Sunny 16 rule

barina · Guru

My new camera Nikon D3100

Grams · Guru

I love my camera too, mine is a Canon 300D, it several different lenses for close up and telescopic shots. I love it.

Hope we get to see some of your pictures here.

Wombat 280 · Guru

See the Post Office is selling SLR Pentax X5 for $199.00 16 MP and 26 optical zoom great for a starter kit

GaryKelly · Guru

I have the Nikon D3100 too, Barina... with the standard 18-55 and 55-200mm lenses. I haven't used it a helluva lot yet but it's a great camera and the quality of the shots is excellent. Once I'm on the road, I intend to carry it with me at all times. Meanwhile, I'll be taking it to Port Macquarie next Monday and to Sydney in early September.

barina · Guru

GaryKelly wrote:
I have the Nikon D3100 too, Barina... with the standard 18-55 and 55-200mm lenses. I haven't used it a helluva lot yet but it's a great camera and the quality of the shots is excellent. Once I'm on the road, I intend to carry it with me at all times. Meanwhile, I'll be taking it to Port Macquarie next Monday and to Sydney in early September.

I only have the 18 - 55 lens at this stage trying to work out all the settings. I will take some shots at the weekend and see how they come out....

Mike C · Senior Member

I am looking at getting a new camera..

Have a choice of the Nikon D7000 http://altituderewards.com.au/public/redeem_product.aspx?id=66153 or perhaps the D5200

or the Cannon EOS 600D http://altituderewards.com.au/public/redeem_product.aspx?id=99116

Either for free using up many years of credit card points...

I haven't a clue which one to go for other than the longer second lens for the cannon looks useful.

Would love some advise from you camera buffs out there...

cheers

Mike

-- Edited by Mike C on Friday 9th of August 2013 07:07:49 AM

Grams · Guru

Both Nikon and Canon are excellent brands for cameras.

I have the earlier model of the Canon, and I love it, it is a very easy camera to understand once you get the hang of it. I know a lot of people also love the Nikon.

I guess you will have to compare the two...

How many Megapixels does each camera have?...the higher the clearer the picture.
What do you get in the package?
Can you get any accessories?
The Canon has video capabilities, but not sure on the Nikon, though I have never used this feature.

Sometimes it can just be down to person choice, looks, etc.

barina · Guru

I had no preference was not even thinking about a new camera as I have an Olympus SLR with a fixed lens and 2 x point and shoots, which take good pics, but got sick of not being able to see what pics you were taking in the sunlight. This one has a viewfinder and my brother has one so I used his a few times while I was away and then decided, I want one... smile smile

Wombat 280 · Guru

I use an Olympus SZ14 14 MP 24 Optical Zoom for my Day to Day shots, loaded onto my laptop the quality is fine It's a point and shoot for around $99.00
Also have a range of other but far to bulky for hiking into lookouts or canoeing.

barina · Guru

I have just signed up online for a $29 Digital SLR course (a coupon deal). It has video instructions and is for a beginner like me and I can sit with the camera and follow the instructions. So far seems good explains the settings and when and why you need them. Just hope I can remember it all, I have been taking some notes as I watch and pause.

Mike C · Senior Member

Way to go Judy..
It would be great to know what all those buttons and dials do.. you will be getting great results in no time I am sure..
I ended up ordering the Cannon 700D which should arrive in a week or so expect lots of questions.

cheers

Mike

barina · Guru

Mike C wrote:
Way to go Judy..
It would be great to know what all those buttons and dials do.. you will be getting great results in no time I am sure..
I ended up ordering the Cannon 700D which should arrive in a week or so expect lots of questions.

cheers

Mike

That is what I need to learn I know it has auto but I want to understand the settings, whether I choose to use them or stick to auto. This video course so far has explained them well. I still have a few modules to go, so will see at the end of it.. enjoy your new camera... biggrin biggrin

Mike C · Senior Member

barina wrote:

That is what I need to learn I know it has auto but I want to understand the settings, whether I choose to use them or stick to auto. This video course so far has explained them well. I still have a few modules to go, so will see at the end of it.. enjoy your new camera...

You enjoy too

Santa · Guru

barina wrote:
I just bought the camera from Grays Online and it arrived today so will have to play and learn how to use it....looking forward to the challenge.

Congratulations on your new camera Judy.

Experiment, take lots of photo's (particularly on manual) and make notes, it all seems pretty overwhelming at first, however after a while becomes second nature.

The main settings to play with are aperture, shutter speed and ISO, the great thing about digital is you can keep taking shots and deleting until you are happy with the result.

Choose a well lit subject outside, set the camera up on minimum ISO 100 then take a series of shots on manual starting at a shutter speed of 100th sec and aperture as wide as possible (lower numbers are wider) first vary the shutter speed i.e. 100th, 125th, 160th and so on.

Then set the shutter speed back to 100th and take another series varying the aperture, starting at your widest, possibly F3.5 then make take the aperture smaller F5.6 F8 etc until you reach the smallest.

Somewhere in each series you should have a well exposed shot.

Keep in mind, slow shutter speeds won't stop action (anything under 100th sec) and wide open apertures (under F5.6 will only allow a very limited range of perfect focus.

I have a number of Nikon DSLR's and seldom use anything other than manual settings.

Santa · Guru

Another tip that may be of use is the

Sunny 16 rule

On a sunny day and with ISO 100 film / setting in the camera, one sets the aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to 1/100 or 1/125 second (on some cameras 1/125 second is the available setting nearest to 1/100 second).

Tends to get you very close.

And of course don't take shots into the sun (until you have learned the basics)

barina · Guru

Santa wrote:
barina wrote:
I just bought the camera from Grays Online and it arrived today so will have to play and learn how to use it....looking forward to the challenge.
Congratulations on your new camera Judy.

Experiment, take lots of photo's (particularly on manual) and make notes, it all seems pretty overwhelming at first, however after a while becomes second nature.
The main settings to play with are aperture, shutter speed and ISO, the great thing about digital is you can keep taking shots and deleting until you are happy with the result.

Choose a well lit subject outside, set the camera up on minimum ISO 100 then take a series of shots on manual starting at a shutter speed of 100th sec and aperture as wide as possible (lower numbers are wider) first vary the shutter speed i.e. 100th, 125th, 160th and so on.
Then set the shutter speed back to 100th and take another series varying the aperture, starting at your widest, possibly F3.5 then make take the aperture smaller F5.6 F8 etc until you reach the smallest.
Somewhere in each series you should have a well exposed shot.
Keep in mind, slow shutter speeds won't stop action (anything under 100th sec) and wide open apertures (under F5.6 will only allow a very limited range of perfect focus.

I have a number of Nikon DSLR's and seldom use anything other than manual settings.

Thank you for all that, and I actually understand it after doing a couple of the online video tutorials. biggrin