New Camera question

[soccerdad4]

Hello all!!

I recently purchased a Canon A630 camera to replace our Canon Owl point and shoot.

I picked this camera for a couple of reasons:

1) Full auto
2) Manual mode
3) high pixel (8.0) for price, paid less then $200.
4) really cool swivel screen.. Ok.. not really a must have, but it is pretty cool!!

Now, I am use to a full manual Pentax K1000 camera, and will still use it. But, I would like to figure out how to use the manual functions on the new camera. Any suggestions of where to find some good info? The manual(s) is really not much help.

I would share a couple of my first pictures, but it seems I have not posted enough..

Yes, I am more of a lurker than a poster.

thanks for any advice!!

michael

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You may find this thread helpful, it's about the Canon S3 IS. Many of the features may be similar to the ones on your camera. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546&referrerid=70088

Buried deep in the thread there is information on Short Course books and websites which you can print information about your particular camera's features. I did that on several sites and then had them bound into a manual for $3.

Good luck!

 

[soccerdad4]

Thanks for the link..

Its going to take some time to go through that thread, but if the info is there, I will find it.

Thanks you!!

Michael

 

[Pea-n-Me]

See posts #118 and 120 for links.

 

[soccerdad4]

Thanks for the info...

I have also picked up a "Digital Photography for Dummies" book at the local library.

So.. I have a lot of reading to do over the next few days. I am taking the camera to WDW, and would like to try some Manual stuff.

Michael

 

[Groucho]

Now, I am use to a full manual Pentax K1000 camera, and will still use it. But, I would like to figure out how to use the manual functions on the new camera. Any suggestions of where to find some good info? The manual(s) is really not much help.

I think that generally, full manual on a PnS is still usually a little on the tricky side, since you don't have the dials and such of an SLR, so it's not as easy to change settings on the fly. But the basics should be identical to your K1000 - you're still adjusting the aperture and shutter speed. Chances are that you're more likely to use aperture priority and/or shutter priority on your digital camera though, which the K1000 doesn't have. Aperture priority lets you choose an aperture and it will adjust shutter speed to maintain proper exposure, and shutter priority lets you adjust shutter speed and it'll adjust aperture to maintain proper exposure. Full manual mode is most like your K1000, but I don't think that your digital camera will give you a meter reading (digital equivalent of the needle on the right side of the viewfinder on the K1000) to help you go by, so you're on your own to figure out the proper settings. (I think someone mentioned that their Canon DSLR doesn't, so I doubt their point-n-shoot does!)

Incidentally, if you decide to go the DSLR route in the future, you can use all your K1000 lenses on any of the Pentax DSLRs (which are shockingly affordable, too.) I too still use my K1000 on occasion, including my last WDW trip, but I use my DSLR a lot more.

 

[soccerdad4]

Thanks Groucho..

I love my K1000, I have had it for about 25 years or so, and it has never failed me..

I am going to continue to use it, but I am real excited about figuring out how to use the manual mode on the digital. I think it is going to take a while, but I will eventually figure it out.. But for our trip to WDW next week, I will probably just use the full auto.

Michael

 

[soccerdad4]

It looks like I can finally post some pictures. Here are a few of my very first pictures.. Please be kind...

Bird on feeder behind house:

I have no idea what kind of bird this is, and yes, I realize it is not very close, so it may be hard to tell what kind it is. It was over 100yrds away, and I used the cameras optical zoom to bring it in closer. It is a frequent vistor to the pond, but will not let anyting or anyone get very close. Usually takes off if you get within 25 yards of it.

The next is of a barn just up the street from our house. I am glad I got this picture, since they are tearing down the barn this weekend.

Last but not least, some storm clouds..

As I said before.. these are my first with a digital camera.

These were done with Full Auto.. I have not figured out how to use the full manual yet..

Michael