Discussion
DibblyDobbler said:
Stick it on auto and get out there snapping - worry about the technicalities later 
Simpo2 has a beginner's guide iirc
One of the best bits of advice I got when I first got an SLR was "don't use the Auto mode until you don't need to". It was spot on, and I've never used it to this day.Simpo2 has a beginner's guide iirc
If the OP starts out with a basic introduction to how aperture, shutter speed and ISO all play together, he'll quickly understand how to get the sort of photos he wants. Starting out on Auto mode, on the other hand, will just result in often not getting the desired results, and not necessarily knowing why not, or whether the camera could've done a better job with a bit of help from the owner.
there are three main functions
shutter speed - the speed of the shot, faster picture is much clearer, but the trade off is you receive less light and in turn get a darker picture.
F stops - this is the aperture, like the iris in your eye, the bigger the number the smaller the aperture. if you open the aperture up fully you get a brighter image, the trade off is that you get no depth of field (blurry distance)
ISO - this was used originally in filmed cameras and is the ISO rating of the film. ISO100 is used for bright situations, where as ISO6400 for example would be used in a dark place, the trade off is that the image gets a grainy finish to it.
the easiest thing to do is to set the camera in manual mode and fix the ISO to say 400 this should be pretty good, then play about with the speed and the F stops. until you become happy with the function of your camera.
hope this helps.
shutter speed - the speed of the shot, faster picture is much clearer, but the trade off is you receive less light and in turn get a darker picture.
F stops - this is the aperture, like the iris in your eye, the bigger the number the smaller the aperture. if you open the aperture up fully you get a brighter image, the trade off is that you get no depth of field (blurry distance)
ISO - this was used originally in filmed cameras and is the ISO rating of the film. ISO100 is used for bright situations, where as ISO6400 for example would be used in a dark place, the trade off is that the image gets a grainy finish to it.
the easiest thing to do is to set the camera in manual mode and fix the ISO to say 400 this should be pretty good, then play about with the speed and the F stops. until you become happy with the function of your camera.
hope this helps.
The first thing I would do is read the manual to get an understanding of what all the buttons on the camera do so that when you want to change a setting, you know which to press/turn/click.
Then get out there and take some photos. Don't be disappointed if you find that despite having a good camera your pictures are no better than what you could achieve with a simple point and shoot. It's like the difference between an electronic keyboard and a proper piano. If you know which buttons to push, an electronic can produce music. To get something out of a piano that sounds reasonable, you need to know how to play it. Same with a P&S and a DSLR.
Once you have taken pictures and identified anything about them that you are not happy with, once you understand why you are not happy with them, you can learn what you need to do to improve them.
ISO, aperture and shutter speed form what is known as the exposure triangle, and they need to be balanced to get a correct exposure i.e. not too light and not too dark. If the light conditions you are shooting under are constant, if you change one of these variables, you will need to change one or both of the others to compensate. A brief explanation of each has been given in one of the earlier replies, but inderstanding these three elements for getting a well exposed image is only part of the learning curve, as each has an effect on how the picture will look.
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/
This camera simulator will possibly help with your understanding of how shutter speed can be used to freeze movement or allow it to blur to convey a feeling of that movement; how aperture can affect depth of field, either keeping just the subject in focus or allowing the background to be sharp as well; and finally how ISO can be changed to allow you to use the shuuter speed and/or the desired aperture, but at the cost of introducing graininess or noise when using high ISO settings.
Then get out there and take some photos. Don't be disappointed if you find that despite having a good camera your pictures are no better than what you could achieve with a simple point and shoot. It's like the difference between an electronic keyboard and a proper piano. If you know which buttons to push, an electronic can produce music. To get something out of a piano that sounds reasonable, you need to know how to play it. Same with a P&S and a DSLR.
Once you have taken pictures and identified anything about them that you are not happy with, once you understand why you are not happy with them, you can learn what you need to do to improve them.
ISO, aperture and shutter speed form what is known as the exposure triangle, and they need to be balanced to get a correct exposure i.e. not too light and not too dark. If the light conditions you are shooting under are constant, if you change one of these variables, you will need to change one or both of the others to compensate. A brief explanation of each has been given in one of the earlier replies, but inderstanding these three elements for getting a well exposed image is only part of the learning curve, as each has an effect on how the picture will look.
