swheeler Page 3 of 34
IMT – Cholla Training Center
that something else happens to
fall under one of the AF points
and is also more contrasty than
your main subject. In these
instances, switch AF mode to
Center AF, point the AF Frame
on your subject and half-press
the shutter release button to
lock focus on your main subject,
then reframe, if necessary,
before fully pressing the shutter
release button to take the shot.
Macro Setting
http://drscavanaugh.org/digitalcamera/macro.htm
While you can use a digital camera at the standard settings, you can often see much
more detail by using the macro setting on the camera. A macro setting changes the
focus of the camera so it can focus on very close objects. The macro setting is for
photographing objects within a few inches or feet away. One of my digital cameras
has a macro setting that works within one centimeter, to get very close shots (light
can be an issue when you get that close). You can use the macro setting to improve
your ability to see small details, similar to using a magnifying glass. You might want
to use a small tripod to hold the camera steady. I also find that an active display
screen is the easiest to use, since you don't have to estimate which portion of the
viewfinder is focusing for the macro setting. Don't forget to change away from the
macro setting when you are finished (if the camera doesn't do it automatically).
People who wear bifocals especially should be careful to remember to change the
camera setting back to normal when finished with macro, as it may appear out of
focus when looking at the LCD screen with the glasses. If the camera is set at macro
and you are trying to take a normal picture then the focus will be set wrong and the
image will be out of focus. I know of one teacher who took a few pictures up close
on the macro setting, and then forgot to change back to the normal setting, and she
used up the rest of her camera memory space with the pictures all out of focus.
Top of Page
Camera Shake
If your digital camera makes even a slight
movement when you take a picture, the
chance of having a blurred photo
increases. To help minimize camera shake,
take a few moments to learn under what
conditions it can happen as well as the
ways to help prevent, if not completely
eliminate, it.
Camera shake typically happens in low-
light situations when the digital camera
aperture is wide-open, or when using a
long telephoto lens. The best way to
prevent camera shake is to mount your
camera on a tripod or other flat, level
support. When using a tripod, if you don't
have a remote, use the self-timer to
trigger the shutter button.