How to learn photography from scratch

How to learn photography from scratch? I believe that many friends who want to play photography will always encounter various problems, such as how to choose a camera, how to match the lens, what is the shutter and so on. It looks messy, but it's actually very basic. Below, I have compiled a home-based method of learning photography from scratch for everyone. Welcome to read the reference!

How to learn photography from scratch

chapter one

How to choose a camera

What kind of camera do you need to buy to play photography? I have been asked countless times over the years. In fact, there are routines for choosing a camera. Look at the budget first. What is your budget? If it's 2000 yuan, classmate, you can deposit it again. If it is 5000, just buy an entry-level APS-C SLR or a micro-single set of Canon EOS M3. If you can post more than 3,000 photos, you can also include a mid-range SLR camera with a powerful focusing system like 80D. But no matter which one, it can meet the needs of beginners to learn photography. In fact, as far as learning photography is concerned, it is enough to introduce APS-C SLR or micro-single.

If you have a budget of tens of thousands, you can choose more. Remember a key word: Quan Huafu? What does this mean? It shows that it is more advanced than APS-C. Although the principle is very complicated, it can make the equipment thirsty. However, when choosing a camera, just remember that Quan Huafu and APS-C refer to the size of the sensor, Quan Huafu sensor is big, APS-C sensor is small, and there is another saying: the bigger the sensor, the better the camera.

In addition, many friends will wonder why Quan Huafu is better than APS-C. Well, this question is actually very simple, because it is expensive, hahahahahaha? Okay, let's get down to business. The size of the sensor just now determines the image quality and the level of the camera. You see, why the quality of the photos taken by the mobile phone at night is very poor? It is because the sensor size of the mobile phone camera is too small. In the same environment, the SLR will be much better because the sensor size is large. In addition, there are problems such as blurred background and expressive details, and large sensors also have great advantages.

Next time I hear someone ask you: Mr. Gao, please help me recommend a 5D3 of about 2000 yuan, preferably a set of machines, thank you! Classmate, you come out, and Miss Gao promises not to kill you?

chapter two

How to match the lens

In fact, many students don't have to consider this problem, because if the budget is limited, buying a camera is the only choice. What about the camera lens? The SLR or micro-lens of APS-C is usually 18-55mm lens, commonly known as? Dog head? Why is it called dog head? Maybe it's the cheap big bowl. It is cheap and easy to understand. What does a big bowl mean? Look, it's 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS, the equivalent focal length IS about 28-88mm, covering the classic focal lengths of 28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm, with IS optical image stabilization. What a good shot.

Complex and diverse lens types

Why do you dislike others when you don't even understand APS-C? Of course, if you want to say what the shortcomings are, you can shoot anything, but the effect is not as good as that of expensive lenses. Simply put, the aperture is slightly smaller. If you use this lens to take portraits, it is definitely not as good as Canon EF 85mm f/ 1.2 portrait mirror.

Maybe some students said, Emma, the original photography is three generations behind. Playing photography is to compete for equipment. Whoever has expensive equipment will shoot well. This is of course absolutely wrong. In this way, Wang Sicong must be the first contemporary photographer in China. Many students always fall into a misunderstanding that I can't shoot well because of my poor equipment. If you look at other people's photos, Quan Huafu +XX will definitely take them. In fact, I hate this statement most. I am not good at studying art, but I have learned to make excuses and despise such unreliable and irresponsible people.

On the other hand, what about the lens? How to choose? In fact, the classification of lenses is quite simple and clear. According to the focal length:

Wide-angle lens: Canon EF-S10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 (APS-C only), Canon EF 1 1-24mm f/4L USM, etc.

Medium focus lens: canon EF 35mm f/ 1.4L II USM, canon ef 50mf1.8, canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. (the focal length is about 50mm).

Telefocal lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM (lens with focal length over 200mm).

Special lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro pan/tilt.

In short, the shorter the focal length, the wider the lens, the longer the focal length and the farther the lens. In terms of price, a lens of about 50mm is the cheapest, and the farther away it is, the more expensive it is.

Take a chestnut: Canon EF 1 1-24mm F4L, the most extensive lens except fisheye in Canon, and the price is close to 20,000, while Canon EF 17-40mm F4L is less than 5,000. Literally, it is only 6mm wide, and the price is really much worse.

In addition, the larger the aperture of the lens, the more expensive it is, such as:

Canon 50mm F 1.8, I strongly recommend that every student studying photography should have one. Why? F 1.8 large aperture, the price is only a few hundred dollars.

