New DSLR Camera--Tips for a Beginner!

[Jennifer Palmer]

I've been dying to get my hands on a DSLR for quite sometime. My previous camera was horrible at taking weather photos, because it has this ridiculous "face recognition" software that cannot be turned off (at least by any way that I have found), which means cloud shots look grainy, but that tree in the foreground or the spot on your window when you forget to roll it down looks amazing!

Anyway, last night, I got the Nikon D3100!!! I'm so excited, and I have a lot to learn about DSLR cameras! The main reason I got the camera is so my weather shots look like something and for lightning shots!

Do you guys have any tips? Any good links or info for weather shots? What about lenses? It came with an 18-55mm lens.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Oscar van der Velde]

The first day after I bought my first autofocus SLR camera in 1997, a squall line passed and I initially couldn't figure out how to focus on the damn shelf cloud (I was used to an all-manual SLR camera). Don't try to autofocus on the sky. Prefocus on the horizon and recompose while holding the focus button (don't know about Nikon but it could be half-pressing the shutter button, or using a dedicated AF button). Better yet use a lens with focus scale and just manual focus at infinity and forget about it for the rest of the day.
For storm structure most would agree that something wider than 15mm for DX/APS-C format DSLR is necessary once you're right under it.

Oscar

 

[Jennifer Palmer]

Thanks for the reply! I'm still going to bring along my ole point and shoot just in case. I'm terrified of getting near something awesome, and then not being able to get the photo I want because I don't know how to use my camera! Sadly, my BlackBerry camera takes better weather photos than my POS.

Those are great tips! Thank you again!

 

[DRMabe]

Don't skimp on glass. Buy quality lenses, and don't fall for the cheap lenses. A bad lens can make a top of the line camera take crap pictures. Try and take care of your equipment. Don't change lenses outside unless you have to, and never change in a dusty environment. When I change lenses, if possible I get in my vehicle, and turn the air completely off for about 2 minutes to allow any dust to settle, then change. Always change lenses quickly and keep the opening facing down until you get the new lens attached. Nothing more aggravating than sensor dust, and it will show up, especially at higher apertures of sky shots.

 

[Jennifer Palmer]

Do you guys have a suggestion for another good size lens to get? I was thinking of getting a wide angle zoom lens.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Congrats, Jennifer! I just got my first DSLR too. I actually picked the lens out first, and then got a body for it. Wound up with a Canon 60D because I really wanted the EF-S 10-22mm. Mike H's shots sold me on that lens. Another high quality wide angle zoom that's gotten rave reviews is the Tokina 11-16. It shoots razor sharp pictures and is very fast: f/2.8. Lots of chasers on here are shooting with the Sigma 10-20mm. Its gotten mixed reviews, but I've talked to a bunch of chasers who love the lens.

 

[Bryan Stokes]

Congratulations Jennifer! I too remember the excitement when I got my DSLR. It sure is a great feeling!

The best thing you can do right now is learn how to use the different controls on your camera and also learn the fundamentals of Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO and how they relate to each other. Once you learn this, you can start to use your DSLR for what it was intended for -- creativity. I really can't stress this enough: by learning the basics now, you're enjoyment of photography will be exponentially better.

An excellent intro into the fundamentals of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO can be found in Bryan Peterson's book "Understanding Exposure". The newly released third edition can be found at Amazon by clicking here.

I would start with this book and then also read your camera's manual thoroughly. While reading the manual and this book, get out and immediately experiment with what you're reading. Hands-on practice will help you digest the newfound information, and as you become comfortable with the different concepts, you will also become more comfortable using your camera in the field when a storm is bearing down on you.

Learning to use your new camera and how to impart your vision into a photograph is the most important thing you can do to improve your enjoyment of photography.

Hope this helps,
Bryan

 

[Jennifer Palmer]

WOW! You guys have really come through for me! I knew you would! I am currently in grad school, and I have a project due today. I'm dying because I want to play with my camera!!!

Thanks again, everyone! I really appreciate all of your help! Keep the tips coming!

