SLR Newbie Question

[Aurora_25]

Ok, here is a question for all you SLR users. How did you learn to use your SLR camera- I mean at one point it was new to you. I am looking into workshops and stuff because reading the books are great, but I learn from trying more than reading. Anyway, I was just wondering how all of you learned. Was it by trial and error or did you take classes or did you just read books? I'm just trying to get a better idea of my camera.

Thanks

 

[dolbyman]

I think it's like with all the other stuff you have to learn .. part theory part practical

so my advice read,try,try,try

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Trial and error........................... begin with a camera that has fully automatic settings as well as manual settings. Start off using the Automatic settings until you get used to the camera and then take it from there

 

[Aurora_25]

Trial and error........................... begin with a camera that has fully automatic settings as well as manual settings. Start off using the Automatic settings until you get used to the camera and then take it from there

Thanks, I have a camera that is automatic and also manual so at least I am off to the right start

 

[1Ashley]

what does SLR means? :veryconfu :veryconfu

 

[JML42691]

what does SLR means? :veryconfu :veryconfu

I don't know, all I can guess is Sony Long Range

 

[Nemo14]

I believe it means Single Lens Reflex (?) or something like that....

 

[JROK]

I learned by reading articles online as well as trail and error. That's the beauty of digital, you don't have to worry about wasting film figuring it all out. Really all you have to know are F-Stops, Shutter Speed and ISO in order to get a great photo.

 

[The Mom]

I'm so happy someone else asked the question about SLR cameras, as The Son has chosen photography as his Art elective next year. I know that he will be getting some instruction in school, but it's nice to have a place to ask questions of professionals, such as Photodave, and talented amateurs, such as those who post in the contests.

 

[Aurora_25]

I'm so happy someone else asked the question about SLR cameras, as The Son has chosen photography as his Art elective next year. I know that he will be getting some instruction in school, but it's nice to have a place to ask questions of professionals, such as Photodave, and talented amateurs, such as those who post in the contests.

Glad I could help
I am thinking of looking into a class or workshop around here to take, but so far I haven't found much of anything unless I want to go into the middle of downtown houston at night to take a class- and I really don't want to do that. So, I am going to keep looking and just read the books I have and use the camera- trial and error is probably the best way for me at the moment.

 

[Aurora_25]

I learned by reading articles online as well as trail and error. That's the beauty of digital, you don't have to worry about wasting film figuring it all out. Really all you have to know are F-Stops, Shutter Speed and ISO in order to get a great photo.

I've got the ISO figured out, but the F-stop- Haven't gotten that far in my reading yet.....I am sure I will get it all figured out- so far I have no complaints with the camera and I am thrilled to have a Digital SLR now

 

[JROK]

I've got the ISO figured out, but the F-stop- Haven't gotten that far in my reading yet.....I am sure I will get it all figured out- so far I have no complaints with the camera and I am thrilled to have a Digital SLR now

F-Stop really requires two things. 1) How much ambient light do you have to work with. 2) What depth of field do you want? . It's all really simply in theory, but requires lots of practice to be quick with it.


Also, take a look at Popular Photography (Pop Photo). It's a great magazine with many how-to's, what not to do, gear reviews and more. I think you can grab a subscription for around $12/year or something cheap. Just go to a book store, read one, and if you like it, grab the subscription mail-in out of it.

Also remember that a lot of your pictures can be helped in simple editing programs (Bumping up the contrast and saturation are a big help.). If you have a camera that shoots in RAW format, then USE IT! RAW format is lightyears ahead of JPEG and while it does take up more space on your cards, you'll be able to apply much more editing to it.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I don't know, all I can guess is Sony Long Range

Single Lens Reflex. :fork: :fork: :fork:

 

[Aurora_25]

F-Stop really requires two things. 1) How much ambient light do you have to work with. 2) What depth of field do you want? . It's all really simply in theory, but requires lots of practice to be quick with it.


Also, take a look at Popular Photography (Pop Photo). It's a great magazine with many how-to's, what not to do, gear reviews and more. I think you can grab a subscription for around $12/year or something cheap. Just go to a book store, read one, and if you like it, grab the subscription mail-in out of it.

Also remember that a lot of your pictures can be helped in simple editing programs (Bumping up the contrast and saturation are a big help.). If you have a camera that shoots in RAW format, then USE IT! RAW format is lightyears ahead of JPEG and while it does take up more space on your cards, you'll be able to apply much more editing to it.

Thanks for the help. I did actually pick up a Popular Photograpy and will be getting a subscription of that.
As for RAW- My camera will do both RAW and JPEG or either one depending on your choice. I have been shooting in RAW knowing that it's the better of the two- but I like the option to do both at the same time.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Ok, here is a question for all you SLR users. How did you learn to use your SLR camera- I mean at one point it was new to you. I am looking into workshops and stuff because reading the books are great, but I learn from trying more than reading. Anyway, I was just wondering how all of you learned. Was it by trial and error or did you take classes or did you just read books? I'm just trying to get a better idea of my camera.

