newbie - don't have a clue, but i would like to.
newbie - don't have a clue, but i would like to.
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2seas

Original Poster:

3,678 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
quotequote all
Morning ladies and gentleman of the photography community. i have just purchased a canon 1100d: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-1100D-Digital-Camera...

Apparently it's a good entry into the SLR arena. I'm hoping to get myself on a course in Jan to better understand it, (well, understand it past the fact that you press a focus button and then a take picture button).


Tampon

4,637 posts

254 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
quotequote all

Xerstead

724 posts

207 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
quotequote all
Best thing to do is read the manual, try out all the features and learn what they do smile Google and YouTube can help a lot.

2seas

Original Poster:

3,678 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
quotequote all
cheers guys, any particularly good books out there? i was thinking about this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Rebel-1100D-Dummies-...

Tampon

4,637 posts

254 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
quotequote all
There are such good YouTube videos, canon do a course on there about how to use the software editing suite that comes with it. Loads of channels that explain how functions work, and if you want to know something for your particular model just type in 1100d .......... and someone will have made a video to show you.

Save the money and learn online, the actual learning will be by you practicing rather than someone just telling you. There is a lot of "feel" to doing it, you learn that by snapping thousands of photos, which comes pretty quickley when you get in to it.

2seas

Original Poster:

3,678 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd December 2012
quotequote all
Tampon said:
There are such good YouTube videos, canon do a course on there about how to use the software editing suite that comes with it. Loads of channels that explain how functions work, and if you want to know something for your particular model just type in 1100d .......... and someone will have made a video to show you.

Save the money and learn online, the actual learning will be by you practicing rather than someone just telling you. There is a lot of "feel" to doing it, you learn that by snapping thousands of photos, which comes pretty quickley when you get in to it.
Thanks, I've already bought a book now smile. I find them useful as I like to have information centralised - rather than having to continually search for and refer to other sources. Also they're good for light reading in the bog/trains/in bed..

I will take your advice and use youtube etc as I go along as a supplement.

gangzoom

8,804 posts

244 months

Sunday 23rd December 2012
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Best way to learn how to use a DSLR is to take lots of photos, and go have a look on places like FlickR at what kind of shots others are doing!! Don't waste your money on courses, that money is better spent on more camera gear smile

markmullen

15,877 posts

263 months

Sunday 23rd December 2012
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gangzoom said:
Best way to learn how to use a DSLR is to take lots of photos, and go have a look on places like FlickR at what kind of shots others are doing!! Don't waste your money on courses, that money is better spent on more camera gear smile
I'd disagree with that, you can have all the gear in the world and still be taking st snaps if you don't know what you're doing. A good course with a good tutor is far more valuable.

The thing that did the most for my photography was a day out with Joe Cornish, not a lens, bag or body.

2slo

1,998 posts

196 months

Sunday 23rd December 2012
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Joining your local photography club is a good idea. I went along to a club meeting a few months ago and joined the same night. A lot of the clubs organise hands on visits and sessions where you bring your camera along and get advice on different topics. Plenty of encouragement for beginners and the more experienced.
One thing I've found is that a single photographer taking pictures can get unwanted (and unwarranted) attention. When I've been out taking pictures as part of a group, no one seems to notice.

DIW35

4,204 posts

229 months

Sunday 23rd December 2012
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At some point you will discover that there are chiefly 3 variables that affect your image, and that each can have a differing effect on how your picture turns out. Sometimes the conditions you are shooting in will limit how much you can change any or each of those variables, and similarly the subject you are shooting will sometimes determine how you approach picking settings.

The 3 variables are ISO, shutter speed and aperture.

This simulator will allow you to have a play to see how these variables interact with each other, and what they can do to your picture.

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