CAMERA USE
Field Procedures 11
th
Edition, 2009
Advanced shooting techniques:
This camera will take fine photographs almost every time with nothing more than a point-and-
shoot strategy.
The camera will tell you if it sees a potential problem. The trick is to
press the shutter release lightly before you take a shot
. When you do so, the green LED next to the eyehole will either
blink or shine steadily. If it blinks, the camera is having trouble with the focus. If the red LED
blinks, the flash is not yet fully charged for the shot. If the red LED shines steadily, the camera
intends to use the flash.
However, some tricky lighting or focusing situations will foil the camera’s digital brain. For those
situations, advanced-photography techniques are possible with any or all of the four buttons that
surround the computer screen on the top of the camera.
Your friends, the buttons, and how to use them to improve your shooting:
Press the AF Button twice and you will see “Spot AF” on the computer
screen. In this setting, the camera will focus on only what is in the very
center of the screen. You can lock this focus as you might want to do if you
are taking a photo of a person sitting off center in front of distant scenery.
To lock the spot focus, aim at the person and press the shutter release just
firmly enough to light the green LED. Then, while holding the shutter
release in this half-depressed position, reframe the picture and take the shot.
This locking feature also works for exposure control.
Press the AF Button again, and you are back to automatic.
The Timed-Release Button (lower right button) can delay the shutter
release. With a blank computer screen, the shutter releases when you snap
the shot. Press this button once, and you will see a clock symbol. When this
symbol shows, the shutter will release 10 seconds after you press the
shutter-release button. This is a handy feature if you want to take a picture
with you in it.
Press the button again, and you will see a symbol for the remote-control switch. In this setting,
the shutter will release 3 seconds after you press the remote. You will need to see Streamkeepers
staff if you want to use the remote.
Press the button again, and you are back to a normal release.
The Red-Eye Button (upper left button) is for people pictures when using a
flash. Press this button once, and you will see a symbol for an eye. In this
setting, the flash shoots twice, once just before the shutter release. The first
flash forces the pupil to close, reducing the red-eye effect often seen with
flash photography.
Press the button again, and you are back to normal.