Mastering Digital SLR Photography

280 Pages·2004·11.31 MB·English

by  David D. Busch

Mastering
Digital SLR
Photography
David D. Busch
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For Jonathan and Teryn
Acknowledgments
Once again thanks to Andy Shafran, who realizes that a book about digital photography
deserves nothing less than a full-color treatment, and knows how to publish such a book at a
price that everyone can afford. It’s refreshing to work for a publisher who has actually written
best-selling books on imaging, too. Also, thanks to senior editor Kevin Harreld, for valuable
advice as the book progressed, as well as project editor, Jenny Davidson; interior layout, Bill
Hartman; indexer, Sharon Shock; proofreader, Nancy Sixsmith; and book/cover designer, Mike
Tanamachi.
Also thanks to my agent, Carole McClendon, who has the amazing ability to keep both pub-
lishers and authors happy.
About the Author
As a roving photojournalist for more than 20 years, David D. Buschillustrated his books,
magazine articles, and newspaper reports with award-winning images. He’s operated his own
commercial studio, suffocated in formal dress while shooting weddings-for-hire, and shot sports
for a daily newspaper and Upstate New York college. His photos have been published in mag-
azines as diverse as Scientific AmericanandPetersen’s PhotoGraphic, and his articles have appeared
inPopular Photography & Imaging,The Rangefinder, The Professional Photographer,and hun-
dreds of other publications. He’s currently reviewing digital cameras for CNet.
WhenAbout.comrecently named its top five books on Beginning Digital Photography, occu-
pying the #1 and #2 slots were Busch’s Digital Photography All-In-One Desk Reference for
DummiesandMastering Digital Photography.His 78 other books published since 1983 include
bestsellers such as The Official Hewlett-Packard Scanner HandbookandAdobePhotoshop CS:
Photographers’ Guide. When his last digital photography book, Digital Photography:From
Camera to Printer, Print to Computer, Videotape to DVD, and More!debuted in October 2004,
it appeared on the Amazon.com bestseller list sandwiched between a photography book by
Ringo Starr and a thriller from The Da Vinci Code’s Dan Brown.
Busch earned top-category honors in the Computer Press Awards the first two years they were
given (for Sorry About the ExplosionandSecrets of MacWrite, MacPaint and MacDraw), and later
served as Master of Ceremonies for the awards.
Contributor Bio
Technical Editor, Michael D. Sullivanadded a great deal to this book, in addition to check-
ing all the text for technical accuracy. A veteran photographer (in the military sense of the
word!), he contributed some of the images in this book and volunteered his expertise in Mac
OS X for important behind-the-scenes testing of software and hardware.
Mike began his photo career in high school where he first learned the craft and amazed his
classmates by having Monday morning coverage of Saturday’s big game pictured on the school
bulletin board. Sullivan pursued his interest in photography into the U.S. Navy, graduating in
the top ten of his photo school class. Following Navy photo assignments in Bermuda and
Arizona, he earned a B.A. degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College.
He became publicity coordinator for Eastman Kodak Company’s largest division, where he
directed the press introduction of the company’s major consumer products and guided their
continuing promotion. Following a 25-year stint with Kodak, Sullivan pursued a second career
with a PR agency as a writer-photographer covering technical imaging subjects and producing
articles that appeared in leading trade publications. In recent years, Sullivan has used his imag-
ing expertise as a technical editor specializing in digital imaging and photographic subjects for
top-selling books.
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Contents at a Glance
Preface ........................................................xvii
Introduction ...................................................xix
1 Digital SLR Photography Now and in the Future...1
2 Digital SLR Technology Made Easy...................19
3 Mastering Your dSLR’s Controls .......................49
4 dSLR Quirks and Strengths ..............................67
5 Working RAW .................................................87
6 Working with Lenses.....................................113
7 Close-Up Photography...................................129
8 Capturing Action...........................................145
9 Composition and dSLRs.................................179
10 Mastering dSLR Special Features...................201
A Illustrated Glossary.......................................221
Index............................................................243
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Contents
Preface ...............................................................xvii
Introduction .........................................................xix
1 Digital SLR Photography Now and in the Future .........1
Digital SLRs for the Masses ......................................................................................1
A Little History .........................................................................................................3
A Little Future ..........................................................................................................5
The Near Future ..................................................................................................5
Farther Down the Road .......................................................................................6
The Case for and Against Full Frame Sensors ..................................................6
A Full-Frame Compromise .............................................................................8
More Innovations ...........................................................................................9
Why dSLR? ............................................................................................................10
Four dSLR Advantages Unrelated to Single-Lens Reflexiveness ..........................10
Four Major Advantages Unique to dSLRs ..........................................................12
Five dSLR Downsides ........................................................................................13
Using What You Already Know ..............................................................................14
What You’ll Use Your dSLR For ..............................................................................15
Bye Bye Film? ....................................................................................................15
Where Digital Dominates ..................................................................................16
Next Up ..................................................................................................................17
2 Digital SLR Technology Made Easy .........................19
Sensors and Sensibility ............................................................................................21
Sensor Overview ................................................................................................21
CCDs in Depth .................................................................................................23
CMOS in Depth ...............................................................................................24
Noise and Sensitivity ..........................................................................................25
Dynamic Range .................................................................................................26
Controlling Exposure Time .....................................................................................28