Full-frame Camera

According to Wikipedia, a full-frame camera DSLR cameras use the same sensor size as the standard 35 mm film frame size (36 × 24 mm), in contrast to the smaller sensor cameras use, especially size is equivalent to the size of APS-C film is much smaller than the full frame 35 mm.

Currently, most digital cameras, both compact and DSLR, use a smaller frame 35 mm for the production of the sensor smaller, easier, cheaper.

Full-frame sensor?

There are two commonly used terms when it comes to the size of the camera sensor (sensor) which is the full-frame sensor (full frame) and APS-C (Crop). To determine which is the full-frame sensor and which is APS-C, it is based on the standard film frame of the camera body 24mm x 36mm (35mm).



Compare the length of the diagonal full-frame sensor than APS-C: 43.27mm: 28.43mm ~ 1.5 times.

If the camera sensor size smaller than the size of the standard 24mm x 36mm film frame, the rate is less than that shown by the crop factor parameters 1.x. For example, the APS-C sensor crop factor of 1.5 means that the length of the diagonal of the sensor camera that is shorter than the length of the diagonal sensor on the camera body 24mm x 36mm is 1.5 times.

Advantages of the full-frame sensor

As explained above, conventional cameras using APS-C sensor size smaller than on a full-frame camera so the photo quality is also inferior to photos from full- frame. The reason is the larger full-frame sensors will collect more light, better ability to handle noise, true color than the photos from the APS-C.

In addition to superior photo quality, full-frame camera has more advantages than the APS-C camera lens focal length does not change. For example, along with the Canon EF 70-200mm lens, if mounted on a full-frame shooting will achieve the correct focal length that manufacturers offer but with the APS-C, the focus has changed. The lens changes the focal length on an APS-C will be equal to the focal length of the lens manufacturer multiplied by the crop coefficient corresponding factor 1.x, for example with the Canon 1.6x crop factor, the range of target distance will be 112-320mm.

This changes the focal length both "benefit" and "harm" to the user in different situations. In case you're shooting distant subjects using telephoto lens like the Canon EF 70-200mm, thanks some crop factor 1.x you will have a longer focal length, but also more vulnerable when you use the lens wide angle for landscape, architectural point of view was narrowed when the focal length changes.

Full-frame sensor for better image quality, more realistic colors, but also the production cost is more expensive than APS-C should normally only fitted on high-end digital cameras professional line of some prices thousand dollars or more. A number of full-frame cameras like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, Nikon D800, Nikon D4 ...

Some Tips for Camera Setting

To ensure good data and capture with high efficiency, the first step is to select the setting correctly with the following: file format, color space, ISO setting, white balance, exposure, color temperature, auto focus point, metering mode, and lens.

1. File format:

If you feel confident in your setting of white balance and color temperature, you can use JPEG format. With this format, it provides sufficient quality to edit in the PS. Moreover, the portrait photographer often taken in large numbers, if shooting RAW it is unable to contain too much on the memory card and it will take time to upload basket, adjust white balance, and color temperature, converted to JPEG, which reduces the performance of the photographer.

2. ISO setting:

Select the highest ISO that your camera allows without noise. Normally, low ISO has better results, but later cameras like the Canon EOS 20D can shoot at ISO of 400 and still aren’t noise. Take the advantage of this progress, you can get a high shutter speed and fixed (1/125s) to make the camera select a large aperture. (this is necessary when shooting portrait)

3.White Balance:

This factor determines the cardboard color (cold, hot, neutral). Most cameras have auto mode, but we should consider in each case. (See manual instruction for more detail)

4. Exposure:

The auto setting does not always provide perfect exposure, always check the histogram to see the result. If we see a long black stripe along the right side of the chart, which means that the area was "blown-out" (loss of detail); similarly, if there is a dark stripe along the left side means loss of detail in dark areas.

Over Exposure: loss of detail in bright areas

Under Exposure: loss of detail in dark areas

To overcome this, we use exposure compensation. Increase or decrease to balance the light (see your camera's manual to see how to adjust).

