Understanding the Settings on Your DSLR Camera

Posted in how to be more creative, teacher tools

Using an DSLR camera can be a lot of fun, and help you to produce great photos, but first, you need to understand what the settings are and how to change them. Where each part of the camera is located, varies some based on make and model, take some time to explore and understand your camera.

 

Use the video above and the questions below to guide your discovery. 

Make & Model of Camera: _________________________________

 

Your job is to explore the parts of the camera and the settings on the camera… make adjustments, take photos, and record what you think is happening. 

  

  1.   What is the purpose of white balance? 
  2. How do you change white balance?
  3. Why would you want to control the white balance?
  4.   How does the ISO setting affect your photos? 
  5. Why and when would you want to adjust your ISO?
  6. How do you change ISO on your camera?
  7.   How do you control DoF ( Depth of Field) on your SLR camera?
  8.   How do you control the shutter speed on your camera? 
  9. Why would you want to control the shutter speed?
  10. What setting do you need to set your camera on in order to change the shutter speed?
  11. What setting do you need to set your camera on in order to change the aperture?
  12. What shutter speed allows more light into the camera? 1/200 or 1/2000
  13. Which shutter speed allows more light into the camera? 1/150 or 4”
  14. What shutter speed would require you to use a tripod? 1/400 or 1/15
  15. What aperture setting allows more light into your camera, and will cause more of the image to be out of focus? 1.7 or 22
  16. What aperture setting allows less light into the camera, and will cause your image to be sharper? 5.6 or 8
  17. How do the shutter and aperture work together?
  18. Is your camera able to take video? 
  19. Your control dial has letters like A, P, TV, write down each letter found on your control dial and explain what it does. 
  20. Your menu has symbols like a wrench and pencil, draw each symbol and explain what types of things are found in that menu area.
  21. Draw a picture of your camera, and then label the following parts
  • Lense
  • View finder
  • Shutter release button
  • Menu
  • Control dial
  • Focus ring
  • Camera body
  • Battery chamber
  • Memory card slot
  • Hot shoe
  • on/off ( power button)