Week 2: Basic Photography

In this week, we learned about basic photography such as types of camera, choosing a digital camera, camera setting and camera modes, media storage device and file formats.

So, this was my first time attended the class. This class was so fun and interesting as in the lecturer have sense of humour rather than being serious all time. And yeah.. this class is so enjoyable.. :)

There are three topics as i mentioned last week need to be presented and discussed in class.I choose types of cameras which is discuss on general issues and how to choose perfect cameras for you.

I had presented and shared my findings about types of camera. There are three types of cameras :

1. Point and Shoots Camera

2. Mirrorless Interchangeble Lens Camera

3. DSLR camera

Firstly, point and shoot camera is like compact camera that are sells many in the markets. You can choose many brands such as Nikon, Canon, Lumix, Pentax and many more. Point and shoots cameras type is generally very easy to use as you just 'point' and 'shoots'.

This type of camera is mostly use focus free lenses/autofocus, automatic systems for setting the exposure options and have flash units built in. Hence this is suitable for someone who does not like to operate the camera in complex and difficult manner and also does not need to change lens or attach the flash on the cameras.

You also can get this type cameras cheap to expensive in the market. So, for those who have money limitation and does not care about the high quality picture, you just can grab this type of camera. It's simple and easy to use and light to bring anywhere you want. See the image of compact camera below.

Compact Camera (Fujifilm XF1)

Secondly, Mirrorless Interchangeble Lens Camera is type of camers that exist between a point and shoots and a DSLR. The user have full control over automatic and manual codes same way as a DSLR, the lens is interchangeable also same way as a DSLR.

In this class, Dr. Jamal has brought the Mirrorless Interchange Lens Camera type in class to be showed to the class. His camera model is Sony Nex Alpha. He showed to us why this type camera is called mirrorless. He was separate the lens of Sony Nex Alpha from the body camera and showed us what is inside the camera. There is no mirror inside. That is why it is called mirrorless. In addition, Dr. Jamal also had showed us the inside of DSLR camera which is exist mirror.

Here the image of Sony Nex Alpha with lens and without lens. You can see there is no mirror inside it.

Mirrorless Interchangeble lens Camera (Sony Nex Alpha)

You can see there is no mirror inside.

So, this is the major difference between this two types of cameras which is mirror. Optical viewfinders on DSLR systems use a system of mirror that show the scene to be photographed. However, mirrorrless cameras do not operate with this system and do not have mirrors. Instead they are equipped with either a LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder that preview the scene instead.

Thus, this type of camera is suitable for those who want a DSLR-like camera in point and shoot style. And it also much lighter than DSLR. The consumer still can capture excellent image quality and it also provides lens option.

Third, DSLR cameras have removable lenses, that have a reflex mirror which allows live optical viewing through the lens taking the image. This type of cameras are generally for professional photographer. However, recently, this type of cameras become trends and ordinary people can have it apart from professional photographer.

DSLR (Canon EOS 1000D)

DSLR is very expensive and it is suitable for those who has lots of money, they afford to buy it. In this class, I just known that the DSLR camera price can be from 1k to 20k. Wooow... very expensive.. And of course the image is very high quality as long as u know how to control the camera and use it creatively and produce top-notch image. For those out there, who likes to total control over your camera, you can buy DSLR.

In summary, figure out what types of cameras that suits you, then you can start think to buy a perfect cameras for you. Any this three types of cameras can be choose from as long as you know what you want.

One more thing, Dr. Jamal mentioned that there is one website which is you can compare any two models of camera which is www.snapsort.com . In this website can help you to choose perfect camera for you.