Trying to figure out my new camera please help!!!

[mya1k9]

I bought a Canon Powershot SX230 P and S. It's my first "real" camera, I plan to take a photography class but it's not till Oct., I go to Disney in Sept. I've been playing with it trying to figure out the different settings so I'm not stuck in Auto all of the time. Just starting to understand aperture and shudder speed. Is there a good website you would recommend for a newbie to learn how to work the different settings and when to use what? I'm trying to use the camera daily to get a feel of what I should be doing, learning through my mistakes. I know I'm not going to take these spectacular pictures in 3 weeks worth of learning but I would like some good ones, the fireworks and night shots are especially important to me. Any good advice or websites? Thanks so much

 

[Bonniec]

Try to avoid flash whenevr possible indoors, it makes things look snap snotty. When you are outside in the bright sun, turn ON your flash, especially when it's bright. The flash will help fill in some of the harsh shadows.

As for night shots....does your camera have a night setting? If so, use that. Can you change the iso? At night, go as high as you can. You should be able to get good firework and electric parade shots with just about any camera.

Dark rides will be more difficult. You aren't supposed to use flash and even if you do it will look bad and ruin the ride for others. If whatever you are take a picture of is lit up, you can probably get a decent shot on night mode. But getting a picture of something like a child's face on Small World will likely be a bust.

 

[BillyBuff]

Here's a great site that has a SLR camera simulator that can show you what the photo looks like when certain settings are used...

http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html

 

[Cafeen]

Check out the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's highly recommended on these boards and really seems to help bring you into the mindset of how to get a good creative exposure.

Much of the stuff I knew by the time I read the book (last month, after owning my dSLR for 6 months, and having owned a 35mm SLR from about '97 through '04), but there were still good tips, tricks, and most raw knowledge behind it. I'll be heading down in just under 4 weeks to try them out too. While you won't be able to do everything in the book (it's focused on dSLRs), but basic understanding of exposure is universal and crucial.

The key thing is your eye. Train yourself to see through the viewfinder first, then how to properly capture what you see. I know that since I got back into shooting, I've been looking at the world quite different than before. (And I'm pretty sure I used to do the same, but it's been awhile).

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I got this same camera a few weeks ago. One of the things I'm doing is to learn by heart all the various scene settings and how to get to them with the camera.

I'm also planning on having my kids go outside when it's dark so I can check out some camera settings. I think it'll help me figure things out.

I wish I could check out the fireworks setting in advance but that's one I'll have to wait for.

I found that thoroughly reading the online manual is very helpful with this camera.
Good luck with the new camera.

 

[mya1k9]

Thanks alot!! I appreciate the advice. Will be stalking these boards more often!!

 

[mom2rtk]

You might want to check out the sticky threads in this forum. I think it's the "Welcome to the Photography Board" that has threads on shooting in various settings at WDW, things like fireworks and dark rides.

Have fun!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

The first place to start is the manual that came with the camera. Granted, Canon's manuals are not always the easiest to understand (I've been shooting Canon since 1999..) but if you take the time to wade through it, there's a lot of useful information in it.

There is a Canon-centric photography forum at:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

They have a board dedicated to small Canon cameras. It would be a good place to start. Most people there are willing to help people experiencing difficulty, but like any forum, there are trolls too.