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  1. #1
    DF VIP Member wakadoo's Avatar
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    Default need a lot of help.

    right after many years of using a cheapo point n click camera I have finally bit the bullet and purchased a better camera.

    My problems started before the purchase, I have always picked a camera with a good amount of pixels and optical zoom over digital zoom, I tried to ask what lenses would compare with my usual zoom as I didn't understand 16/50 or 70/300 and it just got worse when f1.8 and..... well and that's where I lost the will to live.

    So I just got a camera and 2 lenses to get me started, one is a 18 to 55 and the other is a 70 - 300 with a 750d body, not to over the top for me price wise and enough features to keep me learning for a few years, not pro level but as I know feck all its going to keep me busy and learning and I do like it already, only got it today and the settings seem straight forward in theory but only the practice will tell.

    so now for the dreaded, can you tell me as easy as you can what all this lens jargon is please, every lens they spoke about was portrait and then full frame or four thirds and macro, I melted, oh and do I want to buy a nifty fifty, I said but this one does fifty, its not the same sir...yeah it wouldn't be would it ffs.

    oh and this one goes to f1.8 and this does f1.6 and some go to theoretical 1.2 if you do this..........wow I said in my best sarcasm ..

    I did ask what was going to be a 35mm camera comparison and could I start there and work from it.......silence followed......long awkward silence and I could see he wanted to point at my face and scream "noob" and laugh uncontrollably while the rest of the store slowly turned towards me and joined in.

    please help.

    thank you.


    Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean
    the same thing?

  2. #2
    DF VIP Member wakadoo's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    ..

    NOOOOB






    Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean
    the same thing?

  3. #3
    DF VIP Member crazyal's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    The 18-55 will be your standard, every day lens. I'm sure it will get a lot of use. The 70-300 is really for those long shots. Personally I would have stuck with the standard lens until you were ready to buy some more glass in the future but never mind.

    For a basic 101 course in DSLR, have a look here - it gives some good info on starting out with DSLR's and explains what some of those pesky things like apetures and shutters really mean.

    Enjoy.

    CrazyAl

    4 Thanks given to crazyal

    4me2 (16th August 2015),  Scal (16th August 2015),  wakadoo (16th August 2015),  Zoots (16th August 2015)  


  4. #4
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    It is a mine field..
    It is a lot like computers where people can get sold a MacPro for "photo editing" when all they edit is red eye.....

    You have zoom lenses.
    they are great and save you moving about as much.

    One thing to keep in mind is that the "settings" of the lens change when you zoom. I would guess that is will say F/3.5 to F/5.6 on it or something.

    Look up the exposure triangle, that explains the basic principals of photography. It is a triangle with
    Aperture
    Exposure
    ISO
    if you change one it effects the other 2.

    I shoot professionally so i understand this all pretty much.... lol
    Some of it is still voodoo....

    Have a read up and then if you want i can give you a phone call and answer any questions you have.

    Subscribe to Linda.com they have a free month and there is a load of videos on there and they are very well explained.

    Crash.

    3 Thanks given to crashtestmac

    crazyal (17th August 2015),  wakadoo (17th August 2015),  Zoots (17th August 2015)  


  5. #5
    DF VIP Member crazyal's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    Good shout for linda.com, crashtestmac - excellent site for training material.

  6. #6
    DF VIP Member elephantsoup's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    http://www.shortcourses.com/guide/

    Think rap posted this one ages ago.

    He did .. not ages ago tho

    http://digital-forums.com/showthread...ghlight=curtin

    Thanks to elephantsoup

    wakadoo (18th August 2015)  


  7. #7
    DF VIP Member
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    How are you getting on....?

    I have moved from Nikon to Fuji and I am loving the change and having to think about stuff again rather than being on auto pilot.

    Plus having F/1.2 lenses is very nice.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    DF VIP Member Basset's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    I did a beginners course at the local college that covered a lot of this stuff.. just another option and I learnt quite bit. Made me realise I need to upgrade some of my kit

  9. #9
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    I got the wife an online course from groupon a while back was £50 and is all online with a lifetime membership to the learning materials.
    I can see if the material is able to be downloaded and could send you it.


    Thanks

    Jaygo

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    DF Rookie ProShotUK's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    Quote Originally Posted by wakadoo View Post
    right after many years of using a cheapo point n click camera I have finally bit the bullet and purchased a better camera.

    My problems started before the purchase, I have always picked a camera with a good amount of pixels and optical zoom over digital zoom, I tried to ask what lenses would compare with my usual zoom as I didn't understand 16/50 or 70/300 and it just got worse when f1.8 and..... well and that's where I lost the will to live.

