First DSLR, looking for tips

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carlyb

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Carly
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Being new to photography I have just bought my first DSLR. It is a Nikon D3000 and I was wondering if anybody had any tips to get the best out of the camera or just any tips in general for using DSLRs.
 
Practice, patience and processing.

What type of photography are you into?
 
If its any help, Im in the same boat as you. What I have done is read up as much as I can in "bitesize chunks" topics relating to the kind of pics Im going out to take. Then I try to put into practice what I have read. When it doesnt work :) , come here and ask what I did wrong...
 
Thanks guys, the camera and guide are with me constantly at the minute so I can practice.

Into all sorts of photography from every day events to special occasions, don't like organised pictures where people are aware of the camera, prefer the natural look so I'm trying to figure out all the settings so I can get the camera out and start snapping and get the best results.
 
Hi
Thanks verry much for the link Phil it is one verry helpful for anyone not just newbie,s
also many thanks to Hoppy & co for there hard work,
 
walt-m said:
Hi
Thanks verry much for the link Phil it is one verry helpful for anyone not just newbie,s
also many thanks to Hoppy & co for there hard work,
Click to expand...

Your Welcome !

For some reason, it often gets overlooked down there in the tutorial section - me thinks

:clap:
 
Take pictures. Take some more pictures. And, keep taking them.
Any problems, post up pictures on a helpful forum like this.

If you're fairly proficient with computers, the next step would be to shoot in RAW mode.

Have Fun!
 
I do a lot of airbrush art and my advice to any new ABer is pratice,pratice and when you think you have praticed enough go and pratice some more. One thing I do tell new ABers is keep your first works and in time look back and see how far you have come.
 
sonny said:
Take pictures. Take some more pictures. And, keep taking them.
Any problems, post up pictures on a helpful forum like this.

If you're fairly proficient with computers, the next step would be to shoot in RAW mode.

Have Fun!
Click to expand...

You actually should be shooting RAW from day 1.
If you end up getting a shot you like but the colour balance isn't right or too dark/light then just whip it into Camera RAW on Photoshop or lightroom.
Also... If you did the same thing with a jpg it wouldn't be the same. It's more realistic with a RAW file because it captures as much data as possible, where a jpg would limit you because it doesn't hold as much data.
So if you have the RAW file of a photo you like and it's too dark you can lighten it up by one or two stops and remember that the next time your in that situation you need to do it in the camera.

One more tip, you get what you pay for. Stick cheap glass on your camera and 9 times out of 10 you'll get a cheap image. If you go pro you'll thank me for saving you hundreds or even thousands.
As of mow though, you should be fine with the cheaper glass.
But if you decide to get a new lens may I suggest something like a 50mm 1.8
You'll get a taste of what pro glass is like, only it's actually a pretty cheap lens.
I got the 1.4 version for £300 but I hardly use it at 1.4
You'll also find primes are sharper than zoom lenses and have less distortion than zooms although today's zoom lenses are getting alot better.
Aswell as that... Try buy lenses that don't have a floating aperture, such as 2.8 or 3.5 try not to go for lenses that float from 3.5-5.6 for example.
Basically, lenses with floating apertures get darker as you zoom in assuming your at the widest aperture.

Sorry for rambling.
By the way, welcome to Nikon.
 
Im in the same boat with the D5000. Ive had mine for around 2 months and love it! Theres a great book by David Busch on the D3000 also available at Amazon. I and many others have the D5000 version and its great! It explains things that arent explained in the manual. Another thing ive done is head over to Flickr and when you look at other peoples photos view the EXIF data (go to the top right and move your cursor over the brand of camera used and click on it when it turns pink and you will be shown what aperture/shutter speed/iso and everything else the picture was taken with). Also watch the settings the camera chooses in Auto to give you an idea. Its come together for me now and ive moved to Manual in a short space of time. Watch the exposure bar on the screen. For example if you choose your aperture and the bar goes off to the + side rotate the dial to the right until the shutter speed compliments the aperture and the bar hits '0' giving what the camera deems to be the ideal exposure. I may be corrected but this is what ive figured out and tbh when i read and read it just doesnt happen for me. I need the practical approach or an explanation in lehmanns terms like mine:lol: As i say i may be corrected but im pretty sure ive given the basics there.
Phil
 
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Set yourself a weekly test - "I'm going to go and photograph such and such" and then do it. Be super-critical of what you have taken and try to find a group of mentors who will give advice.

Hope this helps.
 
I just put my Nikon D60 onto Aperture priority setting of around F10/11 and found all pictures improved overnight.
 
Pog said:
I just put my Nikon D60 onto Aperture priority setting of around F10/11 and found all pictures improved overnight.
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Not the best thing to do.. But its a start. Keep in mind your letting the camera control certain things when really you should be.
My camera never comes out of M.

Oh and don't buy books... Sure they tell you what to do but so does YouTube. YT is free and alot more fun.
Everything I know comes from the help of YouTube.
Actually, there are some DVD's out there too, I'd still say use YouTube, but if you must... buy DVD's over books.

You get a visual of what they are doing, rather than in text (or in photos if your lucky)
You can also get an idea of how they are treating the model, the models reactions etc.
 
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AdamPearcey said:
You actually should be shooting RAW from day 1.

Sorry for rambling.
Click to expand...

Because the OP said in their first line they are new to photography and just got their first DSLR, I thought going the JPEG route at first wouldn't hurt.

I agree with you entirely, RAW is the way forward and if the OP can handle it from "day 1" then good for them. However a few jpegs to start off with will not hurt.

I agree with a lot of what you said. Good ramble!
 
I wish I'd read the manual from cover to cover on day one rather than leaving it nearly a year. You don't think it's going to be that useful but it really, really is.
 
Nice one Carley, Ive got the d3000 myself and its a great little camera for learning with, buy this book the David Busch D3000 book from Amazon, its the best £19.00 you will spend
 
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