Thanks guys! I got it, now I need you again!!!

[Coach81]

So I took the plunge, (thanks to all the vets and everyone else who helped me on my research), I just bought a brand new Nikon D5000 DSLR camera!

So now.. I'm looking for some newbie advice, if you could have done it over.. what would you have done differently when you first got your DSLR?

Any and all newbie advice is apprecaited!!!!

 

[AbbysFamily]

Shoot, shoot and shoot some more.

I saw that you're looking at books, but the cool thing is with DSLR is the lower cost to play... My first SLR was a 35mm, but I still learned a TON by blowing money on film

Try out different things - Play with the modes... Make sure you know how to get things back to a normal state.... Make sure you are comfortable so when the time comes, you can shoot what you expect.

 

[VVFF]

What would I have done differently....hmmm....

Maybe I would have gotten a flash right off the bat...amazing what it can do...Other than that I'm pretty happy with what I got.

 

[mabas9395]

This isn't the right path for everyone, but I wish I would have gotten better equipment the first time I made various purchases (bodies, lenses, flashes, tripods, etc) because its cheaper to buy it right the first time than to buy a cheap-o version and then have to get the one you originally wanted in the first place.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I wish I had gotten the same body but better lenses. Granted, I still would be saving for lenses

I am glad I got the Nikon 35mm 1.8 from Best Buy for $199. I could have used it earlier but it's in the bag!

Oh yea, here's my big thing. I went to a flea market in my area last spring. There were a bunch of tables that had lenses that were pretty old and have the M42 mount. Many of them were under $15-20 but wouldn't work on my D5000......or so I thought. That night I came home and asked on here about an adapter and low and behold, they make one. Picked it up on Ebay that week and went to the next flea market at the same place just 4 weeks later. Not one lens to be found. I wish I had the adapter 4 weeks prior

 

[IndyShutterbug]

Like they said above, shoot...shoot...shoot. You have a fine piece of equipment, so no worries.

I would get a small nail file though. That way you can get in closer when you are shaving Nikon off the plastic to replace it with Canon.....
Just kidding...

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Don't listen to Indy. You go putting something like that on your camera and all your night shots will have a blur to them


(just a Nikon vs Cannon thing )

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I don't know what I would have done differently. Since I researched each purchase to the nth degree, I don't feel I made any major purchasing gaffes. Like what others have recommended, study, study, practice, practice. Once you learn what type of photography you will be doing (it will change as you learn more), you will then want to have the equipment to assist you in accomplishing your goals. Then you will have to research that equipment. For example, I shoot night auto racing so after using my kit lenses, I wanted to have lenses that made that easier and gave me more options. I purchased two new lenses that gave me a constant 2.8 from 28mm-200mm and a third 100-300mm f4. My biggest bugaboo is my bags. I have outgrown three bags. Everytime I think I have the perfect bag, I purchase another piece of equipment and it won't fit! Good luck with your new equipment and welcome to the DSLR club aka the "Disease"! As you have realized, this forum is a wealth of friendly information and fun.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

This isn't the right path for everyone, but I wish I would have gotten better equipment the first time I made various purchases (bodies, lenses, flashes, tripods, etc) because its cheaper to buy it right the first time than to buy a cheap-o version and then have to get the one you originally wanted in the first place.

Me too. I wish I had spent more on better glass and skipped the cheap stuff, but oh well. I learned a lot along the way. And now I know that I would rather shoot with faster glass.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I would not have got the kit lens. That is about it really. I love my D80 and 50mm. Of course I dream of a D700 for the high ISO functions at low grain. The one thing I would have done different was get the 50mm 1.4 instead of the 1.8 and skipping the kit would have gave me the extra from 1.8 to 1.4. But oh well. I've learned and grown either way.


I would have learned custom white balance sooner, which would include getting a digital gray card from the start. I'm 2 years in today with my first SLR and just getting to where I'm starting to try to figure out how to do that.