Thanks

I guess the first question that comes to mind is how much do you know about photography to start with. If you've just been a plain point and shoot person and never bothered to even look at the manual controls on your camera then you could probably use a basic photography class. If you've already been experimenting with the controls on your point and shoot then just look at the SLR as a fancier better point and shoot that suffers zero shutter lag.

In the end when you understand how cameras work its just a matter of playing with the camera to see what you can achieve.

The bad part of the question is that everyone is different. My wife likes to just go with trial and error and doesn't bother with understanding the technical side. I like to start with understanding the technical side and actually reading every manual with every camera I get from front to back. In all we both get reasonable picture underst normal circumstances. I tend to get better results when things are extreme, but only because I read about it... with my wife she got horrible results the first time she took photos in the snow, she learned but pretty much wasted a lot of shots the first time. So you can get the same result either way...

I would suggest the first thing you do with your SLR (i'm assuming its digital) is read the part of the manual that allows you to set the compensation +/- and try a half step over and under exposed. Some camera tend to under of over expose and you'll get better result if you adjust for it. I know every nikon I've ever used seemed to over expose so I get better result adjusting for that fact up front.

Remember when you shoot in raw you can adjust for over or under but when your camera overexposes an area (it whites out) that you will never save that area the detail doesn't exist. Its saver to slightly under expose as you have a reasonable shot of getting some detail from the shadow but never from the washout.

In the end trial and error will have to occur even if you read and take classes. Save yourself some heartache and trial and error at home and not at Disney. Shoot some day shoot and night shots.... especially night shots, most cameras can do fine in the daylight with autosetting its the night that give them fits.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Long and the short of it is to just learn your camera. Learn how it functions, learn how long the delay or lag is in the shutter. Learn how all the settings work.

Also, the best beginner book out there is The National Geographic Field Guide for Photography.

Watch your compsitions - look for that stray tree branch that you didnt see or those phone wires or trash cans. Don be afraid to move your feet and take 3 steps in any direction - or duck down - to make your photos better. I love sillouettes, i love things framed well. I like good composed shots, reflections, etc.

Flip the camera on one of the Automatic modes and just play around and work on composition first and learn the rest as you go.

That being said, i would not recommend playing with the exposure compensation +/- mode. Flipping it to manual and actually adjusting the shutter speed and aperature so that you get it metered correctly is how you do these things properly so that you actually learn something.

 

[Gorjus]

Just spend a day trying it out in a bunch of different settings. Have a notebook with you and record what you did for each photo...wait, I forgot. This is what I did for film. My digital camera actually records settings for me. See if yours does. Take a notebook anyway.

Here are some of the basic terms in lay language. I too get all fuzzy when people start talking in photo terms and I've been making a living as a photographer for almost 20 years.

ISO: "film" speed: The brighter the light level it is, the lower the number should be (100/200). The darker it is, the higher the number should be (800/1600)

Aperture/fstop: forget what it really means, basically it determines how much is in focus and/or how much light is let in the camera. The lower numbers (f3.5) means less things in the photo will be in focus (think flower or person in focus and background blurry). The lower numbers are also good to use in low light situations because it lets more light into the camera. The higher the number (f11 or 16), the more things will be in focus (think landscapes). This is also good for very bright situations with a lot of light. It will reduce the amount of light let into the camera.

Shutter Speed: How long the lens stays open. This determines, just like f stop, how much light goes into the camera. High numbers (1000) mean less light. Low numbers (60) mean more light. (the reverse is actually true because the numbers are 1/xxx of a second, but in simple terms it was always easier for me to think of the numbers without the fraction). It also determines whether you capture an image in a split second (sports, children---1000) or capture slight movement (water fall, fireworks---30)

When I was first learning, I would determine what was more important to me, shutter speed or what was in focus. Then I would set the camera on AP (aperture priority)...what was in focus; or SP (shutter priority)...how fast I wanted to capture something. Then I would let the camera do the rest.

Photo Dave is right, just play around with your camera. Then gradually try all the different settings you can.

 

[Aurora_25]

Gorjus- thanks for putting all that stuff in easy terms. Makes alot more sense now. I have been playing around alot with my camera and actually bought 2 other lenses that I felt were the ones I really would need in most situations so I am learning- maybe slowly, but so far I have mostly good pictures, although they were almost all taken outside too LOL. I did take pictures of my FIL wedding and most of them turned out really good although it was the first time I used the camera so I was surprised with how well I did.

Thanks again

 

[dolbyman]

wait, I forgot. This is what I did for film. My digital camera actually records settings for me.

I think 95% of all cameras put exif data in the jpegs :wave: