A Total Beginner!

liam1986ukuk

liam1986ukuk

Suspended / Banned
Messages
28
Name
Liam
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi,

ive just purchased a Canon 7D with a 17-55mm f2.8 lens, 10-22mm lens and a Canon Flash Gun too.

Im totally new to the whole DSLR apart from using my old Olympus E510 Kit.
ive no idea really of whats the best standard settings for bright light conditons outside, and also for portrait shots etc.. i was lazy with my old camera and never took it off auto mode! i wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Buy the Canon 7D dummies guide, its 330 pages apparently so will be a far bit of reading but will help you get round the many settings that camera seeems to offer.
 
Also have you considered an evening course in photography.im a beginner too and am starting a course in sept.lots of good YouTube videos as well. Cannon also do individual camera DVD.s Ive ordered the 550d DVD.5 hours of instruction for £19.99
 
liam1986ukuk said:
Hi Lads,

ive just purchased a Canon 7D with a 17-55mm f2.8 lens, 10-22mm lens and a Canon Flash Gun too.

Im totally new to the whole DSLR apart from using my old Olympus E510 Kit.
ive no idea really of whats the best standard settings for bright light conditons outside, and also for portrait shots etc.. i was lazy with my old camera and never took it off auto mode! i wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Lesson one- there's no such thing as standard settings that can be learned and re-used. You need to be even less lazy and learn how the different settings change the picture. :)

Read the stickies, and I'm sure there'll be links to other great sites. Read the manual. Start with one of the semi auto modes and enjoy your shooting.

Tip no. 1
Don't let the camera choose what you're focussing on. The auto focus point select is for idiots. Your photography will never be your own if you haven't picked what to focus on. Use the multi controller to select your focus point.

Tip no. 2 back button focussing, taking the focus control away from the shutter button should help with the above.
 
Hi Phil,could you expand on that last point about back button focussing,are you saying to use this? and I guess its in the manual how to do it.
thanks
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Hi Phil,could you expand on that last point about back button focussing,are you saying to use this? and I guess its in the manual how to do it.
thanks
Click to expand...

+1 for back-button focussing. It's in one of the custom menu options (I have a 40D so can't say which option for the 7D - plenty of suggestions here). It takes a while to get used to, but I wouldn't have a DSLR set-up any other way now that I have got used to it.
 
Last edited:
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
Hi Phil,could you expand on that last point about back button focussing,are you saying to use this? and I guess its in the manual how to do it.
thanks
Click to expand...

Yes - you can keep the camera in AI Servo mode, and use one of the back buttons to focus ( use the *).
So if you're shooting a static subject you can just press the * button and let go once it's focussed - so never having to worry about your subject being slightly out of a focus point. With a moving subject you can just hold the * button and your camera will continue to track the subject.

But all of the above is down to personal preference - I hate focussing with the shutter button but some people feel the same way about focussing with *:shrug:

Yes it's in the Manual.

Take an afternoon and read it - go out and shoot for a month - then read it again.
 
That's interesting. I've never considered back button focus, must give it a go. Thanks.
 
thanks for the tips chaps! ill give it ago, got my new toys coming Friday, so ill have the Bank Hols to mess around! :)

regarding lens, i am going to cover my wifes sisters wedding for some practice in December, any advise on what lens would be good for taking shots from a distance? i was thinking perhaps something to 200mm?
 
By 'cover your wife's sisters wedding', do you mean that you'll be the main photographer?

Or that it's something you're looking forward to for practice?
 
Hi Phil, i wont dare be the main photographer! im just using it for some practice.. the lens dont come with damn hoods though, is this something i should invest in for my 10-22m & 17-55mm lens?
 
Don't invest in anything else. Too much kit as a beginner can confuse you. Learn with what you have got and you'll learn quicker
 
Get the hoods.

Generally if you buy 2nd hand you should get the hoods - buy 2nd hand to lessen the cost if you give up.
 
ill get the hoods at some point then, i dont plan on giving up Phil, just getting started up :)
 
Get a month subscription on Lynda.com and follow all the "Foundation of Photography" courses from Ben Long. Start with the "Exposure" one followed by the "lenses" one, then and only then all the other.
I couldn’t possibly recommend it enough...you can look it up on youtube, but frankly it is sooo worth it to take a month membership (go for the regular one without the exercise files, as you won’t need them for photography courses).
As I was writing this I just remembered that you can get a Lynda .com free week pass from this blog: http://chrisorwig.com/retouching/index.php
I am veeeeeery confident that you will get A LOT of knowledge just by using that free pass. :-)
 
Last edited:
Oh, I forgot to warn you and everyone else on this forum: Lynda.com is very addictive!!!
I got a free 1 month pass when I purchased Adobe CS4...after that I am now on my 2nd yearly subscription...you have been warned!!!

:-(
 
paximaxi said:
Get a month subscription on Lynda.com and follow all the "Foundation of Photography" courses from Ben Long. Start with the "Exposure" one followed by the "lenses" one, then and only then all the other.
I couldn’t possibly recommend it enough...you can look it up on youtube, but frankly it is sooo worth it to take a month membership (go for the regular one without the exercise files, as you won’t need them for photography courses).
As I was writing this I just remembered that you can get a Lynda .com free week pass from this blog: http://chrisorwig.com/retouching/index.php
I am veeeeeery confident that you will get A LOT of knowledge just by using that free pass. :-)
Click to expand...

That one week pass is a great find! Thanks.
 
Lynda.com is good, have you thought about maby a day course. I used to help teach them a while ago and it's a fun day. Worth the small amount of money for the satisfaction and guidance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top