Canon 50mm F 1.4, with a larger aperture, costs about 2500.

Canon 50mm F 1.2, with a larger aperture, costs about 9000.

You see, the aperture is very valuable, right? What's the use? To sum up:

First, the larger the aperture, the greater the amount of light entering. For example, if the light is insufficient at night, a large aperture can shoot shadows, and a small aperture will be awkward;

Second, the larger the aperture, the better the background blur effect. Who doesn't like a blurred background like people and cream? Yes, this is a valuable point.

So no matter whether you buy an APS-C camera case or a new camera case, Mr. Gao suggests that you buy a camera case with a focal length of 50mm F 1.8, which costs several hundred dollars and has a large aperture of F 1.8, which just complements the camera case lens that can shoot anything. Of course, if the budget is not a problem, Miss Gao suggests that you buy the following lenses:

Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L

Canon ef 24-70mf2.8l

Canon ef 70-200mm2.8l

The above three lenses (commonly known as Da Sanyuan) have a complete focal length of 16-200mm. Isn't it enough for you? Not enough? Buy again:

Canon EF 1 1-24mm F4L

Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6

Is the focal length coverage 1 1-400mm enough? You can't spend all your money. Can Miss Gao help you?

Then buy a few large aperture fixed focus:

Canon EF 35mm F 1.4

Canon EF 50mm F 1.2

Canon EF 85mm F 1.2

Canon EF 100mm F2.8 macro lens

Well, it's true, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. This is Mr. Gao's bank account. Please write a comment. I'm Lei Feng? You're welcome.

chapter three

How to use the camera

Well, you have a camera and lens. How do you shoot? You always know where the shutter is. The shutter is two-stage. Tap and focus, and you will hear two drops (in single autofocus mode), which proves that the focus is complete. Then press it again and you can take pictures. Don't slam the shutter as soon as you come up, and then ask with a stupid face: Miss Gao, is there something wrong with my machine? Why can't I press the shutter? When the focus is not right, you can't press the shutter. I know how to press the shutter. Not bad, great progress. Now you just need to set the mode dial of the camera to P, and you can take pictures. P gear is an automatic gear, just press the shutter. Of course, only the camera can hear the shooting effect.

In terms of expansion, cameras usually have several gears, A/P/S/M:

File A: Aperture priority, which can control the aperture size. Exposure is determined by the camera's metering system.

P file: the program is automatic, that is, the camera mode, and the exposure is determined by the camera's metering system.

S file: shutter priority, shutter speed controllable. Exposure is determined by the camera's metering system.

M gear: fully manual, which can completely control the shutter, aperture and sensitivity, and the exposure is determined by people.

Camera gear

So what is exposure determined by the camera's metering system? For example, with a file, no matter how big the aperture is, the photos taken are as bright, that is, the exposure results are the same. Many students don't understand, obviously I narrowed the aperture, why not dim it? That's because the metering system detects that the aperture has narrowed, and it will think to itself, alas, this silly boy has narrowed the aperture, no, I have to slow down the shutter speed and make up the exposure. So no matter what aperture you use, the shutter speed is still determined by the metering system.

Then some students may ask, what about now? Exposure is determined by the camera's metering system? How do we adjust the exposure when the A/P/S file is open? Well, that's the point. You want to tune it? Exposure compensation? .

Exposure compensation refers to telling the camera to brighten or darken according to the exposure result given by the camera metering system. Simple, right? For example, the photo taken by the camera's metering system is a little dark. What should I do? Just adjust the exposure compensation and add 1EV (that is, 1 exposure), and the camera will understand. Oh, ok, I'll light another file. You have learned exposure compensation. Congratulations, you can control the brightness of the photo now.

As for the M file, the exposure is completely controlled by yourself, and you can adjust the following three options at will:

Aperture: the size of the hole in the middle of the lens determines the amount of light entering per unit time.

Shutter: The length of time the sensor receives light determines, er, the length of absolute exposure.

Sensitivity: The sensitivity of the sensor to light. The higher the sensitivity, the more sensitive to light.

The above three parameters are the three elements of exposure. Once these three values are determined, the exposure is determined.

chapter four

What is an aperture?

Three elements of exposure: aperture, shutter and sensitivity. Let's talk about the aperture in detail:

Aperture, we can think of it as a faucet:

A large aperture means that as soon as the tap is turned on, the water rushes down and a glass of water fills up quickly, which can be compared to a short exposure time.

