Short Courses in Canon EOS D Series SLR Cameras

A ShortCourse Book
Canon EOS 5D Photography

Canon EOS 5D Photography

This clearly written and easy-to understand short course on your Canon 5D explains step-by-step how, why and when you use your camera's controls for better pictures. This guide is available as a traditional 142 page large-format (8.5 by 11) spiral bound book printed in black and white, and as a full-color,fully searchable PDF eBook you can order on a CD or download instantly.

New, a Short Courses digital photography book for people who own the Canon EOS 5D digital camera and want to get better pictures. This beautifully written and illustrated guide, drawing on the much more comprehensive information on the ShortCourses Web site, pulls together answers to the questions you might have about using the 5D, including the following:

Taking a Picture in Full Auto Mode
Using Menus
Managing Your Images—Using Buttons
Jumping in Playback
Giving Slide Shows
Managing Your Images—Using Menus
Selecting Image Quality
Turning Continuous Mode On and Off
Changing Exposure Modes
Using Program AE (P) Mode
Using Program Shift
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode
Using Manual (M) Mode
Changing the Metering Mode
Using Exposure Compensation
Using Focus Lock to Lock Exposure
Using Autoexposure (AE) Lock
Using Autoexposure Bracketing (AEB)
Displaying Histograms
Selecting the Bright or RGB Histogram
Evaluating Histograms
Using the Self-timer
Changing the ISO
Capturing Creative Blur
Increasing the Sharpness of Moving Objects
Selecting an Autofocus Mode
Selecting an AF Point
Displaying AF Points

Using Focus Lock
Using Manual Focus
Increasing Depth of Field
Setting Your Lens to the Hyperfocal Distance
Zone Focusing
Decreasing Depth of Field
Selecting a White Balance Mode
Setting a Custom White Balance
Setting a Specific Color Temperature in Kelvins
Using White Balance Bracketing
Using White Balance Correction
Selecting a Color Space
Using Bulb Exposures
Mounting and Unmounting a Lens
Zooming a Lens
Increasing Depth of Field in Close-ups
Using Flash Exposure Compensation
Using Flash Exposure (FE) Lock
Using Slow Sync Flash
Photographing in Dim Light
Registering Camera Settings
Selecting & Changing Picture Styles
Shooting in Black and White
Changing Custom Functions
Setting Other Menu Commands
Creating and Selecting Folders
Clearing Camera Settings
Entering a Print Order

The book is designed to work with the on-line books on the www.shortcourses.com site. The book explains how to get better pictures but you'll find more on that subject on the site. In addition, there is lots of information on the site about what you can do with your pictures after you've taken them.

Contents

Chapter 1
Camera Controls and Creativity ...6

The Canon EOS 5D Camera ...7
Jump Start: Using Full Auto Mode ...8
Good Things to Know ...9
Using the Viewfinder ...10
Operating the Camera ...11
Using Menus to Change Settings ...14
Playing back & Managing Your Images ...15
Selecting Image Quality and Size ...18
Continuous Photography ...23

Chapter 2
Controlling Exposure ...24

Understanding Exposure ...25
Choosing Exposure Modes ...30
Using Program AE and Program Shift ...31
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode ...32
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode ...34
Using Manual (M) Mode ...36
How Your Exposure System Works ...37
When Automatic Exposure Works Well ...40
When to Override Automatic Exposure ...41
How to Override Automatic Exposure ...45
Using Histograms ...49
Using the RAW Format ...53

Chapter 3
Controlling Sharpness ...57

Getting Sharper Pictures ...58
Sharpness Isn’t Everything ...60
Blurring Motion ...61
Freezing Motion ...62
Focus and Depth of Field ...64
Focusing Techniques ...66
Controlling Depth of Field ...70
Using Great Depth of Field ...71
Using Shallow Depth of Field ...73