 

[Zoesmama03]

And just to add some banter to the Nikon vs Canon stuff. My Nikon and Canon play quite well together, they've learned to put their differences aside. For what its worth my Canon is a printer. And prints rather lovely shots from my Nikon.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I would not have got the kit lens. That is about it really. I love my D80 and 50mm. Of course I dream of a D700 for the high ISO functions at low grain. The one thing I would have done different was get the 50mm 1.4 instead of the 1.8 and skipping the kit would have gave me the extra from 1.8 to 1.4. But oh well. I've learned and grown either way.


I would have learned custom white balance sooner, which would include getting a digital gray card from the start. I'm 2 years in today with my first SLR and just getting to where I'm starting to try to figure out how to do that.

I dream of getting the D700 too! I also would have skipped the 50mm 1.8 and got the 1.4, or 1.2 (which I just got!)

 

[Coach81]

He he.. thanks so much.. seems like I have a lot of learning to do... something tells me getting the "1.4 & 1.2" are going to cost a pretty penny!!! But I need to learn how to crawl first....

Any more?

 

[DVC Mike]

Congrats on getting the Nikon D5000! That's what I purchased 3 months ago. Mine came with the 18-55 and 55-200 lenses. I've since added the 35mm f/1.8 lens, a tripod, a polarizing filter, and a couple Lowepro bags.

I'm enjoying taking pictures with it!

 

[Coach81]

Congrats on getting the Nikon D5000! That's what I purchased 3 months ago. Mine came with the 18-55 and 55-200 lenses. I've since added the 35mm f/1.8 lens, a tripod, a polarizing filter, and a couple Lowepro bags.

I'm enjoying taking pictures with it!

Holy Cow!!! I'm using the same camera DVC Mike is

I'll be in touch.. as I am JUST LEARNING...

Thanks Mike!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

He he.. thanks so much.. seems like I have a lot of learning to do... something tells me getting the "1.4 & 1.2" are going to cost a pretty penny!!! But I need to learn how to crawl first....

Any more?

Download a free EXIF reader software like Opanda IEXIF to analyze your photos, and photos others take, to help determine what works, what doesn't work and how to get the type of photo you want. Some people's photo hosting sites do not allow you to right click and read their EXIF, but this software works for many photos. I use it all the time even to just analyze my own photo without having to open it up in another software program.

 

[NLD]

I would have read Understanding Exposure either BEFORE reading the camera manual or at the very least along with with manual.

I read the manual first and without understanding what ISO, aperture, and shutter speed were (and how they relate to each other), there was very little use in knowing how to change them. If I'd read Understanding Exposure first and THEN looked up how to change the settings on my camera, I think I'd have progressed much faster. As it was I spent over six months in Auto mode due to frustration and lack of understanding.

 

[Coach81]

Gotcha!

 

[TheGoofster]

First of all Coach81 welcome to the wonderful world of the Nikon D5000!!! (and don't let any of those Canon Naysayers bother you, they're just jealous that you had enough sense to go with a Nikon. )

I don't know if I would necessarily do anything different. I also have the kit lens and the 55-200 lens. Sure I wish I also had a faster lens (especially for taking shots of my daughters gymnastics class), but I am learning so much with the lenses that I have. I do plan on getting a 1.8 (or if I'm really lucky, and I find a nice wad of cash just laying on the ground, a 1.4) as soon as I can afford it, but there is still so much that you can do with the kit and telephoto lenses. Plus, now I have something to look forward to.

I've made it a goal to try and learn at least 1 or 2 new features of my D5000 every week. And not just to learn what they are, but to actually learn the best ways to use them. I started a thread called "This week I'm working on..." to document my baby steps in this learning process, and it has become kind of popular for all of us newbies to learn some of these things together. Plus some of the better photographers will also occasionally add some very useful comments or suggestions to help us out as well. So if you get a chance check it out.

As others have said, the best thing you can do right now is just take as many photos that you can, and don't be afraid to experiment with the different features and settings. It might take a while to get comfortable with each setting, but since there is no film involved, it is a free learning experience.

Enjoy your new one-eyed friend.

 

[jupster75]

I bought the 35mm f/1.8 lens last month and I am loving it so much right now. I leave it on the camera most of the time.