First 'proper' camera, any words of wisdom for a newbie?

[Silverbullet767]

Hello PH, just purchased my first proper camera, I've had a interest in photography for years now, taking a few snaps as best I could with the camera I had. But I always fancied an upgrade.

I have been debating for what seems like years now on whether to take the plunge, I finally did.

An upcoming holiday has swayed my decision. So out with my old Fuji FinePix F30, and in goes the Canon EOS 550D with 18-55mm IS Lens, just awaiting delivery.

I have also ordered 4 X Verbatim 16GB SDHC Class 10 cards for £34.20 (mymemory using a 25% discount code SPRING25 if you are interested)

Buying the camera now lets me get used to it, and will allow me to take better holiday snaps (that's how I sold the idea to the OH anyway!)

Does anyone have any helpful tips to help me get the best out of my new toy?

[LeighW]

Silverbullet767 said:

Does anyone have any helpful tips to help me get the best out of my new toy?

This is a very good book for getting started IMO.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-3rd...

[chrisj_abz]

just go out and take loads of pics really, get yourself comfortable with all the controls first, then start changing the settings one at a time and see what difference it makes to the picture. its by far the best way to learn and if you are stuck, theres always someone on here to offer advice!

some of the magazines can be useful to explain how the functions work, but you find after a while they tend to recycle the same tasks.

[MikeGTi]

Sell it now, as fast as you can.

Otherwise you will spend the rest of your life buying bigger better and faster lenses and bodies, eventually you will die, bankrupt and alone.

Understanding Exposure and The Photographer's Eye are great books though

HTH.

[Simpo Two]

1) Read the manual and find out what all the buttons and menus do. You won't need all if them but at least you'll know what you're missing and finding stuff you do need.

2) Understand composition, focus, shutter speed, aperture (and how it affects shutter speed and depth of field) and to a lesser extent, ISO. Get them all right and you should do well

[Torquemada]

Sign up for this:

www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/t189.ht...

I found it very helpful.

[K12beano]

Torquemada said:

Sign up for this:

www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/t189.ht...

I found it very helpful.

+1 good "all-rounder" familiarisation - I did this in 2008 (and an O-level in 1979!)

[tenohfive]

Torquemada said:

Sign up for this:

www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/t189.ht...

I found it very helpful.

£205! Think I'd rather spend a bit more time learning and put the money towards the Canon 10-22mm UWA I'm lusting after.

[Silverbullet767]

Thanks for the comments, not sure if I want to do the course just yet (still recovering from the cost of the camera!)

I have downloaded a book called 'Canon DSLR - The ultimate photographers guide'

Seems to be quite in-depth for a newbie like me.

I'l report back once I have my camera, no doubt I'll have 1,000,000 questions once I get going!

[RJB_666]

I'm still starting out but i've found three things that have helped already. One is having a mate who knows what he's doing and going out with the camera. The second everyone in this forum are very helpful. Also books that i have found to help are the ones from Scott Kelby.

[Silverbullet767]

Well, I've read most of that guide, and I have to say, I knew nothing about photography, and I still know nothing!

I did take a few chunks of information, so it wasn't a complete waste of time, but alot of the information went over my head, no doubt once I actually start snapping away I will have a better understanding.

[Gad-Westy]

LeighW said:

Silverbullet767 said:

Does anyone have any helpful tips to help me get the best out of my new toy?

This is a very good book for getting started IMO.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-3rd...

This is the book that changed me from a bumbling idiot into an award winning photography superstar. Ok that last bit is a lie but seriously this book was a godsend for me in terms of learning the absolute fundamentals of exposure.

[Silverbullet767]

Gad-Westy said:

LeighW said:

Silverbullet767 said:

Does anyone have any helpful tips to help me get the best out of my new toy?

This is a very good book for getting started IMO.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-3rd...

This is the book that changed me from a bumbling idiot into an award winning photography superstar. Ok that last bit is a lie but seriously this book was a godsend for me in terms of learning the absolute fundamentals of exposure.

Noted, have downloaded this for reading later.

[GetCarter]

Best tips - get out early or late in the day (best light), and ignore everything they say about having the sun behind you.

[LeighW]

tenohfive said:

Torquemada said:

Sign up for this:

www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/t189.ht...

I found it very helpful.

£205! Think I'd rather spend a bit more time learning and put the money towards the Canon 10-22mm UWA I'm lusting after.

Get the Sigma 10-20mm instead, and you'll have the money for the course...

[DIW35]

Basically get out there and take photos to get used to the camera and it's controls. Once you become familiar with how the camera works, try and learn about the exposure triangle - shutter speed/aperture/ISO, how they interact and the effect that each has on your image. Should give you a good grounding.

[Seight_Returns]

Buy the "Magic Lantern" guide for your camera. Same informtion that's in the manual and to the same level of detail, but in a much more readable format.

[Rogue86]

I'd save your money from the courses and books and just get comfortable using google. So many photographers these days give away the basics and more in an effort to get noticed.

[Silverbullet767]

Thanks for the tip guys, received my camera on Friday, and I've been snapping away ever since.

Took some fantastic shots, but I havent moved away much from the 'presets' macro, sports, portrait etc... I did dabble in Tv for a motion shot, but I wasn't very steady, so it didn't turn out how I would've thought. so a gorillapod will be my next purchase I think. I'll post a couple of images when I get a chance.

[JDRoest]

I found a local $29 2 hour course a couple of years ago. Subject was Composition.

Forget the mechanics of the camera (it does that automatically for the most part), and work on composition. A human telling you about these things really is worth it, especially when you can ask questions, and talk about what you are seeing with someone at the time. And why waste hours reading up on this stuff when there are courses out there?

My photography went further with that evening course than anything else I've ever done.