DSLR Learning Curve - FRUSTRATED!

[Ducky4Disney]

Ok, I just replied to someone elses post about P&S cameras and I am missing my Canon G2. We moved up to a Nikon D200 (thanks to DH) and I can't tell if I'm having buyers remorse or if I just need to spend more time with my camera.

I never took photography in school so i'm trying to learn about f-stops, aperature, metering, and depth of field on my own. I was pretty good at controling these features with my Canon and getting the shots I wanted. With the D200 I am not getting the shots I want and it's really frustrating!

DH wants a new lens but I can't see throwing $1400 towards a new lens - when the equipment isn't the problem. ARG! Ok, Ok - I need to spend some quality time with my D200. Fiddle with all the knobs, change all the settings, and see what works.

Any good reference books to help me understand metering, DOF, all that jazz?

D4D

 

[ukcatfan]

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003

This book is exactly what you need. Everything in it can be found on the net, but this puts it in a nice format and it is easy to follow from what I hear. I did it the hard way by reading different sites, message boards, etc.

Kevin

 

[Master Mason]

I second that book, fantastic and easy to understand.

The other thing is most DLSR's will require some amount of Post Processing to give you the results your used to in your P&S. P&S's tend to highly process your picture within the camera, giving you more pop to your colors etc, the DSLR will leave that to you.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I totally understand your frustration. I've taken thousands of pictures and am still amazed at how poorly many of my pics turn out. I have read and read, practiced and practiced (although not like I should) and still wish I were better than I am. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people that is never satisfied with anything I do. This makes for a problem.

But, I think I'm getting better. I just need to try more things and follow the examples in Understanding Digital Photography by Bryan Peterson (he also has Understanding Exposure, which overlaps this book in many ways, but both are good to have). This book contains excellent, easy-to-read info that may help you get better shots. It will surely help you learn what the terms/jargon mean.

Also, this board has some threads that really help. Someone recently posted an analogy of how an aperture/shutter system works. It was very simple, comparing it to the human eye and eyelid, and really brought it all together.

My main point is, don't let it get you down. It is hard for all of us (except Mark and Groucho) and we are all here to help if we can.

Another solution: Who says you can't have two cameras in life? My wife and I have five (we only use 3).

 

[AndrewWG]

Hopefully this doesn't go off topic too much, but how much post processing is necessary to get DSLR photos to look good? I am looking into the DSLR thing (as described in my previous thread) and am worried that my time will just be spent in front of photoshop all day processing the darned things. Can't the camera take a decent photo without this need?


Andy

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Unfortunately, I'm one of those people that is never satisfied with anything I do. This makes for a problem.

Hey, that sounds familiar...

It is hard for all of us (except Mark and Groucho)...

There are always a few that make the exception.

Another solution: Who says you can't have two cameras in life? My wife and I have five (we only use 3).

If only my G2 weren't failing I would have my back up P&S camera! I'm tempted to get it looked at but I'm afraid it's either not fixable or $$$$$ to fix it.

Do you know how much research I would have to do to decide on which P&S camera to get? The stress might kill me.

D4D

 

[DueyDooDah]

Hopefully this doesn't go off topic too much, but how much post processing is necessary to get DSLR photos to look good? I am looking into the DSLR thing (as described in my previous thread) and am worried that my time will just be spent in front of photoshop all day processing the darned things. Can't the camera take a decent photo without this need?

Actually, if you shoot using JPG vs. RAW, then you may need to do little to none, just as in any p&s. Maybe some cropping. I think MM was referring to shooting RAW images.

 

[jann1033]

when i switched from a film slr to a digtal slr i thought i was going to have a meltdown but 10,000 photos later it's getting easier & even though i still have a lot of clunkers i have a few that don't make me embarrassed to look at here and there as wellhopefully the ratio will keep getting better, it just takes some getting used to ...

and not to side with hubby but if you have a lens that is not very good quality it really adds to the frustration.( i had a cheapo non working even for sigma "special focus hunt" model when i first got my dslr and it really drove me crazy) now that i have some better lenses i am happier with some results so it's true you need to buy the best lens you can afford as well as you need to practice till the camera is like second nature.

 

[DueyDooDah]

Do you know how much research I would have to do to decide on which P&S camera to get? The stress might kill me.

D4D

Wow. Loaded question. But, if you look at the Canon S3 IS (it's been replaced recently with the S5 so the prices are dropping), I think you'll be very happy. Being a Canon, it will have familiar controls with many added benefits. I am recommending this because there are so many happy users of this camera on this board. My DW is about to be another, in June for her birthday. It's about $290 on Beach camera.

How's that for easy research?

 

[AndrewWG]

Do you know how much research I would have to do to decide on which P&S camera to get? The stress might kill me.

D4D

Thats easy, just get the Canon S3 IS. No research necessary.

Andy

 

[DueyDooDah]

Beat ya! But, not everything is a competition (my DW says).

 

[AndrewWG]

Actually, if you shoot using JPG vs. RAW, then you may need to do little to none, just as in any p&s. Maybe some cropping. I think MM was referring to shooting RAW images.

Yeah, I would probably shoot JPG vs RAW but I don't want to turn the camera into a p&s either. I thought RAW was one of the major advantages of a DSLR? Are the jpg's from a DSLR that much better than the p&s (S2 or S3 IS type) cameras? It seems to me (at least from reading this board for as long as I have now) that if you ahve a DSLR, you shoot RAW. No exceptions. Maybe I have this a bit misunderstood?

