Comprehensive Guide to DSLR Cameras: Nikon, Canon, Sony and Lenses, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Computer Science

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Paul Fodor

DSLR Cameras and Lenses

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Camera 

Principle of a pinhole camera:^ 

Light rays from an object pass through a small hole to form an imageon the sensor:

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Focal length 

Determines the distance to the objective that is photographed^ 

F-number = f/D where f is the focal length and D is the diameterof the apperture



It is a measure of the camera lighteach aperture has half the light gathering area of the previous one 

Modern lens ads specify the maximum aperture (i.e. the f-stop) of the lenses

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Depth of field 

The depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest andfarthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image^ 

In some cases, a small DOF may be desirable, emphasizing the subject whilede-emphasizing the foreground and background: 

In other cases, it may be more effective to have the entire image sharp, and alarge DOF is appropriate.

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Film Speed (ISO) 

The

film speed

(ISO) is the measure of a photographic film's

sensitivity to light^ 

ISO standard examples: ISO

ISO

ISO

ISO



In digital camera systems, an arbitrary ISO can be achieved bysetting the signal gain of the sensor

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Image Formats 

The

image formats

are the standard sizes of images for

photography:^ 

The 135 film, 35mm, 24×36 mm (ISO 1007 or

full frame

) is the

most popular photographic film format 

The

crop factor

is the ratio of the dimensions of a camera's

imaging area compared to a reference format:

o

The red box displays what a 24×36 mm sensor would see.

o

The blue box displays what a 15×23 mm sensor would see.

o

Most digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras on the market

o

have reduced APS-C-sized image sensors:

o

e.g., Nikon DX is the sensor size for all

o

the Nikon DSLR cameras except thefull-frame D3, D3s, D3x and D700 – it isabout 2/3 of a 35mm film format

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon DSLR cameras

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon DSLR cameras 

Nikon D7000 (entry level advanced)(2010)^ 

DX sensor 

16.2 megapixels 

39 focus points 

Video: full HD 1080p (at 24 frame/s) movie mode with auto-focus whilefilming, mono sound, and stereo external mic support.

^

Alternative: 30 frame/s, 25 frame/s, 24 frame/s when recording at 720p



$1,400 on Amazon with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lensincluded

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon DSLR cameras 

Nikon D4 (Nikon flagship camera)(2012)^ 

FX sensor – “full frame” 

16.2 megapixels 

51 focus points 

Video: full HD 1080p (at 24 frame/s) movie mode with auto-focus while filming and stereo mic.



Alternative: 30/60 frame/s and 25/50 frame/s when recording at 720p



$5,999 on Amazon

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon focus modes 

Nikon has multiple focus (AF) modes:^ 

AF-C

(short for Auto Focus Continuous, sometimes called

continuous servo) is used when photographing moving objects.^ 

When you focus AF-C on a moving subject, the focus will stay on theanimal so long as your shutter button is held half way down (the camerawill keep re-focusing as the animal moves and you keep your shutterbutton held half way down).



AF-S

(short for auto focus single) is good for photographing

subjects that don't move (flowers or portraits).^ 

When you press the shutter button halfway, it locks the focus on the nonmoving object that you want to photograph. You can then move thecamera and take the photograph.



AF-A

(auto default) guesses if the subject is stationary or

moving, and accordingly sets the focus to either

AF-C

or

AF-S

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon F-mount 

The Nikon F-mount (1959-) is a type of interchangeable lensmount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras 

Autofocus

Nikkor lenses:



AF

(1986)

:^ focus driven by a motor inside the camera body - all AF lenses

have a CPU to compute the motor movement formula 

AF-S

(AutoFocus-Silent) (1996-): focus quietly and quickly



PC

(Perspective Control lenses): support shifting the lens in relation to the film or sensor plane-used for macrophotography^ 

PC-E

(the "E" designates an electromagnetic diaphragm) (2008-) offer automatic

aperture control



IF (Internal Focus): accomplishes focus through the movement of internallens groups, eliminating extension and rotation of the front lens element,allowing focus to be driven quickly by a small motor

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon lenses (cont.)



AF-I

(AF-Internal Motor) (1992-): the internal motor focusing the lens is

controlled electronically (not by a mechanical AF connection betweencamera and lens) 

ED

: uses "Extra-low Dispersion" glass to reduce chromatic aberration



N

: indicates a new type of lens coating called the “Nano Crystal Coat” used for some teleport lens 

VR

(Vibration Reduction): uses a moving optical group to reduce the photographic effects of camera shake.^ 

Some

VR lenses also support a panning mode, detecting horizontal

movement of the lens and minimizing only vertical vibration.



G

(gelded): have their aperture rings removed to save cost (won't work on manual focus cameras)

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Bokeh 

Bokeh is how lenses render out-of-focus areas.^ 

Ideally these areas are soft and smooth.



People genuinely concerned about bokeh shoot f/2.8 or faster lenses. 

Newspaper photographers own some kind of 80-200 f/2.8 lens 

Pro fashion photographers own 300mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/2.8 lenses.

(c) 2011 P.Fodor (CS Stony Brook)

Nikon's Best Lenses 

14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S (2007-today): ultra-wideangle lens.$1,999 on Amazon