1. Setting the exposure using the histogram

The best way to tell if your exposure is correct is by consulting the histogram. Learn how to read it and make the necessary adjustments and until it indicates a proper exposure.

2. RAW

Not all the information that should be there is present. Color, contrast and detail are all affected by this compression. To put simpler, shooting in RAW format will give you access to the full capabilities of your camera.

3. Selecting focusing points manually

Your camera has the option of selecting the autofocus points for you, but it can’t always anticipate correctly. That’s why learning to change the AF points manually is a useful skill.

4. Learn all AF modes

The one-shot mode will stop refocusing once it’s locked onto the subject. It will remain locked as long as you hold your finger on the shutter release, half pressed.

5. Aperture Priority

In aperture priority mode, your camera will vary the exposure settings depending on the aperture value you set.

6. Shutter Priority

The shutter priority mode works just like aperture priority, in the sense that it gives you complete control over shutter speed while making all the other settings automatically, according to the selected value.

7. Control motion blur

Motion blur often comes from using a shutter speed that is too slow for holding the camera in your hands. Every photographer has a maximum low speed they can use. For some it’s 1/60th, but others can shoot hand held at 1/8th. It’s a question of practice.

8. Manual White Balance

All digital cameras have a few white balance presets. While they can do a fairly decent job, we recommend learning to set white balance manually, according to each lighting situation.

9. Drive Modes

This isn’t a major setting, but you never know when you’re going to have drive modes. Essentially, there are three of them: single shot, continuous low and continuous high.

10. ISO

Learn how to select the correct ISO value depending on the lighting conditions. Lower values are great when there is plenty of light to work with. Higher ISO values are needed for working in low light.

11. Auto-ISO

We’re generally not fond of any auto setting, but auto ISO will help you when shooting handheld. It will increase or decrease the value in order to allow you to shoot with a shutter speed fast enough for handheld operation.

12. Exposure compensation

It is a +/- scale that will tell your camera to increase or decrease exposure, depending on your needs. It works for all semi-automatic modes (P, Av, TV) and will influence exposure in increments. Be careful not to set it too high or low from the first attempt and instead try to get to a correct exposure gradually.

13. Manual exposure

The last stage of learning how to use your camera’s settings is full manual control. You can’t call yourself a real photographer until you’ve learned to control every little setting on your camera. Only then will you be able to use it at its full potential.