Digital Photography

Getting to know your camera

Changing a camera's settings

In order to take a photo, there are many different things your camera needs to take into account, such as focus and exposure. Most of the time, these things will be set automatically by your camera. However, you'll sometimes need to make manual changes to the settings to get the best possible photo.

The parts of a digital camera

Cameras come in many different shapes and sizes, so the exact buttons and features will vary. However, there are a few basic parts that almost all cameras have.

Review the interactive below to learn about the basic parts of a digital camera.

In the images below, you can see that the camera on the left has some additional buttons. Your camera may have a different layout, so you should consult your manual to learn about which buttons your camera has.

Buttons on a DSLR camera

Buttons on a point-and-shoot camera