Help for a Newbie...who really wants to learn!

[Tinks1984]

Hi all,

I've been searching about this board for a few days now, and there are some amazing pictures!

My Mum and Dad have recently bought me a new digital camera and have given this gift to me early so I can get used to using it before my trip to WDW next year.

I have the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200, 12.1 Mega Pixels and I'll be totally honest and say I'm a total beginner with a camera! I've had a good look through all the items, but I'm sure there's plenty I can learn! If there's anywhere anyone can point me to so that I can get some 'beginner tips' this would be great. Or if anyone could give me a few pointers to start with, then I can give some pics a go either in my garden or of my animals!

TIA..

 

[jenseib]

I would suggest going to the library and getting a book about digital cameras. I have on had one sony, and I didn't like it at all and took it back. S oI am not familiar with your camera. My favorite is Canon, and I would say the other top cameras are Nikons.
If you can't find anything at the library check out amazon. But reading the manual and then a book and playing with your camera as you read along really helps. I didn't read my manual for months after I got my canon point and shoot, and was amazed all it can do once I did. Then I got a book and really started palying, which led me to get an SLR as well, and I am no starting to learn how to do stuff with it as well. It is really fun to see stuff you can do and never knew you could.
I also bought paint shop pro 9. I can edit pictures and make them even more amazing (I just bought a book on that as well) Alot use photoshop, but paint shop is cheaper and does almost as much.

 

[jann1033]

imo the best place to start is pick up the manual and the camera and familiarize yourself with the camera. as a total newbie, use it in auto just to get use to where all the buttons are, etc. if possible, take note of shutter speed, aperture etc for the auto type shots.if not just get the feel of it. then after you get the feel of it, go to p if you have it, that sets the shutter and aperture but lets you change it as well. see what the camera is setting for you to help you see how it's different. play around with it, you can always erase it.
if sony has any tutorials for your camera on line check them out.
canon has some good basic info here that applies to any camera
( left side)
http://www.usa.canon.com/content/rebelxt_tutorial/rebelxtlessons.htm
once you have a little better of comfortable feel and want to venture out of auto, understanding exposureis a good book that is easy to under stand( bryan peterson) luminous landscape is a great site but a little more advanced

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

If there's anywhere anyone can point me to so that I can get some 'beginner tips' this would be great. Or if anyone could give me a few pointers to start with, then I can give some pics a go either in my garden or of my animals!

Your Sony has should have similar settings and capabilities as the popular Canon S3 (I can see from on-line sources that it's got at least manual aperture and shutter speed).

You might want to look at the S3 pics thread; there's a lot of advice for new users that would benefit anyone with a camera that's got manual settings. The actual steps of how to set them will probably be different, but understanding how to set the settings for good exposures is universal.

There's also a great site www.goingmanual.com which explains what the manual settings on cameras are for, how they work and how to make the best out of them.

Good luck with your new camera!

 

[tinksdad]

It's great that you want to learn!! Digital is a lot of fun and you don't spend money to develop your mistakes......


Obviously, you're on the internet. There is a plethora of information that can be found and learned for nothing. Start with google and search away.

 

[mikamah]

I have a Sony Cybershot 5mp, and have loved it. It takes great pictures and I found it easy to use. I would suggest the manual, and try to become familiar with the different modes of the camera- the auto flash, fill- flash, night modes etc. Also just get out and start shooting. The great thing about digital, is you can delete anything you don't like. Enjoy.

 

[Tinks1984]

Thanks guys and girls, I'm taking a trip to the library in the week to see if I can find anything to help me learn and I've been out and about snapping things using the different settings to see what pictures come out like. I've learnt so far that I need to steady my hand a lot more Which will be a good start...

It's interesting me lots, I just need some nice places to visit to get some interesting pictures

 

[Caitsmama]

Welcome to the Sony family!! I am on my second Sony - A Cybershot H5. I got it last november, and i am still learning.. I haven't touched the manual settings.. (embarrasingly admitting!!!!) But, that is on my list of "to-dos" , especially after you hang out here and admire the wonderful shots.

Plus i feel if i am EVER going to be able to get a DSLR, I need to at least master a P&S first!! LOL