The Digital Photography Companion

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ERASING IMAGES

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You’re usually better off staying within the limits of your optics and then cropping the

picture later on your computer. You achieve the same effect of moving in closer, but

without the image loss.

WARNING ▼

Don’t base a camera-buying decision on the digital zoom rating. Consider only the

optical zoom numbers.

DNG

DNG stands for the Digital Negative specification. See File Formats (Still Images) later in

this chapter.

Drive Modes

Most cameras have at least three settings to choose from when you push the shutter

button: single shot, Burst mode, and self-timer. ese options are conveniently located

under the Drive Mode menu. Since these are handy functions, many cameras make

them easily available via a drive mode button instead of burying them deep within the

menu system. Typical uses for these options are:

Single shot Makes one exposure each time you press the shutter button. Good for

landscape, architecture, close-ups, and other stationary objects.

Burst mode Makes a series of exposures for as long as you hold down the shutter

button or until the buffer is full. Handy for sports, action, existing-light portraits, and

when you use automatic exposure bracketing.

Self-timer Delays exposure after you’ve pressed the shutter button for a predeter-

mined amount of time, usually 10 seconds. Useful for a photographer joining group

shots, timed ...