SCT Computer Club Classes

Digital Cameras

Three 2-hour classes

Fee: $15

Prerequisites:
Students must own a digital camera and bring it to class along with the camera's manual, a set of fully charged batteries and the camera's memory card or memory stick.

Course Description:
This course provides a basic knowledge of the use of digital cameras. In class hands-on activities are used to apply the information to your own camera.

This class is designed to get you to better understand how to use the features built into your digital camera. Some of the cameras brought into the class will have more user controllable settings then others. That need not be a concern to you since the emphasis of the class will be learning to use your camera. The class will consist of a Power Point presentation, classroom discussions and activities designed to help you become more proficient with your camera.

Day 1 will be devoted to an identification of the various controls that might be available on your camera and the functions of those controls. Included will be an explanation of the various displays and menu options that might be available on your camera, The classroom presentation will explore the functions of the many settings that might be available on your camera and the proper techniques for taking pictures and reviewing them.

Day 2 will be a continuation of the discussion of the controls used to choose and change those settings. The emphasis will focus on classroom activates designed to enhance your ability to make those changes and take pictures beyond the automatic mode. Not all settings that will be discussed may be available on your specific camera model.

Day 3 will be primarily devoted to learning to download your photographs from your camera to a computer. Activities will cover resizing and emailing your photographs. Techniques involved with both the XP and Vista operating systems will be covered. There will be time for questions and hopefully answers to those questions.

Topics covered will include:
Digital camera advantages and differences from a film camera.

Definition of pixels and megapixels.
Review of digital camera controls and their functions.
Discussion of glyphs seen on the LCD display.
Functions of the display button.
Locating and using the various available camera menus.
Taking and reviewing pictures in the automatic mode.
Various types of memory cards.
Defining resolution and compression and changing their settings.
Definition of the JPEG file format.
Batteries and battery chargers.
Using zoom lenses (both optical and digital zoom).
Using the macro setting.
Discussion of panoramic images (also known as stitch assist).
Changing flash settings and discussion of red eye.
Changing the following camera settings: ISO, light metering, white balance, exposure compensation, and photo effects.
Downloading images from camera to computer using both the XP and the Vista operating systems.
Viewing, e-mailing and printing photographs.

Please look at the prequisites for each class on the SCT Computer Club website - Training Classes, List of Available Classes, SCTX Computer Club Training Program.

From Gary Resnick:

February 2007 - Understanding Your New Digital Camera.

Oct. 2006 - News from PC World - Digital Photography Wizard in Vista

Oct. 2006 - Check out this brief review of the contents of the book called Digital Photography - The Missing Manual.

Tip from Gary Resnick, Dig Cam Instructor If you click onto the www.megapixel.net website and select "English", there will be several choices. One of which is "Articles". In this section, both the selections "camera basics" and "photography tips" have browse buttons. Clicking onto them and scrolling down will reveal many articles of interest that should help the reader better understand some of the terms used and the functions of his/her digital camera.

More information from the Instructors of Digital Cameras