Chapter 1. Digital SLR Must-Know Info
Gain an understanding of your camera's image sensor, shutter, LCD monitor, camera settings, memory cards, custom functions and what you see versus what your camera sees. You'll be in the know after reading this chapter.
Data Contacts and Mirror
Your lens and camera "talk" to each other – communicating f-stop, focal length, focus and exposure information – via the electrical contacts on the lens mount and camera mount.
Keep these contacts clean and avoid touching them to keep the communication channels open. If you get a focus, f-stop or other error messages on your LCD monitor, try cleaning the contacts with a micro-fiber cloth (available at camera and eyeglass stores).
When it comes to the mirror, never touch it with anything. You can use a low-volume photo blower (available at camera stores) to remove dust from the mirror, which does not show up in your pictures but does appear in your viewfinder. However, never use compressed air, because it contains propellants that may stain and ruin your mirror. If you do get hard-to-remove marks on the mirror, it's best to have it professionally cleaned.
Illustration: courtesy Canon USA.
Auto Focus vs. Manual Focus ...
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