Digital cameras: DSLR newbie
DSLR newbie
by dlacrue - 8/6/08 7:56 PMI am a Photoshop junkie and have been in love with the program since i first got a chance to use version 7 ages ago. Unfortunately I'm always having to work with other people's photos, or scanned pics taken from my point and shoot film cameras. More and more I am wanting to be able to take high quality pictures myself to have fun with. I also have always had an interest in photography in general, so I think now would be a good time to invest in a good starter DSLR camera. After reading lot's of articles and reviews and forum posts, I think the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi might be a good choice.
I am very interested in the manual abilities of DSLRs like aperture and exposure settings, but don't have much knowledge to start using them. I know cameras in this category must take very decent pics on "Auto" mode in many situations, but how accessible will it's advanced settings be when I want to start exploring them (and I know I will). I can't wait to see what it's like to process RAW images, btw.
Would buying a Dummies guide to DSLR's be enough to help me learn some of these features, or would taking a class be more appropriate? Then again, I one of those weird guys that thoroughly reads the manuals to find out how to use every ability of any gadget i get.. so maybe that would be enough.
Any suggestions? Is buying a DSLR before even owning a regular digicam a bad idea?
You're starting well
by kalel33 - 8/6/08 8:09 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueTo be good at photo editing puts you quite a bit ahead of others just entering the photography world. I don't if you do or don't, but if you want to know how aperture, exposure, etc. affects photos, a good place to start is buying a book called "Understanding Exposure". For how to use it with your camera, the Canon manuals do more than a sufficient job of teaching you how to use the camera.
Don't be disappointed in the auto modes, they aren't meant to be the great photo options. Learning how to work with shallow depth of field is something everyone who moves to a DSLR has to get used to....especially with focusing. A great suggestion I was give was go to different photo sharing sites and see how they shot the photo, aperture, shutter speed, etc. Also, look at other's photos and try to determine what time of the day it was, where the light was coming from, angle and height of shooting position, and whether they use an external flash. After awhile, you will find out if the kit lens is the end all for you or what you find lacking.
Have fun and good luck. Photography is a legal way to shoot people and have them smiling while you do it.
Tip of the iceberg
by dlacrue - 8/6/08 9:12 PM In reply to: You're starting well by kalel33Thank you for the comments. The photo sharing sites is a good idea, at least to get an idea of how things like the time of day, available light, subject matter, and other things come in to play in taking your photos, and then what camera settings are used to achieve different results.
I'm sure I will have no trouble at getting an excellent shot of that rock in front of my house at noon... but more advanced shots will take learning the settings better and possible different lenses.
This all makes me even more anxious to get started, so buying the camera is the obvious first step. 
DSLR newbie
by taboma - 8/6/08 8:51 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacruedlacrue, there is a DVD training video for the Canon Rebel from Blue Crane Digital. Go to their website and view a demo.
The DVD is sold by countless camera store sites.
-Kevin
taboma
by dlacrue - 8/6/08 9:32 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by tabomaI went to the site and the DVD guides they have look great to get someone like me started, but I don't see one for the specific model I had in mind (XSi). The camera only came out a couple of months ago, so I wonder how long till they have a dvd for it....
Something to Read
by snapshot2
- 8/7/08 7:35 AM
In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrue
It is good to hear that you are a reader.
Because there are so many good books on photography.
Here is a link to a free shortcourse in using a digital camera:
http://www.shortcourses.com/use/
Understanding "exposure" is very necessary and they cover that well.
Particularly the chapter called "Using Shutter speed and Aperture Together".
...
..
.
I would start with a class, or several classes.
by Kiddpeat - 8/8/08 12:28 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueI think you will learn far more from a good instructor than from any web site, dvd, book, or manual.
RE: I would start with a class, or several classes.
by jbaviera - 8/8/08 7:02 PM In reply to: I would start with a class, or several classes. by KiddpeatI couldn't agree more!
But for some forewarning; Most, if not all photography classes (at least in my area) will be teaching you with a 35mm SLR (yours) and not with a DSLR.
I agree with the others...
by skooal - 8/8/08 11:36 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueI have to agree with what everyone is saying, books, lessons....
But my advice would be to explore your camera yourself, mistakes can be erased from the card, it doesn't cost a thing, when knowing right from wrong your DSLR will become yours and the correct (or almost correct)settings will come to you naturally...
