Getting started with your Canon
Hit the ground running with your new camera
1 Camera discipline
BY CORRECTLY holding and supporting your camera, as well as your body, you will get the sharpest pictures and prolong the life of your kit. Make a “V” with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand, creating a cradle for your lens. This provides stability and minimizes strain on the mount – crucial when using bigger lenses. Tuck your elbows into your ribs, bracing your arms and keeping the camera steady. Slow your breathing and squeeze the shutter instead of stabbing it. If shooting crouched, get onto one knee and brace your elbow on your thigh.
2 Choosing color space
BEFORE IT can take pictures, your camera needs to know how to colourize them. You have a choice of two formats, each with pros and cons. Adobergb is able to display an approximately 35% greater colour range, but most applications and devices are configured for SRGB – and they convert Adobergb images poorly. Most photo labs and printers, however, use Adobergb for its superior colour range. So choose Adobergb if you print your photographs, to achieve greater consistency, and SRGB if your images are mostly intended for the web or screen.
3 Camera bag essentials
DSLR BODIES and lenses you carry will vary, but certain items are essential. We never leave home without a spare battery, memory cards, mini tripod, light meter, remote control, flash, and lens cloth, Lenspen and hurricane blower for cleaning… and a carrier bag in case it rains!
4 Use your lens hood!
MANY PEOPLE don’t bother with a lens hood, usually because they don’t know what it does. The hood serves two purposes: it prevents light entering the lens and hitting the sensor, which reduces contrast and quality and introduces artefacts like flare. Secondly, it protects the front element without degrading your optic with a filter. Why spend hundreds or thousands on a lens and then put a cheap UV filter on the front of it?
5 Which memory card?
CHOOSING MEMORY cards can be a real pain!
But it comes down to four factors: capacity, cost, speed and brand. Try to use smaller cards – if a 32Gb card corrupts, you haven’t lost as much as if you were using a 128Gb card. Choose as fast a card as you can afford, especially if you shoot a lot in burst mode, and always go for known names like Sandisk or Lexar over unbranded cards.