Small aperture means that the tap is turned on small and the water flows slowly. It takes some time to fill the same glass of water, which can be compared to long exposure time.

hole

For example:

For the same scene, first use the aperture of F2.8 and the shutter speed of 1/200 seconds.

Reduce the aperture by 1 to F4, and the shutter speed is1100 second.

Reduce the aperture by 1 to F5.6, and the shutter speed becomes 1/50 seconds.

Reduce the aperture by 1 to F8, and the shutter speed is 1/25 seconds.

It is all about how to learn photography from scratch.

Relationship between aperture and depth of field

Miss Gao, don't be idle. Let's make up the number of words. Please see:

2.8、4、5.6、8

Fill both ends:

1、 1.4、2、2.8、4、5.6、8、 1 1、 16、22、32

Then, this is the full-scale aperture. The larger the value, the smaller the aperture. Or a full-scale aperture. For example, F2.8 is twice as big as F4. How to remember these numbers? Simple. Look at them every other number, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 1.4, 2.8, 5.6, 1 1, 22. Do you understand, classmate?

Next, let's talk about the advantages of EF 50mm f/ 1.8 STM compared with Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6:

For example, when shooting at night, the Canon EF 50mm F 1.8 can use the maximum aperture of F 1.8, and the shutter speed can reach1100 seconds, with clear grip and no shaking.

At the 50mm end of 18-55mm F3.5-5.6, the maximum aperture is only F5.6, which is 3 and 1/3 steps smaller than F 1.8, so the shutter speed will be 3 and 1/3 steps slower and become1.

In addition, in addition to the amount of light entering, the aperture also plays a very important role in controlling the depth of field: the larger the aperture, the smaller the depth of field; The smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field.

What is the depth of field? Is a clear range: for example, to blur the background, you have to use a large aperture. If you want to take a clear picture of the scenery, you have to use a small aperture.

chapter five

What is a shutter?

Or take the faucet as an example, the shutter is the length of time to open the faucet. If there is a bucket, the exposure will be just right when it is eight minutes full. For example, it takes 30 seconds to be fully saturated, indicating that the exposure is normal; If it only takes 20 seconds, the water is less than 8 minutes, which is equivalent to underexposure; If it takes 40 seconds, it must be overexposed, is it easy to understand? Buyers can control exposure time, shutter speed and other functions. Different shutter speeds will lead to great differences in shooting effects.

The most intuitive example is that at night, when the shutter speed is too slow, it is easy to have a false shot. So, what kind of shutter speed won't be empty when shooting manually? Here we need to mention a concept called safe shutter speed. Safe shutter speed refers to the reciprocal of the focal length of the lens. For example, when shooting with a 50mm lens, the shutter speed needs to be faster than 1/50 seconds to avoid jitter. A 200mm lens takes 1/200 seconds.

It can also be seen that the longer the focal length of the lens, the easier it is to shoot the virtual, so the wide angle will be more stable when shooting at night. In addition, let's talk about image stabilization. Many lenses have optical image stabilization. For example, the anti-shake performance of some lenses can reduce the safety shutter speed of the fourth gear. Let's calculate: 1 gear1100 seconds, 2nd gear 1/50 seconds, 3rd gear 1/25 seconds, 4th gear 65438 seconds. It means that lens anti-shake is turned on, and clear photos can be taken even with a slow shutter such as113s, so the optical anti-shake function is still very useful. Of course, with such a slow shutter, although your hand won't shake, if you wander around, your subject will be empty, but this kind of empty is not the same as shaking your hand. A slow shutter is also useful, but only when a tripod is fixed. For example, to shoot a silky stream, you need to use a slow shutter, about 30 seconds.

Chapter vi

How sensitive is it?

Camera sensitivity

Sensitivity refers to the sensitivity of the sensor to light, that is to say, the same aperture, the same shutter speed, the brightness of the sensor feedback is different. For example, ISO200 is brighter 1 times than ISO65438. The brightness of ISO400 is twice that of ISO200. And so on:100,200,400,800,1600,3200,6400,12800,25600,51200? The greater the sensitivity, the brighter the light, and only a little light is needed to take bright photos.

Sensitivity setting inside the camera

Then, some friends may say that since I have a small aperture and want to take bright photos at night without shaking, I will improve my sensitivity, such as ISO6400. No problem, the idea is right, but high sensitivity also has negative effects. The higher the sensitivity, the worse the image quality.