Chapter 4
Capturing Light & Color ...74

Where Does Color Come From? ...75
White Balance and Color Temperature ...76
Using White Balance Bracketing & Correction ...79
Selecting a Color Space ...81
Color Balance and Time of Day ...82
Sunsets and Sunrises ...83
Weather ...85
Photographing at Night ...87
The Direction of Light ...89
The Quality of Light ...91

Chapter 5
Understanding Lenses ...92

Canon Lenses ...93
Zoom Lenses ...98
Normal Lenses ...99
Wide-Angle Lenses ...100
Telephoto Lenses ...102
Macro Lenses and Accessories ...104
Tilt-Shift Lenses ...106
Lens Accessories ...107
How a Photograph Shows Depth ...108

Chapter 6
Using Flash & Studio Lighting ...109

How Flash Works ...110
Using an External Flash ...111
Controlling Flash Exposures ...113
Portraits with Flash ...116
Using Fill Flash ...118
Using Slow Sync Flash ...119
Using Available Light ...120
Using Flash in Close-ups ...121
Studio Lighting ...122
Studio Portrait Lighting ...125

Chapter 7
Other Features and Commands ...126

Shooting Panoramas ...127
Storing Your Own Settings ...128
Selecting & Changing Picture Styles ...129
Shooting in Black and White ...130
Remote Control Photography ...131
Using Custom Functions ...132
Using Other Settings ...136
Clearing Camera Settings ...139
Entering a Print Order ...140
Caring for Your Camera ...141

Preface

A great photograph begins when you recognize a great scene or subject. But recognizing a great opportunity isn’t enough to capture it; you also have to be prepared. A large part of being prepared involves understanding your camera well enough to capture what you see. Getting you prepared to see and capture great photographs is what this book is all about. It doesn’t matter if you are taking pictures for real-estate ads or self-expression, there’s a lot here to help you get better results and more satisfaction from your photography.

To get better, and possibly even great photographs, you need to understand both concepts and procedures; the "whys" and "hows" of photography.

Concepts of photography are the underlying principles that apply regardless of the camera you are using. They include such things as how sharpness and exposure affect your images and the way they are perceived by viewers. Understanding concepts answers the "why" kinds of questions you might have about photography.
Procedures are those things specific to one kind of camera, and explain step-by-step how you set your camera’s controls to capture an image just the way you want to. Understanding procedures gives you the answers to the "how" kinds of questions you might have.

This book is organized around the concepts of digital photography because that’s how photographers think. You think about scenes and subjects, highlights and shadows, softness and sharpness, color and tone. The procedures you use with the Canon EOS 5D camera are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach let’s you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the 5D in all kinds of photographic situations.

To get more effective, interesting, and creative photographs, you only need to understand how and when to use a few simple features on your camera such as focus, exposure controls, and flash. If you’ve previously avoided understanding these features and the profound impact they can have on your images, you’ll be pleased to know that you can learn them on a weekend afternoon. You can then spend the rest of your life marveling at how their infinite variety of combinations makes it possible to convey your own personal view of the world. You’ll be ready to keep everything in a scene sharp for maximum detail or to blur it all for an impressionistic portrayal. You’ll be able to get dramatic close-ups, freeze fast action, create wonderful panoramas, and capture the beauty and wonder of rainbows, sunsets, fireworks, and nighttime scenes.

As you explore your camera, be sure to have fun. There are no "rules" or "best" way to make a picture. Great photographs come from using what you know to experiment and try new approaches. Digital cameras make this especially easy because there are no film costs or delays. Every experiment is free and you see the results immediately so you can experiment step by step.

This book assumes you’ve mastered the mechanics of your camera. It’s about getting great pictures, not about installing batteries and connecting your camera to your computer. That information is well presented in the user guides that came with your camera, however it is summarized in the Appendix of this book.

Click to order a PDF download of this book for $24.95US. After completing the checkout process, a download link is given on the thank you page and on your e-mail receipt.

Click to order a copy of the printed book for $29.95US.

Click to order a printed copy of the book and a PDF copy on a CD at a special package price of $36.95US.

Click to order a PDF copy of the book on a CD for $19.95US.

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