Hi all - just got my first DLSR!
Discussion
Hi everyone!
I just got my first DLSR, a Canon 500d, with 18-55mm kit lens, and a Tamron 70-300mm tele-macro lens, all for the princely sum of £100. I've bought a new strap, battery (the two included don't last long! How long would you expect?), and micro USB battery charger - handy!
When I was a teen I was really into photography, but could never afford a DLSR, so I experimented a lot with an Olympus with 10x optical zoom - 10 years ago it was good for a point and shoot. In the last few years I have been busy with college, and university, and have been enjoying taking pretty good pictures on a Samsung/iPhone, but i'm intending to get back into photography again now i'm working, especially since I work in historic motorsport, and see a hell of a lot of incredible cars, and racing.
I'm very impressed with the 500d and kit lens - it takes great pictures on full auto mode with no skill, but i'm not so good with the Tamron, without the stabilisation - need to work on that, and remind myself what effect different settings will have in the less auto modes.
One problem - I'm finding i'm so busy with work that the only practice i'm getting is boring stuff around the house. How did you practice, as a busy beginner?
Thanks - see you in this sub forum much more from now
Matt.
I just got my first DLSR, a Canon 500d, with 18-55mm kit lens, and a Tamron 70-300mm tele-macro lens, all for the princely sum of £100. I've bought a new strap, battery (the two included don't last long! How long would you expect?), and micro USB battery charger - handy!
When I was a teen I was really into photography, but could never afford a DLSR, so I experimented a lot with an Olympus with 10x optical zoom - 10 years ago it was good for a point and shoot. In the last few years I have been busy with college, and university, and have been enjoying taking pretty good pictures on a Samsung/iPhone, but i'm intending to get back into photography again now i'm working, especially since I work in historic motorsport, and see a hell of a lot of incredible cars, and racing.
I'm very impressed with the 500d and kit lens - it takes great pictures on full auto mode with no skill, but i'm not so good with the Tamron, without the stabilisation - need to work on that, and remind myself what effect different settings will have in the less auto modes.
One problem - I'm finding i'm so busy with work that the only practice i'm getting is boring stuff around the house. How did you practice, as a busy beginner?
Thanks - see you in this sub forum much more from now
Matt.
Keep it with you take lots of pictures play around a lot. Learn the basic mechanics of exposure, its not that hard theres only 3 things, shutter speed, aperture, ISO.
"Tamron 70-300mm tele-macro lens"
Long lenses require faster shutter speeds otherwise you will get blury pics (one reason for anyhow). So you may need to up the ISO or put it into Auto ISO and let the camera do that for you.
With canon always switch to single point AF unless you know what you are doing, never let it select form multiple points as it will almost always pick the wrong one ( the one with the closest subject).
Dont be scared of manual mode! use live view (with exposure simulation enabled) it will show you exactly what you are going to get (exposure wise) if you want AF etc then do that first and switch it off once you have your exposure dialed in.
"Tamron 70-300mm tele-macro lens"
Long lenses require faster shutter speeds otherwise you will get blury pics (one reason for anyhow). So you may need to up the ISO or put it into Auto ISO and let the camera do that for you.
With canon always switch to single point AF unless you know what you are doing, never let it select form multiple points as it will almost always pick the wrong one ( the one with the closest subject).
Dont be scared of manual mode! use live view (with exposure simulation enabled) it will show you exactly what you are going to get (exposure wise) if you want AF etc then do that first and switch it off once you have your exposure dialed in.
RobDickinson said:
Long lenses require faster shutter speeds otherwise you will get blury pics (one reason for anyhow). So you may need to up the ISO or put it into Auto ISO and let the camera do that for you.
And/or use a wider aperture. ISO won't have any effect on the final image (assuming noice acceptable); wider aperture will give you shallower depth of field (DOF). Sometimes you want this, sometimes you don't so always think what you're trying to achieve before shooting.Back in the days of film I had a Vivitar S1 70-210mm f3.5 and camera shake was never a problem - and that was with an ISO/ASA of 400. So it can be done
I have the same 500d and kit lens. I would recommend using the P mode rather than full auto, whilst learning. That way you can see what aperture/shutter-speed the camera is using automatically. You can also vary it with the dial.
You mention motorsports, and the 70-300 should be good for this. Try tracking the cars/bikes as they move past you. Best mode for this would be shutter priority (Tv), and if you can, set the shutter speed below about 1/200s, to get the blurry wheels and effect of speed. Quite a bit lower will be better, depending on the speed of the cars, the lens, etc.. I find it is also worth manually setting focus to a point on track and trying to get one good frame rather than firing off loads. I get some reasonable shots with the canon 50-250 lens, and shutter speeds around 1/120s.
I find i can get some good shots with the kit lens, but it is not often recommended by reviewers. It is however quite light and has a pretty flexible range, hence i often use it as my walk about lens. I have a 10-24 Tamron which i really enjoy using to get a bit more creative instead of the kit lens.
I've had my 500d over 8yrs, and often toy with upgrading. It does everything i need though.
You mention motorsports, and the 70-300 should be good for this. Try tracking the cars/bikes as they move past you. Best mode for this would be shutter priority (Tv), and if you can, set the shutter speed below about 1/200s, to get the blurry wheels and effect of speed. Quite a bit lower will be better, depending on the speed of the cars, the lens, etc.. I find it is also worth manually setting focus to a point on track and trying to get one good frame rather than firing off loads. I get some reasonable shots with the canon 50-250 lens, and shutter speeds around 1/120s.
I find i can get some good shots with the kit lens, but it is not often recommended by reviewers. It is however quite light and has a pretty flexible range, hence i often use it as my walk about lens. I have a 10-24 Tamron which i really enjoy using to get a bit more creative instead of the kit lens.
I've had my 500d over 8yrs, and often toy with upgrading. It does everything i need though.
I bought my first DSLR 2 months ago. A Pentax K50, I started going to a local Camera Club once a week, I must say it isn't the usual boring camera club! They bring in models for you to shoot, learn about your camera and other cameras,lighting, go out and about doing street photography. So if you can, go find yourself a club. Search on Facebook for local photographers
- blithering ham fisted idiot.Message Board | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff