Free DSLR Camera Manual for Beginners

Discover how to use a DSLR camera and get the best out of your equipment with tips from a pro

If you're just starting out in the professional world of photography and video, you'll definitely need a DSLR camera. This is the most used type on the market for its size and possibility of changing lenses, providing more freedom for those who are photographing.

Rafael Jacinto (@rafajacinto), Brazilian photographer and filmmaker, masters the subject and has worked for clients such as Nikon, Nike and Converse. In his work, he uses amazing techniques to tell unique stories through the lens of creativity.

He began his career as a photojournalist at the extinct newspaper Notícias Populares (1999), was part of the team that founded the newspaper Valor Econômico (2000) and founded the collective Cia de Foto (2004 -2014). From 2014 to 2018 he worked with his own digital content production company in São Paulo. Since 2019 he has lived in Milan, Italy.

In 2009, he also started working as a stage director in advertising and corporate films, in addition to his own artistic projects. This date coincides with the launch of the first DSLR camera with video function.

The fullframe sensor, portability, image quality and intimacy with the equipment changed his way of thinking about film production. It became possible to produce high quality videos with the same camera that he photographed with.

In the file that the photographer and filmmaker shares at the end of the post, you will find exclusive information present in the course Creating Documentary Short Films with a DSLR Camera. But before downloading the file, check out some useful information about ISO.

What is ISO Sensitivity in Photography?

In analog film photography, ISO (or formerly ASA) indicated how sensitive a roll of film was to light. While most modern cameras do not use film anymore, the term stuck around and now refers to the relative sensitivity of a camera’s sensor to light.

Along with shutter speed and aperture, ISO is one of the most fundamental settings to understand when taking digital photographs. In this video, Giulia Candussi explains what ISO is and how you can use it in your digital photography to achieve the best results possible.

Watch it!

Manual for working with a DSLR camera

In this file shared by Rafael Jacinto, you will find a brief graphic manual that shows how a DSLR camera works, its sensors and the differences in resolution.

After clicking on the button below, a file in .pdf format will appear in the Downloads folder of your computer, with the Manual for Working with a DSLR Camera, by Rafael Jacinto.

Discover the course Creating Documentary Short Films with a DSLR Camera, in which you will learn to develop a complete audiovisual project, from the script to post-production, using a digital camera.

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