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/
This camera simulator will possibly help with your understanding of how shutter speed can be used to freeze movement or allow it to blur to convey a feeling of that movement; how aperture can affect depth of field, either keeping just the subject in focus or allowing the background to be sharp as well; and finally how ISO can be changed to allow you to use the shuuter speed and/or the desired aperture, but at the cost of introducing graininess or noise when using high ISO settings.
I also think it's great to start compiling a list of photos that you like or that inspire you - and try and recreate them. Often on teh web, people post up their camera settings too, so as well as studying the composition, you can take a few techy notes about how they got the shot.
I love getting huge coffee table photo books, they're great to flick through for inspiration, and you tend to look over them a bit more than you do images on the web
OP - I'm in the same boat as you ahving received a 650D for Xmas. First thing I did was buy this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-3rd... and I've just started reading it, though TBH it's hard to take it in (for me at least) without practical alongside so I'll have a play this weekend.
Best advice I've been given is to try the same shot with multiple exposures/settings and note what you did for each. Eventually you'll get an idea what works best for a given situation though this doesn't come easy.
I'm going to do my own little cheat sheet as well, cue cards (only a couple) to help remind me of the basics whilst out and about. Also going to try and find a couple of local friendly photographers for help, advice and to put up with my stupid questions.
I'm learning the basics first on the stock 18-55mm lens before then moving onto to asking people on here what lenses I should look for, differences, makes etc. - effectively learning to crawl before walking let alone running
Best advice I've been given is to try the same shot with multiple exposures/settings and note what you did for each. Eventually you'll get an idea what works best for a given situation though this doesn't come easy.
I'm going to do my own little cheat sheet as well, cue cards (only a couple) to help remind me of the basics whilst out and about. Also going to try and find a couple of local friendly photographers for help, advice and to put up with my stupid questions.
I'm learning the basics first on the stock 18-55mm lens before then moving onto to asking people on here what lenses I should look for, differences, makes etc. - effectively learning to crawl before walking let alone running
Fordo said:
I also think it's great to start compiling a list of photos that you like or that inspire you - and try and recreate them. Often on teh web, people post up their camera settings too, so as well as studying the composition, you can take a few techy notes about how they got the shot.
I love getting huge coffee table photo books, they're great to flick through for inspiration, and you tend to look over them a bit more than you do images on the web
Do you know, my lightbulb moment on this came from the Strobist guy. People were messaging him asking for shutter speeds and apertures, his answer was 'whatever was right at the time'I love getting huge coffee table photo books, they're great to flick through for inspiration, and you tend to look over them a bit more than you do images on the web
The air of it not being important, but still being important was what made me get it, so to speak. It did 2 things
1) Made me realise that were I to go out, set the shutter, aperture and ISO to the exact same settings that I'd probably get a black photo
2) Work out what I thought was right for the photo, not what conventional 'youshouldadonethins' critique would give
A good thing about DSLR's is that you can keep playing to see what happens when you change settings without having to wait to get a film developed. Oh, and it doesn't cost a fortune.
Go out, on your own, and spend a day taking pictures of anything and everything. You don't even need to write down your settings, they are all recorded with your pictures so you can see what different settings do.
With the dark evenings you can come home and go through the pictures on your computer and see what effect the settings have. Eventually it all sinks in and it will become second nature.
Looking at pictures on here will help, there are some cracking photographers on here to give you something to aim for.
Go out, on your own, and spend a day taking pictures of anything and everything. You don't even need to write down your settings, they are all recorded with your pictures so you can see what different settings do.
With the dark evenings you can come home and go through the pictures on your computer and see what effect the settings have. Eventually it all sinks in and it will become second nature.
Looking at pictures on here will help, there are some cracking photographers on here to give you something to aim for.
If you like bite sized chunks of information with on-line interactive examples and so on have a look at www.cambridgeincolour.com when you have a "what does that do and what does it affect" question.
You can pick the bits you need and skip the ones that look too complicated and go back to those later.
You can pick the bits you need and skip the ones that look too complicated and go back to those later.
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