Canon EOS Digital SLR Product Range - Eos40D, Eos400D

Topic One: Basic shooting modes

These are a great place to start getting used to your EOS 400D.

Full auto.
This allows you to just frame and shoot. It's a great option if you are just starting to get used to your EOS 400D, or if you see a shot and haven't time to set-up.

Portrait.
Here you can throw the background out of focus and let your subject dominate the picture. It's good to avoid facing your subject into the light ? back lighting is usually best. And, the quicker you can take the shot, the more natural your subject's expression will look.

Landscape.
This mode increases the depth-of-field, so more of the scene will appear sharper in the image. Your built-in flash will never fire in landscape mode.

Close-up.
These are great fun and a great challenge. Try to find a good stable position, as camera shake can change what's in-focus. Also, it's easier to start with fixed objects, as any movement (eg from the wind) changes the focus zone.

Sports.
You don't have to be shooting sport to use this mode. It is good for any movement, helping to freeze the motion of the subject with a faster shutter speed. Framing fast moving objects is tricky to start, but you'll get better very quickly. Again, your flash doesn't fire in 'Sports'.

Night scene.
This mode is designed for a nearby subject at night. But you needn't save flash exclusively for the dark. Use it indoors and for heavily backlit shots to achieve better balance between the foreground and background.

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Topic Two: Creative Shooting Modes

A good way to explore the creative modes is to take a shot with the Full Auto mode, then switch to a creative mode and see the difference.

Program. (P)
Here, you can control the aperture (the amount of light coming into the camera) or shutter speed (how fast the shot is taken). When you set the aperture you want, the camera sets the shutter speed, and vice-versa. Because you don't have to do all the calculations, it gives you quick access to the shutter speed and aperture you want to use. And you control the flash.

Shutter-priority (Tv)
Good for sports and action photography, this mode allows you to set a shutter speed, and the camera automatically controls the aperture. It means you have less to concentrate on when you shoot fast action.

Aperture-priority (Av)
The opposite happens here. You set the aperture (or amount of light entering the camera and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed. It's really good for controlling the amount of your image that is in focus.

Manual. (M)
Here, you can play with both aperture and shutter speed. This is great when you want to intentionally under or over-expose a shot. The camera will recommend an exposure but, with this mode, you can ignore everything in pursuit of what you want.

Auto-depth of field. (A-DEP)
When you want everything in focus, this mode is perfect. It takes the nearest object to the camera, and the furthest object, then sets the aperture needed to bring both into focus. You have to select the points of focus you want.

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Task - Tips to get started

The best first step is to take shots using each of the modes, even when you know it is wrong. For example, take a portrait shot using the Portrait setting. Then take the same shot using Sports or Landscape. Notice the difference? You will begin to get a feel for each mode this way.

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