Let's take the radio for example. If the sound is low, increase the volume. Well, that sounds just right. If you want to speak loudly, raise the volume. It's louder, but the background noise comes out. The sensor is the same, the sensitivity is too high, although it is bright, but noise and impurities also come out, which has a great impact on the image quality.

Generally, full-frame cameras should try to use ISO6400 or smaller; It can be higher in an emergency, because sometimes, the picture quality is not the first, right (for example, paparazzi, taking a picture is success). As for APS-C, ISO3200 or lower, the picture quality is relatively acceptable.

Chapter VII

Focusing and photometry

Knowing the sensitivity of aperture shutter, congratulations, photography is getting started. Usually we shoot with a gear and aperture first, and then shoot with exposure compensation. As mentioned above, the exposure compensation is adjusted according to the measurement results of the camera metering system. Here, let's talk about photometry in detail. Many years ago, the camera did not measure light automatically, and the exposure accuracy often depended on the photographer's own experience. Therefore, at that time, photography was a professional skill with high threshold. Now almost all cameras have automatic metering systems, so you can take close shots at will, neither too bright nor too dark. Combined with exposure compensation, we can control the exposure relatively conveniently. However, according to different scenes, there are several different exposure modes for us to choose appropriately:

1. Evaluation metering, partial metering, center key average metering and spot metering.

2. Evaluation metering: metering according to the overall brightness of the picture (generally choose this one)

3. Partial metering: metering according to the area in the center of the picture.

4. Center focus average metering: focus on the center area of the picture, and the weight of the edge area is low.

5. Spot metering: metering according to a small area in the center of the picture is more extreme than partial metering.

For example, when taking a portrait, we are concerned about the exposure of the subject, so we can choose partial metering or spot metering to measure the brightness of the face. But from the actual shooting experience, I personally spend most of my time evaluating photometry and combining exposure compensation to shoot. It's all digital cameras anyway. Take a random picture, reduce the exposure compensation when it is bright, and increase the exposure compensation when it is dark.

Comparison of pictures with increased or decreased exposure

In terms of focusing, there are also many modes to choose from: word autofocus (AF-S or ONE SHOT), continuous autofocus (AF-C or AI servo /AI focusing) and manual focusing MF.

Various focusing methods

In our daily life, we often use single autofocus, that is, when we press the shutter halfway, we will hear a click, and then the focus position will be locked, which is suitable for shooting still objects, such as landscapes or posing portraits. When encountering moving objects, you need to use continuous autofocus. In the process of half-pressing the shutter, the focal length will track the synchronous motion of the moving object to ensure that the subject is clear when the shutter is pressed. Finally, MF, which is usually set on the lens. There is an AF/MF switch. If MF is selected, autofocus will not work. You need to screw the focus ring on the lens to focus, which is usually suitable for shooting macro scenes that need precise focus.

Chapter VIII

Other useful settings

When we understand the metering mode and focusing mode, we can control the camera more freely and take the photos we want. What other settings are useful for our shooting? Simply list them:

1.RAW format: in the menu of SLR or micro-single, you can choose the format and quality of photos, usually JPG and RAW. If you buy a camera and only shoot JPG, you are really wasting it. You know, JPG area is not large, but the amount of information is relatively small, so you can't make too many adjustments later. Although RAW is large in size and needs special software to open, it is rich in information and easy to adjust later, which can give full play to the full power of camera sensors. Therefore, please remember to shoot RAW, at least JPG+RAW.

2. White balance (WB): White balance, simply understood as telling the camera what color the light is now, and then the camera will discard the color of this light source and return to the correct color of the object. For example, incandescent lamps are usually yellow. At this point, if the white balance of the camera is set incorrectly, the photo will turn yellow. If the white balance is set to incandescent mode at this time, the camera will know. Oh, it's yellow now, so we need to correct it so that the photo won't be yellow. Usually we use AWB, automatic white balance.

Example of camera white balance

3. continuous shooting: When shooting moving objects, we can take clear photos more easily through continuous autofocus and high-speed continuous shooting mode. For example, if you want to shoot a person jumping into the air and kicking, record the whole process with high-speed continuous shooting, and then choose the best one, the efficiency is much higher than letting this person jump many times to capture the picture.

From the author's practical experience, usually, I set the camera like this:

1. The photo quality is adjusted to JPG+RAW.

2. Use files (aperture takes precedence)

3. Use single autofocus (single shot or AF-S).

4. Use evaluation photometry (with exposure compensation)

5. Refer to the shutter speed. If it is too slow or too fast, adjust the sensitivity.