    So I just got a camera and 2 lenses to get me started, one is a 18 to 55 and the other is a 70 - 300 with a 750d body, not to over the top for me price wise and enough features to keep me learning for a few years, not pro level but as I know feck all its going to keep me busy and learning and I do like it already, only got it today and the settings seem straight forward in theory but only the practice will tell.

    so now for the dreaded, can you tell me as easy as you can what all this lens jargon is please, every lens they spoke about was portrait and then full frame or four thirds and macro, I melted, oh and do I want to buy a nifty fifty, I said but this one does fifty, its not the same sir...yeah it wouldn't be would it ffs.

    oh and this one goes to f1.8 and this does f1.6 and some go to theoretical 1.2 if you do this..........wow I said in my best sarcasm ..

    I did ask what was going to be a 35mm camera comparison and could I start there and work from it.......silence followed......long awkward silence and I could see he wanted to point at my face and scream "noob" and laugh uncontrollably while the rest of the store slowly turned towards me and joined in.

    please help.

    thank you.
    Right, sir. The best thing you could possibly do us learn a raft of new tricks and practice them. The first would be how to use the Internet as a classroom. I would suggest the Institute of Photography as a starting point. If you visit my company website and leave a message via the contact form I could fill you in in depth on most of what you need to know.

    The minefield you stepped into is known as camera porn. It's addictive. It's inoffensive. It's better than sport. Once you understand how to use your kit you begin to realise what benefits a nifty fifty is with an aperture of F1. 2 against the standard lense of 18-55mm f3.2-f5.6. It's called bokeh. Take a beginners course online and pass it with video training and clear explanations. If you contact us directly we can possibly advise you how to get a major discount on such training around the world and which online course would be most beneficial to you in particular.

    There's no benefit to me advertising all this... you asked.

    Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Mickey; 13th September 2015 at 12:38 PM.

  11. #11
    DF General DogsBody
    Mickey's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    There's no benefit so I removed the url

    and putting up the email in the photo will 100% get you spammed

    Spammers get banned from DF. Please check out the rules and welcome registration message you received.

    12 Ok posts so far. but another url linking your site wont be tolerated

    Enjoy Digital forums, but please read the rules and if not sure ask
    Last edited by Mickey; 13th September 2015 at 12:56 PM.

  12. #12
    DF VIP Member dpSparhawk's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    Put the idea of a 50mm F1.2 aside for now.... that's expensive kit.

    Resources have already been provided. Linda.com for one.

    Basic info.

    Aperture = the size of the hole. It kinda works in reverse common sense. Smaller number = Larger hold. Larger number = smaller hole. - It controls Depth of Field (as well as amount of light captured)
    Big wide hole = not much in focus in the foreground or background but your subject (e.g a face) will be nice and sharp and isolated from anything behind
    Small hole = Lots in focus from front through to back. typically landscape photographs at wide angles

    Distance from your subject will affect the amount of detail in or out of focus
    Focal length (that's not the same as distance) will also affect how much is in or out of focus.

    Also, Big holes let lots of light in, little holes let not so much in (think of your pupils)

    Shutter speed = the length of time in which the shutter is open for before closing.
    Fast shutter speeds e.g 1/1000th etc. will be very good at freezing motion but won't let a lot of light in (depending on the ambient light). Tripod not normally needed.
    Slow shutter speeds e.g 10 seconds, can blur water, create light trails. Tripods are needed but also, slow shutters let lots more light in (again dependent on ambient light).

    In order to compensate for a very small aperture, the camera will often need a longer shutter speed and vice versa.
    In order to compensate for a large aperture, the camera will need a much faster shutter speed and vice versa.

    Of course, depending on the type of shot you wish to achieve, a combination of longer shutter and wider aperture can be used, or faster shutter and smaller aperture.

    ISO = How sensitive the sensor is to light.

    A lower ISO = Less sensitive therefore a darker result
    A higher ISO - More sensitive so a lighter result but can mean a grainy image depending on the camera and ISO level.

    You would increase your ISO when you've got your shutter speed and aperture exactly where you want them to be for a specific type of shot yet, those settings aren't allowing enough light in.

    You would decrease your ISO when you've got your shutter speed and aperture exactly where you want them to be for a specific type of shot yet, those settings are allowing too much light in.

    Thing is, all of the settings can be changed and rules broken in order to achieve a specific type of shot whether it be a standard still image or something more arty.

    Even all this will possibly confuse you, I'm fuckin' confusing myself PMSL.

    Basically, the settings are a trade off against each other or can be tailored specifically for a given scenario / situation. The best thing is, is to play around. Find subjects, try them at different settings and compare the results.


    When it comes to Macro, that's something that can be discussed at a much later date, if you decide to give macro a go.

  13. #13
    DF Super Moderator {{909}}'s Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    4 week old thread, he's probably sold the camera by now

    Thanks to {{909}}

    dpSparhawk (18th September 2015)  


  14. #14
    DF VIP Member dpSparhawk's Avatar
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    Default Re: need a lot of help.

    hahaha true . I just saw Mickey post on it a few days ago

    Didn't check the original date.

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