Elizabeth
Can someone please give me a crash course on lenses? I recently just bought a Nikon d40x and have the basic [18-55mm] kit lens, but I want to upgrade on lenses so I can get better picture results.
Say if I wanted to get a 50mm 1.4 lens... what do those numbers mean? I really need some help and understanding.. I mainly want to do portraits.. but i'd still like a lens that isn't limited to just portraits too.
Also, What would be the best lens for me to get next?
Thanks!
Answer
TBH, you don't need a crash course on lenses, you need to learn more about the basics of photography.
The lens you have is absolutely fine for a heck of a lot of photography and getting a different lens will not get better picture results except in certain circumstances. For instance shooting sport or wildlife where a long lens is required.
Without meaning to be rude, you obviously know nothing about the basics such as exposure (you wouldn't ask about the f stop if you did) so the best thing you can do is go to your local library or book shop and get hold of a couple of basic photography books.
This will guide you through the basics of the camera, lenses, exposure, light, composition etc.
Alternatively - here is a search on "photography basics", have a look through them.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=photography+basics+tutorial&meta=&aq=0&oq=photography+basics
I am not having a go at you for asking the question but it is a bit like learning to drive. You need to know the basics of what to do and how to do it before you think about buying a Ferrari.
You are likely to get answers on here which go into too much technical detail and that is not actually going to do you any good initially.
have fun learning though.
a
TBH, you don't need a crash course on lenses, you need to learn more about the basics of photography.
The lens you have is absolutely fine for a heck of a lot of photography and getting a different lens will not get better picture results except in certain circumstances. For instance shooting sport or wildlife where a long lens is required.
Without meaning to be rude, you obviously know nothing about the basics such as exposure (you wouldn't ask about the f stop if you did) so the best thing you can do is go to your local library or book shop and get hold of a couple of basic photography books.
This will guide you through the basics of the camera, lenses, exposure, light, composition etc.
Alternatively - here is a search on "photography basics", have a look through them.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=photography+basics+tutorial&meta=&aq=0&oq=photography+basics
I am not having a go at you for asking the question but it is a bit like learning to drive. You need to know the basics of what to do and how to do it before you think about buying a Ferrari.
You are likely to get answers on here which go into too much technical detail and that is not actually going to do you any good initially.
have fun learning though.
a
How to set up and use a Canon 650D digital camera?
Geb
How can I set up a new Canon 650D digital camera and what are suitable hardware and software that I could buy to use with the camera to view, edit and print my photographs.
Also explain how to set it up and maintain it.
Answer
Explain how to set up and maintain the Canon DSLR. Tells me that you bought a DSLR because everybody on this site told you too. Now you are faced with how to operate the darn thing. Simply put you bought more camera than you should have. Well the only thing is to make the best of it.
LETS ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS FIRST:
1.You should not get into editing beyond the simple cropping that processors offer for now, you have enough on your plate. I always use a store in my community for most of my pictures.. I do not go into their store except to "pick-up" my order. I use their web site to crop, & order my prints. I don't like putting my memory card into machines that have been abused by every "Tom, Dick & Harry!"
COMPUTER UPLOADING: buy & use a memory card reader ($6.00) instead of the camera to computer cord that drives people nuts.
2. Hardware; there is no hardware to buy now or ever. If you are referring to lenses, you do not have the experience now to go out and spend money on lenses that YOU really don't have a need for yet.
SOFTWARE: you should have connected your camera to your computer for any up dates to your camera, when you first got your camera. Make this a once a year project. When I connected my camera, the web site updated the cameras software so I could use the (then) new SDHC memory cards.
3. Set the camera up and maintain it. Starting backwards unless you use some other size battery you should get yourself about 3 sets of double "A" rechargeable batteries. The best brand are Eneloop. Buy together with a battery charger is the most economical way. If you have a different size battery buy two extras batteries, or at least one. Keep batteries charged , what ever size you use.
4. NECK STRAP- Yahoo does not like it when I use capitals all the time BUT this is perhaps the most important thing you can do. Always wear the neck strap. You drop this camera, be warned-dropping is NOT covered under warranty! The camera belongs in two places only, around your neck or in the gadget bag! Not carry by it's strap in your hands (like that blasted Nikon commercial implies!)
