My first DSLR, now what?? HELP!!

[AlexandAndysMom]

OK, my darling husband bought me the Canon T2i for my birthday and now I'm stuck. I've been playing around, but haven't really moved out of auto mode. The whole point was to get some great shots beyond what a regular point and shoot can do, you know?

How would you recommend me getting away from the auto-setting? Any help would be great!!

 

[NLD]

This book: Understanding Exposure

It will explain the exposure "triangle"--how ISO, aperture, and shutter speed relate to make an exposure.

 

[littlekidagain]

I second that book!

 

[handicap18]

Another vote for Understanding Exposure. You need to know what impact each setting on each other in relation to capturing light. Knowledge is power. Now get out there an learn yourself some stuff. Oh, and have fun doing it.

Its not going to happen overnight. It will take some time. Take it slow and learn something new, then practice it for a while till your comfortable, then move on to something else. Using AUTO isn't a bad thing. Just don't be afraid of the other settings. Your not going to break anything. Find yourself some test subjects and use that to practice on. Your test subject can be anything,,,, person, place or thing (kind of like a noun.... )

 

[OKW Lover]

To my mind the most important thing you can learn when moving off of auto is how to control depth of field. Understanding the relationship between f-stop and depth of field will allow you to take pictures where your point of interest stands out perfectly from a messy background.

Find yourself a stone wall or fence line, with something of interest (perhaps a bird) on it part way down. Now go to one end and, shooting along the fence, take a picture on auto. Then put it on aperture priority and shot pictures with a small f-stop and again with a large f-stop, plus some in between. Go home and download them onto your computer and take a close look at the results.

Oh, and shoot lots of pictures just to get familiar with your camera!

 

[AlexandAndysMom]

Thanks everyone!

I do love the camera, even in auto it takes better shots than my point and shoot did! I just want to be able to do...more!

I figure once it warms up outside I'll really be able to get out and play with it (that and I'll be complete with my Master's degree and won't have to worry about homework anymore...lol).

I really can't wait to see what I can do at WDW with everything there is to see! (And I will know more than just auto when I get there!!)

 

[boBQuincy]

A good first step away from Auto is Program mode. This is similar to Auto but with a lot more options. One is the Program Shift, by rotating the dial the camera changes the aperture and shutter speed together, keeping the same exposure. This is an easy way to select a certain aperture or shutter speed while not worrying about the exposure (and is the way I take about 90% of my photos).

Program mode also disables the auto flash popup!

 

[2Tiggies]

I am getting that book for my birthday. I just need to let everyone know so that they know to buy it for me

 

[OKW Lover]

Just wanted to add another thing to play with on your new digital SLR - wide angle. Do a lot of experimenting with your wide angle lens so that you can emphasize nearby objects while making objects further away look smaller. Lots of opportunity there to learn about composition.

 

[All American]

Thanks everyone!

I do love the camera, even in auto it takes better shots than my point and shoot did! I just want to be able to do...more!

I figure once it warms up outside I'll really be able to get out and play with it (that and I'll be complete with my Master's degree and won't have to worry about homework anymore...lol).

I really can't wait to see what I can do at WDW with everything there is to see! (And I will know more than just auto when I get there!!)

Doesn't it! My husband gave me this camera for our anniversary on Saturday, and I am absolutely giddy with how much better my pictures look already. Heaven knows that I have tried with my other camera but they never came out just right. There's hope for me yet.

Eventually, I'll venture beyond "Auto" but for now, I'll just enjoy my camera the way it is. And to all of the people who really know how to use your cameras, .

 

[AlexandAndysMom]

Doesn't it! My husband gave me this camera for our anniversary on Saturday, and I am absolutely giddy with how much better my pictures look already. Heaven knows that I have tried with my other camera but they never came out just right. There's hope for me yet.

Eventually, I'll venture beyond "Auto" but for now, I'll just enjoy my camera the way it is. And to all of the people who really know how to use your cameras, .

I played with it alot this weekend, and I tell you what, I'm giddy everytime I find something new about it!

I loved my old p&s, but it's been through it and stopped taking the clear picutes that I loved. This is a huge step up, but I love it, love it, love it!

And I 2nd the for everyone who knows all about them and how to use them to their full potential!