This is such a fun time of year to have a new camera.  There is nothing like playing with a fun new toy.  However, having a new camera doesn’t mean that you automatically know how to use it or automatically start getting better photos.

To help you get started with your new camera, I thought I would share 4 important dials or settings that you should get to know quickly in order to get the most out of your camera.

5 Important Camera Buttons to Know

1.  Command Dial

The command dial is probably the most important dial on your camera.  This will be used alone or in conjunction with other buttons to set your shutter speed and aperture.

It will be used in conjunction with other buttons to set things like exposure compensation, flash compensation and ISO.

2. Exposure Dial

The exposure dial allows you to chose the way your camera will chose the exposure.  Will it do everything for you (green auto button) or will you set everything (manual.)  The other buttons fall somewhere in between.  Each setting does something different and this dial allows you to choose how the camera will set the exposure.

3. Selection Dial

Like the command dial, the selection dial will have lots of different jobs.  On a Canon camera, it may be a dial or a series of arrow buttons (shown below.)  You will use this dial to scroll through your camera menus or your photos when you are in playback mode.  You may also use this dial to choose focus points.  It may even be used to move through selections on your screen.

You’ll notice that the buttons on the Canon camera also have their own specific function, like allowing you to set your white balance or picture style.

4. Aperture/AV or Exposure Compensation Button

On both Nikon and Canon, the same button that allows you to set your aperture also will set your exposure compensation.  You’ll use the command dial in both cases to help make your selection.  Since both these functions are extremely important when using either Manual mode or one of the semi-automatic modes (aperture priority or shutter priority) it makes the list!

 

 Happy Photographing!