Chapter 2

Safari Inside a dSLR

In This Chapter

arrow Understanding megapixels and dSLRs

arrow Taking a guided tour through dSLR-land

arrow Working out the quirks and kinks of the dSLR

If digital photography is the greatest thing since sliced bread, the digital SLR (dSLR) is the toaster — a no-nonsense device that anyone can use to create tasty results. Even so, you get better results if you know a little about how your favorite gadget works. You don’t need to understand Ohm’s Law to make breakfast, but it is a good idea to understand a little about a toaster’s innards before you poke a fork inside. In the same vein, understanding pixels, lenses, and sensors helps you take better photos with your camera.

This chapter takes you on a safari through the darkest recesses of the digital SLR to give you a little knowledge about how it works before you decide to poke a figurative fork inside.

Megapixels and Why dSLRs Have More of Them

If you’ve been working with digital images for a while, you know that pixels are your pals. They are the basic building blocks that make up an image. The term pixel is a

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