Practice, practice and practice again and sometimes a first timer mistake can even be a "keeper".
When going on a sharing website, take a look at the Exif Datas, like this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skooal/2711388756/meta/
...they are great help...
Cheers!!!
DSLR advice?
by ViroCMN - 8/8/08 11:37 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueHey great! I have some tech experience at canon, the canon DSLR is prob the best in the world at the moment. Its 'orimiphical' lense , lol don't ask me to spell that, is totallt stunning. Its ccd is very durable and stabel and can auto select image contast and u can take nice photo's at high speeds. But for lower priced cams the canon does take a back seat to makes like Fugi-film and Nikon. But canon in my opinion is for the beauty of photography and the image. Depending on the budget, 300mm lense 2x or 5x converter on a EOS D6 chassis, go for a 8 or 12 mega pixel, make sure u have plenty of Flash card storage.
Canon XTI
by tproveau - 8/9/08 6:08 AM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueI bought the XTI a few months ago and recently bought the 55 to 250 IS canon zoom. My total investment is $900 plus tax for the new Camera kit with 18-55 and the new zoom lens. The XSI would cost a bit more but not too much as I have sen some sales lately. I got my lens from henrys cameras ebay site for about $100 less than regular retail, new with full warranty. This is a great SLR starter package with photo quality that is the best in this price range and frankly from this price range up you pay a lot for fairly small differences. I have read that the new 18-55 IS kit lens is quite good although not as good a build quality as the 55-250 IS zoom. My non IS 18-55 lens works very well as the range does not seem to need the IS like the telephoto range on the 55-250.
I used the kit lens for my nieces recent wedding and the photos are stunning and clear with no blur on all but 2 pics out of 215.
Good luck and enjoy the hobby
by Teamdeez23 - 8/9/08 10:32 AM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueI felt the same way getting into photography and I really have enjoyed my first DSLR the Sony A-100 I have found that for what I like to take pictures of the kit lens was sufficient. As I was researching, everyone said it depends on what types of pictures you want to take. To me, I thought well, everything. A lot of it in my experience comes down to your artistic eye. You will know what makes a good picture. The main thing is knowing your camera and how to manipulate it to get the results you want. I lived in DC for the first year of my DSLR experience, so a lot of my pictures were monuments, cherry blossoms, crowds or concerts and sporting events.
I took a monuments tour picture class and got some great tips on composition, angles and just good rules of thumb that newbies tend not to focus on. (Like background in a photo...a lot of times we focus on what we are looking at and dont take into consideration that everthing in the viewfinder will show up example is a pole rising out of someones head because I was looking at their face and not the background) as for the camera itself it really helped me to understand the picture I wanted and then taking the same photo on different settings of lens speed, lens opening, noise reduction shutter priority or aperture priortity. As I started to develop a better feel for how each setting affected my shot, I felt more comfortable in manipulating those settings manually. Another important one is white balance which as I understand it affects the warmth of the picture.
All of these things come down to how much time you put into it but I have found that after understanding how a setting such as changing the fstop affects my picture, then I can go and read about it in a manual.
It was very hard for me to grasp the concepts until I really understood how to manipulate each setting on my device. I say take a class that will take you out shooting, then once you have an idea of how your camera works, then spend some more time/money on manuals, dvds, lessons, etc.
Also a medium to heavy duty tripod is a must if you will be taking photos with less than perfect light. you can get a decent tripod that will suit your needs in the 60-120 price range. You can invest in a 400 dollar tripod when people start paying you for your photos. Hope that helps, if you have any more questions, let me know
DSLR Newbie
by JCipo - 8/11/08 7:12 PM In reply to: DSLR newbie by dlacrueMany years ago a driver stopped in New York and asked a passerby "How do you get to Carnegie Hall (a famous music performance center)? The answer "Practice...practice...practice !
I have been a photographer for over 40 years. It is good to read a manual but practice makes perfect. The Canon is a great starting camera. Now to make the system complete buy a Tameron lens that goes from 18mm to 250mm. This will give you a versatile and quality system. Changing lenses can take time and a great scene could disappear. Also, the less you change lenses the less chance of dust problems.
Here is a simple formula...Outside scenes start at ISO (400 to 800) speed 1/500 or higher f/8
Inside scenes start at ISO (800 to 1600) and use flash. You can push the speed (ISO) to 6400 with software. And DO NOT use RAW until you get good with JPG.
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