[Ned Senior]

Hello everybody... I have been interested in photography for years and have had a number of digital point and shoot cameras and a fuji s9500 which I have always used on auto...
None of the local colleges do a course on using a camera PROPERLY manually
you know iso and aperture depth of field what have you and what the numbers after a lens mean

I have ordered a Nikon D60 from my local calumet (collecting Wednesday)
Sooo I hoped that someone here would kindly point me in the direction of a good book (untechnical ish)
Or dvd's showing me what and when to change settings wise on the camera
(preferably from amazon or somewhere reputable)
I hope you will advise folks

Cheers

Ned

[willo]

Have a look at this site, it's for the D40 but it still applies to the D60.

| D40 Digitutor |

It goes through the basics of each mode, the best thing to do is to practice. Set to different modes and change the settings, I find it better to learn first hand.

[Ned Senior]

Just won a book on ebay.. it is concerning the canon eos system and is from the days of film but says on the listing that it gives an "awareness of competent camera usage by teaching the basics of photography" !!
Fingers crossed

[cedmondson]

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. Highly recommended here (do a quick search for it and you'll see what I mean). Not too technical but still manages to cover the subject pretty thoroughly and usually available for a tenner or so

[Ned Senior]

Originally Posted by cedmondson

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. Highly recommended here (do a quick search for it and you'll see what I mean). Not too technical but still manages to cover the subject pretty thoroughly and usually available for a tenner or so

Hi Colin
(couldn't find a smiley with two hands waving alas!!!)
That book looks just the ticket going by the amazon reviews

DULY ORDERED

Thanks

NED

[senu]

While waiting for it
Look
HERE
However you will learn yourself rather a lot simply by taking as many pictures as you can .Seeing what works and what doesn't
The beauty of digital is that there is no film, D and P cost
This is only an advantage if you learn as you go along though and not just take 100 on the offchance 5 will be great

[Malone]

This lists quite a few good websites to read on basics and more advanced.

Matt

[Dave]

My experience is that you can't beat experience.

Just take a hell of a lot of shots and you'll soon learn what works and what doesn't. When I first got my DSLR auto mode was like a lifeline but now it's more of a devils creation and rarely gives me the results I want.

It's amazing how when you get your head round the settings and functions that your shots start becoming what you see in the viewfinder rather than what auto thinks you want.

It's a steep learning curve but you will get there, it's only taken me 12 months.

[TarMoo]

Originally Posted by Ned Senior

Hello everybody... I have been interested in photography for years and have had a number of digital point and shoot cameras and a fuji s9500 which I have always used on auto...
None of the local colleges do a course on using a camera PROPERLY manually
you know iso and aperture depth of field what have you and what the numbers after a lens mean

Cheers

Ned

Very few people shoot in manual mode unless you are in a studio with studio flash.

The most important mode to learn about is probably aperture priority (A). With this the iris in the lens can be made bigger or smaller. A small F number on the lens means that more light comes in, but there is less depth of field.

For portraits I like to use small f stops like f3.5 (on a kit zoom you will have to use the widest aperture setting). A small ISO (e.g. 200) can usually be used if you have a wide aperture (small f number) setting. Wide apertures give a nice blurred background e.g.

Also, for portraits a longer focal length (e.g. more than 60mm ) means that peoples faces don't look distorted. If you have a very small focal length and shoot from close up, then peoples noses look too big.

If you want to get more in focus, then you use a smaller aperture (larger f number), but as you increase the f number you decrease the shutter speed and make it more likely that the picture will be blurred because of camera shake. The rule of thumb is a shutter speed of 1/focal length is needed e.g. for a 100mm focal length you need a shutter speed or 1/100 sec. If the shutter speed is too low, then increase the ISO. I usually don't go above ISO 800 as picture get too noisy. Generally f8 or f11 is the largest aperture you are likely to need.

[lightpainter]

Remember never be afraid to leave your camera set on ‘P’ when you put it away, as its always better to get ‘a’ shot rather than no shot at all!

[The Android]

Originally Posted by lightpainter

Remember never be afraid to leave your camera set on ‘P’ when you put it away, as its always better to get ‘a’ shot rather than no shot at all!

Very usefull piece of advice. It's also a good idea to set your W/B to auto and your ISO to something reasonable whenever you put you camera away. Nothing worse than missing a shot because you are fiddling with camera settings.

