This guide is written for anyone who wants to get more from their camera, be it an SLR, compact system camera or bridge camera. It works as a complete beginners’ guide, but is also a handy refresher course for people who’ve had their camera for a while.

I remember how intimidated I was by my first ‘proper’ camera, and how much I could have benefitted from a jargon-free guide like this. In the articles below, you’ll learn all about your key camera controls – what they are, and more importantly, how to use them to get great shots. Read on to discover how to control exposure for perfectly balanced shots, adjust aperture and shutter speed, use flash, and much more. We also explain how to choose and use a lens, and how to get more from your photo-editing software and printer. Enjoy this unique beginners’ guide, and please do share any shots it’s inspired you to take!

Part 1: Set up your camera

Part 2: Explore your SLR

Part 3: Get better exposures

Part 4: Understanding aperture

Part 5: Shutter speed explained

Part 6: Perfect your exposures

Part 7: Focus modes explained

Part 8: Choosing a lens

Part 9: Flash modes explained

Part 10: Image editing, printing & storing

Part 11: Essential accessories

Part 12: Looking after cameras

Most cameras and lenses will give you years of problem-free use, so long as you look after them. Read our top tips to ensure your kit stays clean and safe.

Carrying

Modern SLRs are reasonably robust, but ‘consumer’ models don’t have the battleship build quality of professional cameras. If you were to drop a camera with a plastic body onto a hard surface, it would probably break. Fit the neck strap that came with your camera, and – most crucially – use it.

Temperature

Excessive heat can cause lasting damage to your camera, so it’s a good idea not to leave it in direct sunlight. At the other end of the scale, condensation can quickly form when bringing a camera from the outdoors into a warm room. One way round this problem is to seal the camera in a plastic bag before bringing it inside (so that condensation forms on the bag instead) and let it warm up naturally.

Camera cleaning

Take care when cleaning LCDs and viewfinders. Use a blower brush first to gently remove dust, lint and other small particles, then rub everything down with a microfibre cleaning cloth. Make a point of cleaning your camera with a slightly damp cloth after every trip to the coast, because salty sea spray can be corrosive.

Lens cleaning

Be especially careful when cleaning the front and rear glass elements of lenses. Use a blower brush first to dislodge and remove any particles that could scratch the elements when subsequently using a cloth. Consider a specialist implement, such as the lens-cleaning pens sold by Hama (among others).

Sensor cleaning

To check if your sensor has any dust spots, zoom the lens to its telephoto end, focus on infinity and take a few frames of a clear blue sky or a sheet of white paper at a small aperture, then zoom in on the images to check for dark blobs. To remove them, you’ll need to take off the lens and expose the camera’s sensor (charge the camera battery fully first, then head to the set-up menu and find the sensor cleaning function). Initially, try blowing the dust off the sensor with a blower. Don’t touch the sensor with the tip of the blower, and keep the lens opening facing downwards to prevent dust from landing on it. When you’re done, switch the camera off and refit the lens.

Cleaning kits are effective, but you should use them with care

Changing lenses

Many photographers are paranoid about changing lenses, but that’s one of the main attractions of SLR photography! There are some precautions you should take though. Switch the camera off to remove any static charge from the sensor, which can attract dust. Shield the camera from the wind and weather, and make sure you have the replacement lens ready. Finally, keep the camera’s lens opening pointing downwards.

Back to: Essential accessories