DSLR - Where to start?

[DawnM]

I am a newbie to DSLR myself. I got the camera last year, but honestly, I have had it on the green square setting until recently! The camera intimidated the heck out of me.

Now I am realizing that I CAN learn this! All those graphic arts/yearbook classes from high school still are lurking somewhere in the back of my mind and I just need to remember all of that stuff.....

The most intimidating part to me is the DIGITAL/computer end. I am learning that too.....I just got determined this past month to learn this camera and the computer end. I will ask all the stupid questions in the world if I have to!

Now, as to choosing a DSLR....that is really a personal decision. I went to dpreview.com and read and read reviews on various cameras. We had had mostly Sony cameras as P&S and back when I had a film SLR camera I had Olympus. I read so much about Nikon and Canon that I was impressed.

I finally had my choices narrowed down to a Nikon or Canon. I let DH be the deciding factor. He picked up the Nikon and the Canon and was sold on the frame of the Canon 40D.

This past week I ordered a couple of things to help me on my journey of learning this camera.

I got the DVD lessons (yeah, the DVDs were poorly rated but they are helping!) I also got a Canon EOS for Dummies. When I finish those two I will look into something more advanced. I am also spending quite a bit of time with the owner's manual and then going out in my backyard and playing with the settings and taking pictures.

Dawn

PS: In retrospect, I am realizing that a less expensive Rebel would have suited my needs just fine, but I really prefer to spend a little more and get what I really want rather than get the cheaper one and then end up buying the more expensive one later anyway. I just had no way to know that starting out.

 

[DawnM]

Thank you!

I learn SO MUCH from you guys!

I am off to enjoy some reading.

Dawn

I've chronicled my experiences here. It'll give you an idea of what's involved, but don't let it scare you away. Learning doesn't happen overnight. I kind of feel like, around here, we're all in it together in a way. All kinds of backgrounds and experiences here.

I've discovered that there are three "parts" involved in learning to use a dSLR if you have no previous SLR experience. First, it's learning the science of photography part. Second, the learning to use your particular camera part. And third, learning to use some software for picture editing, storage, etc. When you have to learn all three at once, it feels a little daunting. But you learn a little bit at a time and your pictures get better and better as you go. The alternative is to keep on the same road you're on now, but you're likely then to not see much of an improvement in your pictures long term. As I said before, the effort is worth it once you figure out what you're doing.

Good luck!

 

[jann1033]

i didn't see it mentioned but the understanding series, essays, techniques and tutorials on luminous landscape http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/deal with pretty much every thing you need imo. could spend all day there....
personally i'm kind of "ech" about the understanding books( sacrilege to say on here i know) . not that there isn't any useful info, just you pay a lot for a few tidbits and lots of photos on what he did, espec in the shutter speed and later ones. i'd rather spend my money on specialized info i can't get online so readily ie adorama has most of the same info in their 100 tips in 100 days series lots contributed by the same writer but with out the price tag
if you are starting from scratch make sure you look at the price points and accessories for the whole system if you have more than one that you like. i had canon so stayed with it but not sure i would have otherwise. ( although i don't like the feel of nikon, too big or something, and all the others had something i like canon better for so maybe i would have even with their bad point ie repair, which i seem to use constantly. (unbelievably the focus was messed up on my 40d so back it went. i should start keeping track and enter the ripleys most repairs by canon category) )

 

[roselark]

So, DH went with me shopping this weekend and one of the things I did was look at cameras. After reading tons of reviews and forums, I had pretty much narrowed down my options to the Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D40 and the Nikon D60. The Canon was in the lead and holding them and playing with the menus decided me.

So, I told my husband that I just wanted to think about it some more and we went home.

Well, this morning, he tells me that I was being too indecisive (not unusual for me), that I have been wanting a DSLR for years now, and so he decided to break the stalemate. He ordered one for me last night!! My new Canon Rebel XSi will be in tomorrow!!! I am excited and scared all at the same time. He just got me the kit, and extra battery, and a book on the Rebel XSi; I will play with the basics for a while and then start looking at other lenses and filters. We are going on vacation Wednesday, so I will have a 7hr road trip to read the book and learn the menu and settings. I then have a few days in downtown Indianapolis to start practicing.

Thanks for the help everyone! All the advice has been great and really helped me sorta make this decision (since in the end it was made for me by DH ).

 

[Frantasmic]

It's nice to have a spouse for once that makes you take the dslr plunge. Too bad a few extra lenses weren't on your list too. LOL

Congrats.

 

[bob100]

So, DH went with me shopping this weekend and one of the things I did was look at cameras. After reading tons of reviews and forums, I had pretty much narrowed down my options to the Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D40 and the Nikon D60. The Canon was in the lead and holding them and playing with the menus decided me.

So, I told my husband that I just wanted to think about it some more and we went home.

Well, this morning, he tells me that I was being too indecisive (not unusual for me), that I have been wanting a DSLR for years now, and so he decided to break the stalemate. He ordered one for me last night!! My new Canon Rebel XSi will be in tomorrow!!! I am excited and scared all at the same time. He just got me the kit, and extra battery, and a book on the Rebel XSi; I will play with the basics for a while and then start looking at other lenses and filters. We are going on vacation Wednesday, so I will have a 7hr road trip to read the book and learn the menu and settings. I then have a few days in downtown Indianapolis to start practicing.