Once you get a bit more experienced then you might want to stop doing this. I still try to remember to at least sort the W/B and ISO before I put away but sometimes forget. You are only ever reminded when you miss a shot and think to yourself, "must remember to reset my camera before I put it away next time"

[senu]

Originally Posted by TarMoo

Very few people shoot in manual mode unless you are in a studio with studio flash.
.

I imagine the OP was infact referring more to anything other the Auto mode rather than Full Manual Mode in which all the settings are left to you

[noops]

Originally Posted by senu

I imagine the OP was infact referring more to anything other the Auto mode rather than Full Manual Mode in which all the settings are left to you

Personally I prefer manual mode over anything else - it gives me more scope for creativity and am now even going back to manual focusing too - I must be 'old skool'

[senu]

Originally Posted by noops

Personally I prefer manual mode over anything else - it gives me more scope for creativity and am now even going back to manual focusing too - I must be 'old skool'

Full manual does have a learning curve,though which can be reached gently
Excellent for posed and controlled subjects (eg a Studio as Tarmoo has stated). but for quick capture, you may have to rely on the camera for one or other of the settings ( most of which do reasonably well most times)

[Ned Senior]

Thanks all you are a great lake of advice
Will await the books to come and a dvd I ordered from amazon and then start to paddle my toes abit
I am certain you will all hear from me quite a few times more before I am portraiting Her Majesty

[senu]

Have a wee look at the website I linked ( in my first post ) before your purchases arrive. its just a click away. and free

[Ned Senior]

Originally Posted by senu

Have a wee look at the website I linked ( in my first post ) before your purchases arrive. its just a click away. and free

Was having trouble loading the page last night so seeing as I have an empty house later on today I will spend some time looking at it
Did eventually open last night but kept hanging when I clicked further and was in a hurry

Thanks BTW

Ned

[hilly10]

I always shoot in Aperture now but I am trying to start using full M mode its great fun learning

[Ned Senior]

calumet failed to get my D60 in when they promised to have one this wednesday and had sold the 2 they had had last week... The guy said he couldn't ensure the box would not be tatty either so I bought a D40 with 18-55 at amazon wednesday morning and it arrived at 07:15 today
the book mentioned in posts above got here yesterday too but I have been banned from playing with them until December 25th BAH PHOOEY!!!

[Sorj]

Originally Posted by Ned Senior

the book mentioned in posts above got here yesterday too but I have been banned from playing with them until December 25th BAH PHOOEY!!!

I 'd say throw the book out the window and learn by experiance!
I am sure the wealth of knowledge these guys have here will help you along the way.
i went from Sony P5 -> KonicaMinolta Z2 -> Canon 400D. There is no right or wrong way to do it but the best way is to go in to the deep end and go full manual. This is what i started to do and began to understand. Mind you i picked up a lot of ideas and skills as i went up in cameras.

GL .. i'll be tempted to whip out the camera now to play to all my delights..

[senu]

Originally Posted by Sorj

I 'd say throw the book out the window and learn by experiance!
I am sure the wealth of knowledge these guys have here will help you along the way.
...... There is no right or wrong way to do it but the best way is to go in to the deep end and go full manual. This is what i started to do and began to understand. Mind you i picked up a lot of ideas and skills as i went up in cameras.

I agree there is no substitute for taking the photos and constantly analysing them to see what works and what doesn't,
However a little knowledge about how DSLRs work and how they can be made to capture similarly or differently to how the eye sees will make the learning curve less steep, and relative competence happen sooner

It is possible to stay on Auto ( or Program) for ever if one feels a certain lack of guidance so it would be a bit of everything really, provided ones interest stays active and pockets deep

[Sorj]

Originally Posted by senu

and pockets deep

That is soo true.. i seem to have a hole in mines for some reason.. always seem to be penniless here!

[Ned Senior]

Originally Posted by Sorj

That is soo true.. i seem to have a hole in mines for some reason.. always seem to be penniless here!

I agree and official Nikon goodies need deeper pockets than most!!!!

I mentioned to Senu earlier about a lens... I have a tripod already and a monopod so I may try a non VR version first whilst I paddle and then if I stick with it will upgrade to better kit.. however The D40 and D60 bodies are perfect size wise for my rheumatoid grip