STACK #246 April 2025

TECH FEATURE

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Nowadays, photography couldn’t be simpler – you whip out your phone, tap the camera icon, and snap away. But for those who want more professional looking photos and more versatility, a digital camera is the way to go. DIGITAL CAMERA BEGINNERS 10 FOR PRO TIPS

If you’re using a digital camera for the very first time, the surfeit of settings, dials, and terminology can be both confusing and intimidating. So we asked award-winning photographer Gavin Schmidt for some pro tips for newbies on how to get the hang of a new camera beyond simple point-and-shoot.

1 There are a lot of nicely priced cameras available now, so choose one that has adjustable settings and modes – Manual, Auto, Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority. You need diversity for different situations. Choose a lens with a small amount of wide and zoom – 18-55mm is a good little starter, then you can upgrade to a bigger zoom lens down the track. 2 Read the user manual, especially what the different modes are used for. Put

extra time into learning about ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds. 3 Learn to hold your camera correctly. It may sound weird, but many people new to photography don’t, which can cause camera shake and blurry photos. Hold it with both hands. Grip

4 When using a digital camera for the Aperture Priority. Check all the photos and see what aperture, shutter speeds, and ISO settings were used. first time, take a couple of photos on Auto, then switch to Shutter Priority and

the right side of the camera with your right hand and place your left hand underneath the lens to support the camera. Keep the camera close to your body; even pull it in hard against your face.

Camera bag Protect and organise your camera and gear with a durable, dedicated bag or backpack. Most offer customisable storage space for spare batteries, memory cards, and other essential

Memory cards You’ll take more photos than your camera’s internal memory can hold, making SD cards another essential item in

Tripod A good tripod provides stability and better framing, and will help bring out the best in low light shots. It’s a must when shooting at

low shutter speeds, as the camera must be completely still. A compact tripod is a good option and should fit easily into a large camera bag.

accessories. You’ll have quick and easy access to your kit wherever your photographic adventures take you. Vanguard Vesta Aspire 25 Shoulder Bag [Large]

your camera kit. The faster the read and write speeds of the card, the quicker you can snap photos and transfer them for editing. Remember to always check compatibility with your camera first.

SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC 128GB 200MB/s Memory Card

Essential

Camera Kit

Joby Compact Action Tripod

18 APRIL 2025

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