The first step to high-quality photos is high-quality glass.
The Canon 5D is a professional-level camera that can produce some high-quality still photos. While the camera should be ready to use out of the box, you can adjust a number of features to increase the versatility and quality of its images. The best way to learn a camera's limitations is to spend time behind the lens.
Great Lenses
The most important part of shooting great visuals is to obtain at least one great lens. The kit lenses that come with Canon cameras are typically just "OK," and other lens types offer a much more appealing style. One great option is "prime" lenses, which are lenses that only have one focal length. Although they can't zoom in or out, they offer sharper details and more bokeh, which is the amount of blur in the foreground and background. Another option is any of the "L" lens series, however, the cheapest L lens costs about $1,000.
External Flash Unit
The 5D has a hotshoe bracket that can be used to power an external flash unit. An external unit is more preferable than the on-camera flash because it can be aimed someplace other than at the subject. By aiming a flash at a ceiling or nearby wall, you can bounce the light off the surface to diffuse it. This results in a more evenly lit subject without harsh shadows, and it creates a more professional photograph.
Shutter and Aperture Priority Modes
In addition to automatic and manual modes, the 5D has two semi-automatic modes. In shutter priority, you can set the shutter speed to be constant and the camera will adjust the other settings to make a good exposure. In aperture priority, you can set the f-stop size to be constant, and the camera will adjust all other settings. These modes are most useful when you're shooting in volatile environments, such as the outdoors or at a large social event, because you'll have fewer adjustments to think about for each shot.
Custom Color Temperature
Different light sources have different color temperatures that vary along a blue and orange spectrum. While the 5D has several color presets, you can also numerically set the white balance manually. Look at the LCD display and rotate the dial to "K". Press the "Menu" button, highlight "Color Temp" and press "Set." You can adjust the temperature along 100K increments. While the presets may get close to the color of the light source, dialing in the numerical value allows you to achieve an exact white balance without post-processing.
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