5.Auto setting, most people who own DLSR's recommend against using the "Auto" setting. But I recommend YOU use it until you become familiar with your camera.
I also recommend you invest in some easy to read books by Scot Kelby. He writes in a very easy to read style. I have a few because at first digital was foreign to me coming from a film environment.
The really nice thing about his books beyond the understanding factor is his web site. He often refers you to his web site to make visual presentations easier to understand! This is a real plus for me.
And while we are on the subject of reading you should check amazon for a good book on your model camera. Instruction books are often hard to read because it seems they do not employ "tech" writers anymore and you are left with what is left.
That is enough on your plate!
Good Luck
P.S. I just read "Jim A's" advise on the manual. He is correct but I take it one step further. I download and PRINT the manual, leaving out simple things I already know like putting batteries in the camera etc. I take the remaining pages to a large place like Staples and have them cut and spiral bind the rest. I carry this home made manual with me should I encounter a situation I am not familiar with.
All this editing and preparing also enhances my knowledge of the camera and I find I have less & less to refer to. And while I am on my soapbox, get your backside out there and shoot and shoot. Experience is the best teacher!
Explain how to set up and maintain the Canon DSLR. Tells me that you bought a DSLR because everybody on this site told you too. Now you are faced with how to operate the darn thing. Simply put you bought more camera than you should have. Well the only thing is to make the best of it.
LETS ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS FIRST:
1.You should not get into editing beyond the simple cropping that processors offer for now, you have enough on your plate. I always use a store in my community for most of my pictures.. I do not go into their store except to "pick-up" my order. I use their web site to crop, & order my prints. I don't like putting my memory card into machines that have been abused by every "Tom, Dick & Harry!"
COMPUTER UPLOADING: buy & use a memory card reader ($6.00) instead of the camera to computer cord that drives people nuts.
2. Hardware; there is no hardware to buy now or ever. If you are referring to lenses, you do not have the experience now to go out and spend money on lenses that YOU really don't have a need for yet.
SOFTWARE: you should have connected your camera to your computer for any up dates to your camera, when you first got your camera. Make this a once a year project. When I connected my camera, the web site updated the cameras software so I could use the (then) new SDHC memory cards.
3. Set the camera up and maintain it. Starting backwards unless you use some other size battery you should get yourself about 3 sets of double "A" rechargeable batteries. The best brand are Eneloop. Buy together with a battery charger is the most economical way. If you have a different size battery buy two extras batteries, or at least one. Keep batteries charged , what ever size you use.
4. NECK STRAP- Yahoo does not like it when I use capitals all the time BUT this is perhaps the most important thing you can do. Always wear the neck strap. You drop this camera, be warned-dropping is NOT covered under warranty! The camera belongs in two places only, around your neck or in the gadget bag! Not carry by it's strap in your hands (like that blasted Nikon commercial implies!)
5.Auto setting, most people who own DLSR's recommend against using the "Auto" setting. But I recommend YOU use it until you become familiar with your camera.
I also recommend you invest in some easy to read books by Scot Kelby. He writes in a very easy to read style. I have a few because at first digital was foreign to me coming from a film environment.
The really nice thing about his books beyond the understanding factor is his web site. He often refers you to his web site to make visual presentations easier to understand! This is a real plus for me.
And while we are on the subject of reading you should check amazon for a good book on your model camera. Instruction books are often hard to read because it seems they do not employ "tech" writers anymore and you are left with what is left.
That is enough on your plate!
Good Luck
P.S. I just read "Jim A's" advise on the manual. He is correct but I take it one step further. I download and PRINT the manual, leaving out simple things I already know like putting batteries in the camera etc. I take the remaining pages to a large place like Staples and have them cut and spiral bind the rest. I carry this home made manual with me should I encounter a situation I am not familiar with.
All this editing and preparing also enhances my knowledge of the camera and I find I have less & less to refer to. And while I am on my soapbox, get your backside out there and shoot and shoot. Experience is the best teacher!
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