SteveR Loc: Michigan

Actually, I went back and reviewed my question. I did frame it correctly.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

It's actually very simple. Don't let all the numbers intimidate you. Get a book on basic photography. Remember the old term KISS. Keep it simple. If there's a photography club in your area join in. Don't be shy to ask questions. Everone started from scratch and from what I've experienced people who really love photography are the most helpful people out there. Even when they don't know what the hell they're talking about. Opps! Ignore that last comment. Just kidding. You can always get help on this forum. Just be aware that some of us have a strange sense of humor. Like me. Dropped on head too much as a baby I guess.

Blues Loc: Duluth, Mn

I would go to Adorama.com and click on Adorama tv with Mark Wallace. He has a video on there addressing exactly what you are asking about. I waqtch his stuff all the time

Nevada Chuck

Generally, yes. Some cameras are better than others at supressing the noise, which wasn't something that was really possible with film. And before all the RIT graduates write in, I know that there are differences, but as a rule it is easier to take steps both before and after the shutter is tripped to supress noise with digital than there is dupressing graininess with film.

And one of the greatest assets of digital is that you could, if you so desired, shoot twenty or fifty different shots, and each one could be at a different ISO; this would be "challanging" to duplicate with film!

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Does this mean you will miss the Pancake Social?

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Each setting Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO are based on a particular shot at a particular moment, hence the ability for you to control the setting, for a particular shot. So there is no setting for one shot, unless you set the camera on Auto and let the camera choose what settings it thinks is best for the shot. You can go to the Nikon website and find help. The idea is for you to change the camera settings to get the image you like when you see it, and not what the camera thinks you would like.

flshutterbug Loc: FloriDUH

What new users have to understand is that some combination of f-stop and shutterspeed control exposure, which is in and of itself separate from subject and composition. When you vary one you must also adjust the other to maintain the same exposure. Depending on the subject and what you are trying to achieve this can have marked affects on the shot.

Shutterspeeds are important when you have movement - subject or camera (shaking from handholding, etc). Varying the f-stop can radically change a picture because of the changes in depth of field as you move from a larger f-stop down to a smaller . . .

There are plenty of website that have examples to show how this works; the type of lens can will also change the settiing combiation desired. If you're shooting in normal sunlight you should use a low ISO (100 or 200) for the best quality images and shoot about three stops down from your maximum f-stop (usually about f/5.6). This should give you a shutterspeed fast enough to prevent slight camera movement from affecting the image or subject movement creating blur . . .

pantherXL Loc: Minnesota

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)
by Bryan Peterson is a great book to learn from, it really helped me.

about $28.35 new or $11.84 used @

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358191960&sr=8-2&keywords=understanding+exposure

$25.95 new @

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/130101/understanding-exposure-by-bryan-peterson

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The best way to understand ISO, aperture, and speed? Get out and shoot. It's much easier with a digital camera. To understand dof, take the same shot at different apertures with the necessary change in speed and see what different results you get. It's as good as reading a textbook. Also...use that dof button.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Great advice but I would add to begin with use one lens and one subject shot from the same position. Then the difference in DOF will really stand out. Maybe even skip half stops at first. The progressions may not be as noticeable at half stops especially with a wider angle lens. :thumbup:

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I agree. The lens I had on my old Canon ftb was a 50mm lens. Probably a good one, or equivalent focal length, to use.