Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies, 5th Edition

Introduction

The digital single-lens reflex (dSLR) is the great step upward for photographers who want to expand their creative horizons — or simply just get better pictures. Whether you want to become a serious photo hobbyist, have a hankering to turn pro, or want to take advantage of the improved control that digital SLRs give you over your photography, discovering how to use this tool should be high on your priorities list.

The latest digital SLRs have features that no one even dreamed of back when I wrote the first edition of this book, including Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities built right into many cameras. These features give you the ability to embed global positioning service (GPS) data in your images or upload your shots directly from your camera to your computer or sites like Facebook.

All the major bugs of the earliest dSLRs have been magically transformed into killer features in the latest models. Today, you can preview your images by using Live View features before you snap the shutter. Dust that collects on the sensor causes much less of a problem thanks to built-in sensor-cleaning features. You get better image quality than in earlier models, thanks to higher resolutions (you can commonly get 16 to 20 megapixels and up, even in low-cost dSLRs), super-sensitive sensors that can capture images in near darkness, and inexpensive but effective anti-shake technology built into cameras or lenses.

Your digital SLR probably can capture extended tonal range images using a technique ...