Tuesday, January 27, 2009


RGK: How to hold SLR (and prosumer) cameras


For the uninitiated, RGK = Random General Knowledge, coined by the King of RGK, Yikang..

Anyway, I feel it is my duty to educate the general population about how to properly hold SLR (single lens reflex) type cameras and other cameras of similar builds (eg. prosumer class cameras) During this day and age, there is a high chance that one day you may be passed an intimidating, professional-looking camera to help take a photo (if it hasn't happened to you already), so hopefully I can help you in situations like this.

Another reason for writing this is this (sort of disturbing) trend I'm noticing - people hold SLRs like compacts!!! My relatives, my friends, the guy in the restaurant, the random guy on the streets - they all try to balance the weight of the camera using only their thumb and index finger!!! Not sure if its due to the widespread availability of compact cameras nowadays. I look on in part-horror and part-amusement everytime someone does that with my camera. Here's how not to hold a SLR:



Here's how to hold one (thanks to leonard for being my unwitting model..haha):

Marina Barrage-001

For the guys who went to army, hold it like you hold a rifle. Right hand on the grip and index on the shutter release. Left hand balancing the barrel of the lens. The weight of the camera should be resting mainly on the left hand, although this might be of personal preference (some balance the weight more on the right).

Here's another pic to reinforce that. Ivy is holding a prosumer class camera. Built similarly to SLRs, it should be held in a similar fashion.

Marina Barrage-010

She looks happy. Because she knows she is holding the camera correctly. =P

Another embarrassing thing people do with SLRs is that they look blankly at the LCD screen, puzzled that it is off. Then they proceed to ask you if the camera is on...

Due to the construction of the Single Lens Reflex mechanism, SLRs, unlike compacts, do not project the image onto the LCD constantly. (you can wiki the mechanism if you are interested. its quite simple to understand) There is this new-fangled technology called "Live-view" on some SLRs that enable the LCD to function like in compacts, but most of them do not work very well (takes a lot longer to focus)

So raise the camera up to your face. Locate the viewfinder (it is a glass window above the shiny LCD screen). Press your master eye to the viewfinder until the rubber bung around the viewfinder fits snugly around your eye (or if you are wearing glasses, your glasses). You should be able to see a very clear view through the viewfinder. Your nose should be pressed against the camera body now. Dun worry, your friend is not going to blame you for getting oil onto his expensive camera if you take a good photo.

Look at what Leonard is doing above. You cannot see his face when he is taking a photo. That is the mark of pro-ness. =P

I shall not go on to elaborate on how to take a photo. Your friend should have set the camera settings properly (eg. auto mode) if he knows that you know nuts about photography.

Hope this post will save lots from embarrassment. Have a nice day =)

posted by nwxiang at 10:19 PM |


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