I Have A New Camera. Can You Explain These Terms To Me?

Question

ISO (which is from 100 to 1250)
Burst (H, L and Infinity)
Slow Shutter (1/8- to 1-)
AutoBracket

Also, I have options like Macro, Normal Picture, Intelligent ISO, and Scene Mode. So how can I make optimum use of these...

And how can I set these options so I get the best pictures? (I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30)
Help.

Clueless.

Answer 1

ISO is the rating of your camera's sensitivity to light.
A low ISO, like 100, will give you very sharp, clear pictures, but requires quite a bit of bright light or flash. A high ISO like 1250, will let you take pictures indoors or in the evening without using the flash for a more natural look. The price for that flexibility is that the pictures look less detailed. Higher ISOs are also better to freeze action. Most of the time, you'd probably be using ISO 200 or 400. Try different ones, and see how you like the results.

Burst means you can take several pictures in rapid succession. H(high - 3 pictures per second), L(low - 2 pictures per second) with about 5 to 7 pictures in that sequence. Infinity shoots at 2 pictures per second until your memory card is full, or you let go of the button.

Slow Shutter refers to very low light situations (without flash) where your camera will take from 1/8th a second to 1 second to capture the image. A tripod is required in those situations.

AutoBracket means that your camera will be set to take a series of pictures, lighter, darker, and right on the settings that the camera meter has chosen. Sometimes the meter gets fooled by large dark backgrounds or bright window lighting. Bracketing is a technique used by professionals and advanced amateurs to make sure they have the 'perfect' shot.

Macro is for closeups (flowers, copying pictures, etc).
Normal is normal. lol
Intelligent ISO, means the camera will adjust the ISO setting if you haven't chosen the best one for a changing situation.
Scene Mode means the camera chooses the optimal exposure settings for the situation.

In case you've lost it, here's a link to the manual.
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMCFX30.pdf

Please feel free to ask, if you have any other questions. Enjoy your new camera!

Answer 2

ISO= Image sensor sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO the faster the shutter speed you can use or the smaller the aperture opening you can have (higher ISO's have a penalty though--increased noise or a specled appearance of the image).

Not sure about Burst...that usually means taking a number of pics in rapid succession but the settings don't jive.

Slow shutter is exactly what it says...you will have to use a tripod or steady the camera on something to get a sharp picture

Auto Bracket: Somtimes the exposre meter on the camera doesn't always set the shutter speed and aperture for the correct values for the picture (no matter how good they are they can easily be fooled). Bracketing your exposure means that you take several pictures of the same subject with different lens openings. So if the camera calculated an aperture of f5.6, you would bracket the exposure to ensure you got a correctly exposed picture by shooting oneat f5.6 but then take one at a higher aperture (f2.8) and at a lower aperture (f8) Auto bracekt automates this process so you don't have to reset the aperture each time--the camera does it for you.

In a nutshell it's a way for you to get a properly exposed picture under difficult lighting situations where the camera may not be able to accurately determine what the correct exposure is.

Macro is for closeups--like less than a foot away

Intelligent ISO is a nice feature that allows you to get the best picture possible with little noise.

Scene mode adjusts camera settings for different shooting situations so you don't have to remember how to do it. It's like having a pro photographer in your camera. When you're at the beach--set it for beach mode. Shooting a portrait at night--set it for night portriat mode.

It's all very confusing unitl you understand the basics of photography. I'd suggest taking a class or here's a link to a good book on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-Scott-Kelby/dp/032147404X/ref=pd_bbs_1/105-3402469-2867611?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184046450&sr=8-1

Hope this helps.

Bob

Answer 3

For the best quality pictures, the ISO is the most important by far. A low ISO, like 100, will give you pics with the least "grain" and best clarity. However, it also requires the most light.

Autobracket is cool since it takes multiple pics with different exposures. This gives you the best chance of getting a good shot.

The rest of the features you'll need to read the manual and try them out!

Answer 4

wow - read the manual !
ISO refers to the sensitivity of the film to light - in low light you have a faster film - these are the digital equivalents
Burst - not sure probably the flash
Slow shutter - errrr slow shutter the shutter will go as slow as one second - this compensates for low light but in one second your subject (or you ) will almost certainly move
Autobracket - will take a series of pictures automatically with different apertures (so hopefully one will be good)
Macro is close up
Normal is normal - leave it as this
Intelligent ISO - the iso is automatically changed

To get the best pictures - leave it on normal - make sure the light is good and from the right direction and that the subject is in the centre of the viewfinder (as the camera takes it's readings from here)

Answer 5

Thomas M is stable AND incorrect. whilst speaking approximately action picture itself, 35mm is the dimensions of the action picture, whilst speaking approximately cameras, 35mm action picture ability that the digital camera physique makes use of this manner action picture. most of the digital cameras you notice available, such via fact the Nikon D90, Canon rebellion, Olympus E sequence, and so on., are based at this variety of the 35mm action picture cameras. they may well be "previous college", yet there are nevertheless many action picture shoppers available. and you do no longer would desire to spend "1000's" on a darkroom. A uncomplicated black & white darkroom would be set up, comprehensive with enlarger, for as low as $one hundred fifty-$2 hundred funds collectively as a shade darkroom approximately 3-4 circumstances that a lot. A single lens reflex digital camera makes use of mild coming by using a single lens it incredibly is contemplated from a 40 5 degree mirror to the viewfinder. The mirror swings out of how whilst pressing the shutter. the two action picture and digital cameras use this; as far as Canons' EOS line, This line became initially a action picture digital camera that used 35mm action picture (EOS 620, 630, Elan, A2. and so on.

Answer 6

Check out Digital Photography for Dummies or How to do Everything with Digital Photograhy from your local Library, they explain thing indepth and are much more helpful than anyone could ever be here.

Answer 7

Read an introductory book on photography. It will explain everything. There's quite a lot of items in your question to cover.