Canon EOS Digital SLR Product Range - Eos40D, Eos400D

Topic 1 - Welcome to digital SLR photography
Topic 2 - What is EOS?
Topic 3 - What is SLR?
Topic 4 - Inside your SLR camera
Topic 5 - How to hold an SLR camera
Topic 6 - Tutorial Task

Topic One: Welcome to digital SLR photography"

If this is your first step towards digital SLR cameras, then it's a very exciting moment. You're entering a whole new world of creative photography, and Canon is perfect place to start. These tutorials will introduce you to a few 'beginner-friendly' features and explain a few of the more advanced creative functions.

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Topic Two: What is EOS?

Trivial Pursuit champions out there will know Eos was the Greek goddess of light. But for Canon, EOS represents all the technological know-how they've acquired since 1935. And today, EOS cameras are in the hands of expert photographers and enthusiastic amateurs the world over. So welcome to one of the world's biggest creative communities!

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Topic Three: What is SLR?

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex, and it is known as one of the most flexible and user friendly camera systems available. A single lens produces the viewfinder image and records the image. The 'reflex' part refers to the 'reflex mirror'. The 'reflex mirror' reflects light up to a focusing screen when you are viewing the image, then moves out of the way when you press the shutter button. So what you see is what you shoot. One great advantage of SLR photography is the wide variety of lenses you can use. And, with Canon, you have access to the widest selection of lenses in the world.

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Topic Four: Inside your SLR camera

Here are all the bits and pieces that make your camera both technologically advanced and easy to use.

1. Built in flash.
2. LCD panel. This gives a read-out of the camera settings.
3. Electronic input dial. Scroll the camera settings quickly and easily.
4. Shutter release button. Partial pressure switches the camera on and full pressure fires the shutter
5. Battery.
6. Reflex mirror. Reflects light to the focusing screen.
7. Viewfinder pentaprism. Turns the image so you can see it through the viewfinder.
8. Lens mount. Camera powers and controls the focusing and aperture motors inside each lens.
9. Focusing screen. Where the image you see through the viewfinder is formed.
10. Sub-mirror. The central part of the reflex mirror is semi-silvered, allowing some of the light to pass through to a secondary mirror, where it is reflected down to the focusing sensors in the base of the camera.
11. Focusing sensors. Light rays from the sub mirrors are split as they reach the focusing sensors, forming twin images. The deviation between the images is used to determine the lens adjustment needed to achieve focus.

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Topic Five: How to hold an SLR camera

Getting into different shooting positions is part of the fun with digital SLR. It's important to keep the camera steady as possible, especially when shooting with slow shutter speeds. Grip with your right hand and position your left hand underneath the lens. This way, the left hand helps balance the camera whilst adjusting the lens. Sitting down, you can brace your arms against your legs or knees. Lying down is good, as your arms will form a natual tripod. Leaning the camera against a solid object (like a wall or fence) is another good trick. Or, set up the short, then trip the self-timer so you can concerntrate on holding the camera still.

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Task - Tips to get started

Take a picture of a dog or small child from a normal standing position. Now try the same shot from ground level and eye level with the subject. You'll find the eye-level shot gives a more intimate relationship with your subject. They will appear more imposing in shot from ground-level, with the subject taking a superior role. From above, you'll get the opposite impression.

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