10 Essential Camera Settings Every Beginner Should Know

vitmir
Jul 13, 2025
3 min read

If you're new to photography, learning how to use your camera settings can feel overwhelming. But once you understand a few key concepts, you’ll be able to take control of your camera and start creating stunning photos. Here are 10 essential camera settings every beginner should know—explained simply and clearly.

1. Aperture (f-stop)

What it does: Controls how much light enters the lens and affects depth of field (how much of your photo is in focus).

Low f-number (e.g. f/1.8): More light, blurry background (great for portraits).
High f-number (e.g. f/11): Less light, more in focus (great for landscapes).

📸 Tip: Try shooting portraits with f/2.8 for a soft, blurred background.

2. Shutter Speed

What it does: Determines how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light—affecting motion blur or sharpness.

Fast (1/1000 sec): Freezes motion (e.g. sports).
Slow (1/30 sec or lower): Creates motion blur (e.g. waterfalls or night shots).

📸 Tip: Use a tripod if shooting below 1/60 sec to avoid blur from shaky hands.

3. ISO

What it does: Adjusts the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light.

Low ISO (100–400): Clean images, less noise.
High ISO (800+): Brighter images in low light, but more grain/noise.

📸 Tip: Always keep ISO as low as possible for better image quality.

4. White Balance

What it does: Adjusts color temperature so whites appear white in your photo.

Presets: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, etc.
Custom: Set manually for accurate color.

📸 Tip: Use “Auto White Balance” at first, but experiment for more control.

5. Focus Mode

What it does: Determines how your camera focuses.

AF-S (Single Shot): Best for still subjects.
AF-C (Continuous): For moving subjects (sports, kids, pets).
Manual Focus: Full control; good for precise shots.

📸 Tip: Use AF-C when photographing anything that’s in motion.

6. Metering Mode

What it does: Helps the camera determine the correct exposure by measuring light.

Evaluative/Matrix: Measures light across the whole frame (good general choice).
Center-weighted: Focuses on the center area.
Spot: Measures light from a very small point—great for backlit subjects.

📸 Tip: For tricky lighting, try Spot metering to expose your subject properly.

7. Drive Mode (Shooting Mode)

What it does: Controls how many photos your camera takes when you press the shutter.

Single Shot: Takes one photo per press.
Continuous/Burst: Takes multiple shots (great for action).
Self-Timer: Delays shutter for hands-free shooting.

📸 Tip: Use burst mode to increase chances of capturing the perfect action shot.

8. Image Format (RAW vs JPEG)

What it does: Determines how your camera saves photos.

JPEG: Smaller files, ready to share but less editing flexibility.
RAW: Larger files, retains all image data for editing.

📸 Tip: Shoot in RAW if you plan to edit your photos later for better quality.

9. Exposure Compensation (± EV)

What it does: Lets you manually adjust brightness without changing aperture, shutter, or ISO.

+1 or +2: Brightens the image.
-1 or -2: Darkens the image.

📸 Tip: Use exposure compensation in tricky lighting like backlit portraits.

10. Picture Style/Profile

What it does: Adjusts how colors, contrast, and sharpness appear in your images.

Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Monochrome, etc.

📸 Tip: Try “Portrait” mode for softer skin tones and “Landscape” for vivid greens and blues.

Final Thoughts

These 10 camera settings are your foundation as a photographer. The more you experiment and understand how they work together, the more creative control you’ll gain. Don’t be afraid to step out of auto mode—your best photos are waiting just beyond it.