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

Beat ya! But, not everything is a competition (my DW says).

Wow, just about the same answer!

Just goes to show, there is really no need for research on that one I guess.

Andy

 

[DueyDooDah]

I thought RAW was one of the major advantages of a DSLR?

Yes, it is.

Are the jpg's from a DSLR that much better than the p&s (S2 or S3 IS type) cameras?

Should be, as I understand it, due to the larger imaging chip.

It seems to me (at least from reading this board for as long as I have now) that if you ahve a DSLR, you shoot RAW. No exceptions. Maybe I have this a bit misunderstood?

I don't think that anyone would say don't use JPG. Many people here shoot only RAW but I believe there is a time and place for RAW and a time and place for JPG. Bryan Peterson (author of the Understanding Exposure and Didital Photography books) points out that many times the camera processing can do as good, if not better, processing than many amatuer (and maybe some pro) photographers. IMHO, it would be wrong to say that dSLRs should not be used to shoot JPG images.

 

[ukcatfan]

Are the jpg's from a DSLR that much better than the p&s (S2 or S3 IS type) cameras?

Yes.

You still get the benefit of the camera using that much larger sensor, better optics, and better ISO performance. What you miss out on is the benefit of making a decent shot a spectacular shot. Can you still get a spectacular shot with just JPG? Yes. You will just have more throw away shots with JPG.

Kevin

 

[AKLforever]

Yeah, I would probably shoot JPG vs RAW but I don't want to turn the camera into a p&s either. I thought RAW was one of the major advantages of a DSLR? Are the jpg's from a DSLR that much better than the p&s (S2 or S3 IS type) cameras? It seems to me (at least from reading this board for as long as I have now) that if you ahve a DSLR, you shoot RAW. No exceptions. Maybe I have this a bit misunderstood?

Andy

I use the highest Jpeg setting and it kills every PnS I have ever used, and I have used 5 of them, all were the best of the best. Oh and a book to use that would help you out would be "Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies" u can get it off amazon for a good price too. I own that book, and not only does it tell you how to shoot , it explains why you are using the settings to shoot. Great book. Oh, and I will never go back to PnS. Now, I have some questions for you. 1, what does DH mean? I see a lot of people say things like DH or DD, what do those mean? And, what lens costs 1400? Man, you could get a nice used car for that, hehe. Im deing to know what the stats are on that lens.

 

[AndrewWG]

Yes.

You will just have more throw away shots with JPG.

Kevin

Shots that wouldn't be throw away with RAW, you mean? I guess I just don't understand that. Sorry for my confusion. I wish I had some RAW images to practice with before I make this jump...

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

I use the highest Jpeg setting and it kills every PnS I have ever used, and I have used 5 of them, all were the best of the best. Oh and a book to use that would help you out would be "Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies" u can get it off amazon for a good price too. I own that book, and not only does it tell you how to shoot , it explains why you are using the settings to shoot. Great book. Oh, and I will never go back to PnS. Now, I have some questions for you. 1, what does DH mean? I see a lot of people say things like DH or DD, what do those mean? And, what lens costs 1400? Man, you could get a nice used car for that, hehe. Im deing to know what the stats are on that lens.

DH is darling (dear?) husband
DD is darling (dear?) daughter
DW is darling (dear?) wife
etc, etc, etc....

Lens that cost $1400? Many from what I've seen. Check out some of the lenses on Amazon.com and you will be amazed at how much they can cost! $1400 is cheap for some of them...

Andy

 

[Master Mason]

I have been shooting with my dSLR for almost 2 years now. First I was only shooting Jpeg, then I went to RAW+jpeg, just this weekend, I finally gave up the Jpeg.

The difference is most dSLRs will give you a decent jpeg, but the camera goes for a very natural even look, and to me, they mostly look flat, where pics I see from straight out of a P&S have more pop. It has to do with the way the camera processes the pic. That isn't to say the jpegs straight from a dSLR are not, good, just that a lot of folks are disapointed with the results when moving from a P&S to a dSLR.

I can and did process 250 pics I took Monday in less than 15 minutes, including cropping them in Lightroom of the 250, I had 75 that I concidered good enough at this point, some were fine but they were essentially the same as others.

I think as you learn and grow, your opinion of what is a keeper changes as well.

 

[AKLforever]

DH is darling (dear?) husband
DD is darling (dear?) daughter
DW is darling (dear?) wife
etc, etc, etc....

Lens that cost $1400? Many from what I've seen. Check out some of the lenses on Amazon.com and you will be amazed at how much they can cost! $1400 is cheap for some of them...

Andy

No way, I can get lenses for my DSLR for 100 to 300 for some really great lenses. I have the pentax k100d. Love it. For real, I dont think you need to spend that much for a lens really, esp since you are still figuring it out. Im in the same stage you are. I took the camera and ran around the house and took shot after shot, at night, in the day. Then, I took shots out side, night and day as well. When I take a group of shots, I write down the settings I used for that group and what type of light I took them in and disntance as well. And catalog the shots. They are mostly throw away shots, all for learning, but I have learned so much, its insane, from here and from doing that.