GET MORE FROM YOUR CAMERA
Discover unused potential in your digital camera and learn to capture images you may never have thought possible
Are you really using your DSLR or CSC to its fullest potential?
We often purchase a new camera for a specific purpose and with a clear idea of how it will benefit our photography. Whether we are upgrading to a DSLR from a compact or bridge camera, or moving up to a model with a more professional specification, we will undoubtedly be excited by those features that are most obviously dedicated to our main photographic interests. While this might help us make informed decisions about which camera model is best suited to our needs, there is a notable downside. While we are focusing on utilising those tools, we often overlook the many other advanced features found on our DSLR, meaning there is potential for unique images that we fail to exploit. Successive cameras often build on the specification of their predecessors, so that latest-generation iterations have extensive menus and custom functions.
This is most often the case in enthusiastlevel cameras, which are pitched to appeal to photographers experimenting with numerous genres, and it is easy for features to get lost and underused. Aside from the obvious negative impact this has on our portfolio, it also means we are not efficiently operating our equipment – we have paid for components that we may never use.
It is therefore good practice to revisit our cameras, even after several years of using it, to discover which aspects we may have been missing out on. Once you have discovered a ‘new’ feature, you can try to work it into your usual workflow, learning to use it in a novel or unconventional way.
The advantages of knowing your own camera well are wide reaching. Firstly, understanding how every feature works and how these are laid out across the controls, i.e. the manufacturer’s design philosophy, will make your shooting experience feel more intuitive. You will then be better prepared for whatever challenges your shoot raises. Secondly, discovering a new tool at your disposal is a guaranteed way to ignite your creative motivation, encouraging you to try new techniques and learn new skills. Read the following guide to find out how to start using your DSLR like never before.