5. Color temperature:

Sunny (sunny daylight outdoors): 5200 K

In the shade (shaded areas outdoors): 7000 K

Mostly cloudy, meters protein, or sunset: 6000K

6. Auto Focus Point: In the portrait, one focus point is enough (Canon 10D has 7 focus points). When shooting, always get the focus point in the eyes.

7. Metering Mode: Select Partial Metering or Center Weighted Metering Mode, especially when shooting close up or when the background is too bright. Select evaluative metering when has a nice background.

Types of Lens

The SLR (lens) for cameras is very diverse, from fixed lenses with a fixed focal length to the common focus, zoom, and macro lenses; the difference in focal length divided lenses into different groups, with different uses.

1. Wide angle lens

By standards, an ultra-wide angle lens is often a focal length less than 20mm. A wide-angle lens is often a focal length of 21-35mm. With the continuous development of the camera industry, manufacturers have introduced special lenses with focal length of 10-24mm on the mid-range DSLRs (1.6x crop). There is also an ultra-wide focal length lens at just 8mm. Wide-angle lens is used for interior photography, landscapes or architectural photos. This lens can also be used to capture images, a large group of people standing spread.

2. Basic lenses

A normal lens has a focal range of 35-70mm. One of the typical lenses usually is a fixed focal length 50mm lens. Such lenses usually used for street photography, portrait normal or product. With relatively compact size, photographers can carry easily and capture those spontaneous moments.

3. Portrait lens

With a focal length range from 80-135, photographers often use this format lens for portrait photography. The fixed lenses can also portrait, but often limited by its fixed frame. Therefore, with the ability to zoom and a reasonable focal length, this is still one of the best options for portrait or fashion image.

4. Telephoto lens

All lenses have a focal range of between 135 and 300mm, or maybe more are special-purpose telephoto lenses to telephoto. Manufacturers create this focal length, the more expensive the larger the focal price. This lens dedicated to sports photography, wildlife photos.

5. The special lenses

There are also some special lenses to focus grouped based, that is:

Macro (macro lens)

This is a special lens allows the focus to be very close, closer than normal 1:1 image ratio. The lens is used to capture insects, wild or what the human eye cannot see the details.

Fisheye (fish eye lens)

This is a wide-angle lens and panoramic view, spherical images. Image center will bulge and edges will be distorted. These lenses create special effects and wide-angle images than normal wide-angle lens.

Long Exposure

Long exposure is a photographic technique used to capture images with the shutter opens for an extended period of time, so that the camera can sharply capture the stationary elements of images while blurring. Most light painting photography can be described as long exposure photography and also known as slow shutter and open shutter photography.

There is a couple of accessories you need to have to shoot long exposure images

• Tripod
• A tripod is vey important when shooting long exposure because your hand is unable to keep the camera steady; every tiny movement can  destroy the image that you want to capture.
• Remote
• The function of a remote is to keep your hand off the camera, when you press the capture button, your hand will mame the camera moving
• Neutral density filter (for capture long exposure image in day light)
• This is necessary when people want to shoot long exposure in day light. Without the filter, the image will be over bright because  a lot of light will come to the censor when the shutter opens for a long period. The filter will help to reduce the light.
• Timer
• Set the for your exposure, so you dont have to wait there and count for it.

For the camera setting

• Lowest ISO
• F stop at 11 or higher

and this is my photo, first practise

At Port Credit, Mississauga, Nikon D90 ISO 200 f11 25sec

click here to check out some stunning examples

Double exposure, multiple exposure

Double exposure or multiple exposure is a technique in photography that combines two different images into one single image; this technique originally come from analog camera when photographers take two different images under one long exposure. Due to the growing of photoshop, people now can easily combine two images on their computer to create the identical effect.

Image source: by Brian Auer

Beside the photoshop, many camera producers have apply functions that allow photographers combine images on their DSLR camera, and it benefits users to combine more than two images by taking images one by one, then the camera will work itself to create the image.This is a difficult technique, a skillful photographer will create artistic effects with their manipulation.

I took this by my camera, Nikon D90

A8FATWNYADYN