mac5155 wrote:I figured. I was just shooting on full auto and messing around with it. Should I read the user manual or a different book? or both?
i think it's pretty common for people to buy a DSLR and wonder why their pictures haven't improved. a few tips...
-don't shoot in auto. if you shoot in auto, all you have is a chunky point and shoot with a big zoom lens. to start with, i'd shoot in aperature priority and generally move it down to f3.2 or lower (though many lenses won't go this low - they'll stop at f5 or something), just to see what it does to your shots.
-even with the best cameras, in certain situations, your pictures are going to look really bland - like if the sun is directly overhead or you're inside using the little pop up flash. you'll figure out how to punch up these shots over time, so don't worry if a lot of your pictures are mediocre to start with.
-if you want a confidence builder, go outside at about 3 or 4pm - when the sun is going down and it's at like a 30 degree angle or something. get your fiance or whoever to stand with the sun hitting them in the face. if you have a long zoom lens, like 200mm, use that and set the aperature as wide as it goes (probably around f5.6 with entry level lenses), set the camera in aperature priority, get tight in on her face, and shoot away. you'll have an awesome portrait that you couldn't achieve with a point and shoot.
Thanks!