Photography tips for a complete newbie please!
Discussion
Good evening Pictureheads, yesterday I purchased myself my first 'decent' camera in the form of a Fujifilm Finepix S1700.
I come the tonight in the hope that someone here is able to share some useful tips on how to get the best out of my new toy. I have very very little understanding of how to use the aperture/shutter speed settings but I am keen to learn and would much rather be using the Manual setting once in a while than relying on the scene-recognition auto exposure stuff!
Any input is much appreciate, thanks in advanced, Nick.
I come the tonight in the hope that someone here is able to share some useful tips on how to get the best out of my new toy. I have very very little understanding of how to use the aperture/shutter speed settings but I am keen to learn and would much rather be using the Manual setting once in a while than relying on the scene-recognition auto exposure stuff!
Any input is much appreciate, thanks in advanced, Nick.
Wow, that's like asking for a quick tutorial on quantum mechanics!
I've been into photography for about 5 years, and reckon that I have about 3% of the total knowledge!
It's great that you've picked up a camera and are keen to learn, though. Firstly, take lots of pics even if you don't know what you are doing.
May I recommend Michael Langford's 'Basic Photograpy'
Don't neglect your camera's instruction manual - the camera is a tool that you need to take control of if you are to get the image you want.
I've been into photography for about 5 years, and reckon that I have about 3% of the total knowledge!
It's great that you've picked up a camera and are keen to learn, though. Firstly, take lots of pics even if you don't know what you are doing.
May I recommend Michael Langford's 'Basic Photograpy'
Don't neglect your camera's instruction manual - the camera is a tool that you need to take control of if you are to get the image you want.
When I started 'proper' I put the camera in aperture priority mode 95% of the time and read this book:
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
After that it is practice practice practice. This forum is great but you are better off with specific questions rather than general 'how do I do photography' type questions
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
After that it is practice practice practice. This forum is great but you are better off with specific questions rather than general 'how do I do photography' type questions
wendyg said:
Wow, that's like asking for a quick tutorial on quantum mechanics!
I am quickly begining to realise how true this is!Reading over my OP again I understand that I was probably being far too vague, I'm reading through this at the moment and this is the first thing puzzling me;
Website said:
Grab your kid or a friend to use as your subject and go to a shady part of your yard or a neighborhood park, or if it’s an overcast day, anywhere in the yard or park will do. Regardless of your camera, and regardless of what lens you’re using, set your camera dial to M Mode and the lens opening to the number 5.6 (f/5.6).
Now I have my camera in front of me, the dial is set to 'M' and I cannpt for the life of my work out how to get this 5.6 number!The only two numbers it appears to cycle through are F3.1 and F5.6. I have noticed however, that these numbers change when I zoom in, am I missing something here or is that the basic concept?
I suppose my question here is this; Does the number after the F change depending on the zoom, and what does it represent?
ih8thisname said:
Now I have my camera in front of me, the dial is set to 'M' and I cannpt for the life of my work out how to get this 5.6 number!
The only two numbers it appears to cycle through are F3.1 and F5.6. I have noticed however, that these numbers change when I zoom in, am I missing something here or is that the basic concept?
I suppose my question here is this; Does the number after the F change depending on the zoom, and what does it represent?
The fuji manuals used to be very good at explaining the basics, though they are probably not the large printed tome they used to be...The only two numbers it appears to cycle through are F3.1 and F5.6. I have noticed however, that these numbers change when I zoom in, am I missing something here or is that the basic concept?
I suppose my question here is this; Does the number after the F change depending on the zoom, and what does it represent?
The f-stop on a point+shoot like yours usually does not have a large number of possible settings, often just 2. Yes it does change through the zoom range, typically, though more expensive SLR lenses have a constant f number. the 'f' represents the size of the hole inside the lens for the light to go through, bigger the number, smaller the hole, sharper the pictures and deeper the depth of field.
Read stuff, take pictures, come back if you still don't understand, a camera is a basic 4 variable system, if you can drive and change radio stations at the same time, you can work a camera.
My very simple tip is to set the camera to auto, and let it get you set up on what it thinks you "should" be doing. You can then start tweaking settings one by one to see what they do.
I bought a lensbaby muse lens a while back, and didn't use it for ages. I then learnt about as much in half an hour of using it as I have in all the time I've had the camera!
They're pretty cheap, but good for teaching you "proper" technique.
Expect lots of terrible pictures whilst you learn though.
I bought a lensbaby muse lens a while back, and didn't use it for ages. I then learnt about as much in half an hour of using it as I have in all the time I've had the camera!
They're pretty cheap, but good for teaching you "proper" technique.
Expect lots of terrible pictures whilst you learn though.
Had a mess about with a few settings this afternoon and of the many many snaps taken here are the only two I feel comfortable about posting!
I am fully aware that they are nowhere near the standard of some of the stuff posted on these boards, which is why any constructive critisism is both appreciated and encouraged. :-)
I am fully aware that they are nowhere near the standard of some of the stuff posted on these boards, which is why any constructive critisism is both appreciated and encouraged. :-)
Simpo Two said:
You ain't gonna like this, but...
...I think that before long your Fujifilm Finepix S1700 will be holding you back. I bet in under six months you'll have a DSLR.
As much as I hate to say it, I agree....I think that before long your Fujifilm Finepix S1700 will be holding you back. I bet in under six months you'll have a DSLR.
In november I bought an Olympus Pen, I sold it last month and I now use a 1D (not a new one!)
The flexibility it offers over the Olympus, and overall quality are obvious........now.
nellyleelephant said:
Simpo Two said:
You ain't gonna like this, but...
...I think that before long your Fujifilm Finepix S1700 will be holding you back. I bet in under six months you'll have a DSLR.
As much as I hate to say it, I agree....I think that before long your Fujifilm Finepix S1700 will be holding you back. I bet in under six months you'll have a DSLR.
In november I bought an Olympus Pen, I sold it last month and I now use a 1D (not a new one!)
The flexibility it offers over the Olympus, and overall quality are obvious........now.
I'm quite happy with the little Fujifilm for the time being, but once my photographs begin to justify a more expensive model I will definitely be looking into it!!
ih8thisname said:
I reckon you're both correct, all night I have been wandering around the house looking for stuff to take some close up photos of!
I'm quite happy with the little Fujifilm for the time being, but once my photographs begin to justify a more expensive model I will definitely be looking into it!!
Teehee - he lasted less than a day I'm quite happy with the little Fujifilm for the time being, but once my photographs begin to justify a more expensive model I will definitely be looking into it!!
Simpo Two said:
ih8thisname said:
I reckon you're both correct, all night I have been wandering around the house looking for stuff to take some close up photos of!
I'm quite happy with the little Fujifilm for the time being, but once my photographs begin to justify a more expensive model I will definitely be looking into it!!
Teehee - he lasted less than a day I'm quite happy with the little Fujifilm for the time being, but once my photographs begin to justify a more expensive model I will definitely be looking into it!!
Look Simpo this has gone wrong again. When i made the comment about teasing newbies i thought that you might have noticed that i tried to make some helpful comments on this thread earlier. My comment to you was a jokey reference to our earlier problems that i thought you might have recognised, but if you have not read the thread then I understand your reaction
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