are NEVER allowed to leave the campus during class time to take photos.
 Checking In Cameras During Class
On Shoot Days during class, you will need to be back in class TEN Minutes
before the bell rings. (You should set an alarm on your phone to make sure you are not late)

Remember to have your battery out and put it on a charger or in the Battery
Recharge tub when turning in your camera.

Cameras need to be TURNED IN 5 minutes before the bell rings.

A student will typically be assigned to take in cameras. This student will have
shown they are showing responsibility, and better cameras and more equipment
will be available to these students.
Checking Out Cameras
 When Checking Out Cameras

Grades
To be able to check out cameras, you need to have an 80% in class. If it’s for an
assignment or extra credit in hopes to better your grade, talk to Mr. Nistas.

To check out the Canon 80D, you will need at least a 90% as well as talking to Mr.
Nistas beforehand.
 When Checking Out Cameras

Check Out Time

Unless specifically allowed by Mr. Nistas, check out times are after the last bell of
the day(3:30).

People getting on a bus or being picked up directly will take priority as they need
to leave as soon as possible.

Please make sure you know what equipment you want to check out when you ask
Mr. Nistas.
 When Checking Out Cameras
Batteries
Remember it is the students responsibility to make sure
they have a battery when they check out a camera, not Mr.
Nistas’. It is also the students responsibility to make sure
the battery is charged.
 When Checking Out Cameras
Battery Chargers
The ONLY time students will get
chargers is on weekends.

Make sure to remove this from the

camera bag when checking in cameras.
 When Checking Out Cameras

Additional Accessories
You need to let Mr. Nistas know when
you’re wanting an additional
lens(Limited to one extra), flash, or
other accessory when you ask for a
camera. You need to make sure to
write EVERYTHING you’re getting down
on the Check Out sheet, it is your
responsibility to make sure you get
everything you signed out.
 When Checking Out Cameras

Do Not Leave In Cars!

Cameras can have internal damage due
to extreme heat(lost pixels, etc).

Bags left in cars are a target for

potential thieves to break into your
car(damage to your car) and stolen
camera(Possibly other items in your car,
too).
Checking In Cameras
 When Checking In Cameras
Check In Time
You need to turn in any equipment by 8:35(When the first bell rings of the day). If
you are absent, try to EMAIL Mr. Nistas to let him know you won’t be able to turn
the equipment in(Not an absolute must, but please try). If you got to school late, try
to turn it in at the very next passing period or at lunch at the latest. If you are in
fourth, fifth, or sixth period, do NOT wait until your class to turn it in!

Do NOT leave your camera in another class because you do not want to have to
carry it around school. That is why check OUT times are after school and check IN
times are before school. We need every single camera for possible in class use.

Cameras are due back the very next school day after check out(Mondays if
checked out on Friday).
 When Checking In Cameras

Batteries
You need to make sure to remove your batteries from the
camera and put them either on the correct
charger(Preferred) or in the Battery Recharge tub.
 When Checking In Cameras

Additional Accessories
If you’ve checked out any additional
items(Lens, lights, battery charger,
tripod, etc), make sure to remove them
from the camera bag and give them to
Mr. Nistas to make sure you’re fully
clear of all equipment responsibilities.
 When Checking In Cameras

Images on SD Card
You need to transfer your images to
your computer before you turn in your
camera(WITH SD CARD!), and make
sure to format your SD card before you
turn it in.

SD Cards need to stay IN the camera.

 At the end of the day, remember these
cameras are not a right but a privilege.
Your actions in this class determine if
you can check out cameras or even use
them in class.
Crossword Answers
Camera Basics
Camera Safety