 

[Jim Parsons]

I would second Skip's thoughts on the 10-22mm lens(whatever Nikon's version is). It is a great lens for getting those nice wide angle structure shots.

 

[John Wetter]

For lenses, you could do the DX lens, the 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 which is a lot less expensive than the 14-24 f/2.8 and has about the same quality. The 14-24 is a full frame lense so shooting the 3100, you won't really be able to take advantage of it except for it being faster.

One of the things I found helped me back when I learned to use an SLR (gasp, film!) and the same would go for a DSLR, is to learn shooting in shutter priority and/or aperture priority modes so you get a feel for what the camera is doing. Pay attention to how the camera compensates other things when you change these settings. I still usually shoot in aperture priority mode because I want to control the depth of field and just let the shutter compensate so I don't have to worry about it while chasing. I lock my ISO down to 200 during daylight shooting to keep at little noise as possible in the shots. Dusk and later I'll up the ISO, but I don't want it to compensate during the day.

Enjoy the new camera! The best advice I could give is use it a LOT before chasing with it! You can't get a good comfort level any other way than using it.

 

[Jay Bell]

Jennifer, just a quick point to note here....the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 IS a fantastic lens, but it will NOT autofocus on the D3100. You CAN manually focus using the focus dot in the lower left hand corner of the viewfinder. It does work well in that manner, and will make great pictures. Hope this helps!

Jay

 

[Wes Carter]

Also, even though it is a cheaper lens, that little 18-55 f4.5-56 VR lens that came with your camera is one heck of a lens and with the vibration reduction Nikon claims you can get an extra 2-3 stops with it. Nikon makes a 12-24mm f/4 lens that I think has a focusing motor in it. Tokina also makes a 12-24 f/4 with a focusing motor built in, but you have to make sure you get the version II to get the motor, because version I did not have it. And right now both are still on the market. Here is a link to the newer one.

The D3100 is an amazing camera from everything I have read. It's amazing how far the digital cameras have come in the past 12 years. I remember working at the Daytona 500 in 1999 and some of the photogs had these new DSLR's that if I remember right were Nikon N90s' that had digital backs made by Kodak. There was a big debate whether digital cameras would ever have the resolution and quality of film. Most of us were in agreement, it would never happen.

You have got a lot of good advice from the others, and the biggest thing I have to add is that you just need to get out there and shoot. Get used to the camera and what it will do. There is a lot of technology packed into that little black box, and I think that we are shortchanging ourselves if we only use them on special occasions and don't get to know the camera. The manual is nice, but also order a Magic Lantern guide for the camera. They are like a plain English version of the manual written in a way that is more conducive to learning rather than just a tech manual. (I just looked, the Magic Lantern guide for your camera will not be released until April 1. I just got the D7000 and it's the same for me, it's not released yet so I got the D7000 Digital Field guide. It's OK, but I'm looking forward to the Magic Lantern guide. They are by far my favorites.)

 

[DRMabe]

As for a wide angle lens, I have the Sigma 10-20, have had nothing but good results with it!

 

[Andy Jackson]

Anyway, last night, I got the Nikon D3100!!! I'm so excited, and I have a lot to learn about DSLR cameras! The main reason I got the camera is so my weather shots look like something and for lightning shots!

Do you guys have any tips? Any good links or info for weather shots? What about lenses? It came with an 18-55mm lens.

Thanks in advance!!!

Just learn about exposure and how these values relate: ISO, aperture, shutter-speed. If you shoot lightning at a high ISO remember to change it the next day. If little UFO's start showing up on you images it means you need to clean your sensor. Feel free to shoot away.

 

[Chip Redmond]

Good starting point at understanding aperature, shutter speed and ISO is taking sunset/sunrise photos and learn to tweak the setting as the conditions change to get different features to come out of the sky and foreground. As said before, practice makes perfect. So use it a ton!

Also, if you are planning on shooting lightning and dark photos (I don't think this has been mentioned yet), invest in a good tripod and remote trigger. The camera needs to be extremely still and steady. Especially for long exposure shots (which you will use to get lightning).

Chip