Thanks for the help everyone! All the advice has been great and really helped me sorta make this decision (since in the end it was made for me by DH ).

cool! you will like the camera but it will take more than a few days to learn (don't get too frustrated ) one problem will be apparent, yes - you're going to want more lenses!

 

[DawnM]

That is similar to what happened here. I am not all the decisive myself.

Dawn

So, DH went with me shopping this weekend and one of the things I did was look at cameras. After reading tons of reviews and forums, I had pretty much narrowed down my options to the Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D40 and the Nikon D60. The Canon was in the lead and holding them and playing with the menus decided me.

So, I told my husband that I just wanted to think about it some more and we went home.

Well, this morning, he tells me that I was being too indecisive (not unusual for me), that I have been wanting a DSLR for years now, and so he decided to break the stalemate. He ordered one for me last night!! My new Canon Rebel XSi will be in tomorrow!!! I am excited and scared all at the same time. He just got me the kit, and extra battery, and a book on the Rebel XSi; I will play with the basics for a while and then start looking at other lenses and filters. We are going on vacation Wednesday, so I will have a 7hr road trip to read the book and learn the menu and settings. I then have a few days in downtown Indianapolis to start practicing.

Thanks for the help everyone! All the advice has been great and really helped me sorta make this decision (since in the end it was made for me by DH ).

 

[dmccarty]

Since you bought the camera I am a little late.

Aperture, ISO, shutter speed, are fundamentals you can pick up in any photography book whether it was published this year or 30 years ago. Course ISO now was film speed 30 years ago. You can also pick up these fundamentals on the web and I would second using the www.luminous-landscape.com but also add http://www.photo.net as places to get photography information.

The advice I am late on was to find a good photography store if there is one still open in your area. Many of them have gone away in my locale. But if you do have such a store check out there used DSLR's. You can find good equipment for less money. You can try out photography at this level with less investment and if you find you don't want to use the DSLR anymore you can sell it. Or if you find out you like DSLR's you can sell it and buy up.

The other piece of advice was don't buy a consumer lens. Buy a lens that is at least a F2.8. Since you are trying this out that means buying a 50mm/F1.8 lens. They are cheap, fast, and have good quality. If you stay with DSLR's you are likely to move up to a new camera over time. The 50mm/F1.8 will still be usable for you. You are likely to want a better lens if you get one of the kit lenses.

I am still using lenses I bought in the 90s to use on N70 and F100 film cameras. Those lenses have worked just find on a D200 and now the D700. Cameras come and go but lenses have a much longer usable life time. Some of the lenses have been updated but not enough to cause me to sell my old lenses to buy new.

Spend less on the camera and more on the lens.

Later,
Dan

 

[KarenAylwood]

So, DH went with me shopping this weekend and one of the things I did was look at cameras. After reading tons of reviews and forums, I had pretty much narrowed down my options to the Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D40 and the Nikon D60. The Canon was in the lead and holding them and playing with the menus decided me.

So, I told my husband that I just wanted to think about it some more and we went home.

Well, this morning, he tells me that I was being too indecisive (not unusual for me), that I have been wanting a DSLR for years now, and so he decided to break the stalemate. He ordered one for me last night!! My new Canon Rebel XSi will be in tomorrow!!! I am excited and scared all at the same time. He just got me the kit, and extra battery, and a book on the Rebel XSi; I will play with the basics for a while and then start looking at other lenses and filters. We are going on vacation Wednesday, so I will have a 7hr road trip to read the book and learn the menu and settings. I then have a few days in downtown Indianapolis to start practicing.

Thanks for the help everyone! All the advice has been great and really helped me sorta make this decision (since in the end it was made for me by DH ).

Wahoo!! You made the right choice!!!

jk. That's great that you have one coming soon. I also have a Canon XSi and picked it based on feel alone. I know I would have been happy with the Nikon brand as well, but at the time I was looking (~ 1 year ago) the XSi was the best fit for me.

Another piece of advice... don't go on a spending/buying spree with lenses and accessories until you have a clear idea of what you want! My friend jumped out and got the 70-300 because he needed a telephoto- but he realized he hates changing lenses and is really jealous of my 18-200mm. I bought a cheap run of the mill filter and realized it does nothing for me and that you actually have to invest in good glass. I was going to go out and get the 50mm f/1.8 but after trying it out and doing lots of research, decided to go with the 30mm f/1.4 (when my 70-300 friend had already jumped out and got his 50mm f/1.8 and now wants my 30mm!! )

It's so tempting to just go out and start buying what you think you need. Spend some time with the camera, some time on this board, and LOTS of time looking at reviews on lenses, bags, filters, whatever you're looking to get. Take some time with your camera and your manual and get to know that first.

 

[coloneldebugger]

If I can throw a suggestion out there, get a nice camera that you can work with all the settings before going DSLR. That way you'll find out if you really do want to learn and deal with all that stuff before taking that big leap. If you do find this is the right path for you, then you can ebay that camera and use the money for the next one.

I'd suggest something like the Nikon P90 or P6000.

This is sort of along the lines of why I still haven't gone DSLR. To me going DSLR would mean really, really, making photography my hobby. I bought a nice pro-sumer camera several years ago that can do a lot of the manual adjustments available on a DSLR, but in a smaller more convenient package. Sure the zoom is only 7X and the longest shutter speed is 15 seconds, but for what I normally do with a camera this stuff covers about 99% of my pictures. If/when this things kicks the bucket I'll look at the DSLRs then, but I still haven't been convinced of the need.