A Short Course in Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 Photography

A ShortCourse Book
Cyber-shot DSC-F828 Photography

Cyber-shot DSC-F828 Photography

This clearly written and easy-to understand short course on your Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 explains step-by-step how, why and when you use your camera's controls for better pictures. This guide is available as a traditional 114 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.

Introduction

New, a Short Courses digital photography book for people who own the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 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 F828, including the following:

Using Auto Mode
Using Menus
Reviewing Images Using Quick Review
Reviewing Images in Playback Mode
Selecting a Card and Folder
Giving a Slide Show
Rotating an Image
Trimming an Image
Resizing an Image
Deleting Images in Single-image View
Deleting Images in Index View
Protecting Images in Single-image View
Protecting Images in Index View
Changing Images Size
Changing Picture Quality
Specifying a Record Mode
Changing Record Modes
Using Program Shift
Choosing Scene Modes
Using Shutter-Priority Mode
Using Aperture-Priority Mode
Using Manual Mode
Selecting the Metering Mode
Using Exposure Compensation
Using AE Lock
Using Autoexposure Bracketing
Displaying Histograms
Using Histograms
Using the Self-timer
Increasing Sensitivity (ISO)
Increasing Sharpness of Moving Objects
Selecting the Focusing Frame
Using Focus Lock

Switching Between Auto and Manual Focus
Increasing Depth of Field
Using Focus Lock for Maximum Depth of Field
Using Focus Lock for Minimum Depth of Field
Reducing Depth of Field
Conveying Motion
Selecting a Color Reproduction Modes
Setting White Balance
Using NightShot/NightFraming Mode
Zooming the Lens
Using Digital Zoom
Turning Macro Mode On and Off
Increasing Depth of Field in Close-ups
Using Auto Flash
Setting the Flash Level
Using Forced Flash
Using Slow Synchro Flash
Usingf Slow Synchro Flash
Using No Flash
Connecting an External Flash
Adjusting Saturation, Contrast, and Sharpness
Turning Burst Modes On and Off
Recording and Playing a Movie
Dividing a Movie
Recording Sounds
Using Special Effects
Using the Set Up Menu
Marking Images for Printing

The book is designed to work with 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
Getting Started with your F828 ...6

The F828—An Overview ...7
Jump Start—Using Auto Mode ...8
Good Things to Know ...9
Using the LCD Monitor and Viewfinder ...10
Using Dials and Buttons ...11
Using Menus ...13
Reviewing and Managing Your Images ...15
Selecting Image Quality and Size ...20

Chapter 2
Controlling Exposure ...26

Understanding Exposure ...27
Choosing Record Modes ...28
Using Program (P) Mode ...29
Using Scene (SCN) Mode ...30
Using Shutter-Priority (S) Mode ...31
Using Aperture-Priority (A) Mode ...33
Using Manual (M) Mode ...35
How Your Exposure System Works ...36
How Exposure Affects Your Images ...38
When Automatic Exposure Works Well ...39
When to Override Automatic Exposure ...40
How to Override Automatic Exposure ...44
Using Histograms ...47

Chapter 3
Controlling Sharpness ...50

Eliminating Camera Movement ...51
Sharpness Isn’t Everything ...53
How to Photograph Motion Sharply ...54
Focus and Depth of Field ...56
Autofocus Techniques ...58
Manual Focus Techniques ...60
Controlling Depth of Field ...61
Capturing Maximum Depth of Field ...62
Using Selective Focus ...63
Conveying the Feeling of Motion ...64

Chapter 4
Capturing Light & Color ...65

Where Does Color Come From? ...66
White Balance ...67
Color Balance and Time of Day ...68
Sunsets and Sunrises ...69
Weather ...71
Photographing at Night ...73
The Direction of Light ...75
The Quality of Light ...77

Chapter 5
Understanding Lenses ...78

Zoom Lenses ...79
Normal Zoom ...80
Wide-Angle Zoom ...81
Telephoto and Digital Zoom ...83
Portraits with a Zoom Lens ...86
Perspective in a Photograph ...87
Macro Mode ...88
Focusing and Depth of Field in Close-ups ...89

Chapter 6
Using Flash and Studio Lighting ...90

How Automatic Flash Works ...91
Portraits with Flash ...93
Using Forced Flash ...95
Using Slow Synchro Flash ...96
Using No Flash ...97
Using An External Flash ...98
Studio Lighting ...99
Studio Portrait Lighting ...102

Chapter 7
Other Features and Commands ...103

Capturing Panoramic Images ...104
Adjusting Saturation, Contrast and Sharpness ...106
Using Burst Modes ...107
Recording Movies and Sounds ...108
Special Effects ...110
Using the Setup Menu ...111
Creating a Print Order ...113
Understanding Image Files ...114

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 business or pleasure, 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 camera are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach lets you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the F828 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 learn 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 $19.95US. 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 PDF copy of the book on a CD for $19.95US.

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