tomfr Loc: Brevard N.C.

Tom, you hit the nail right on the head.

DennisK Loc: Pickle City,Illinois

And Coco,I totally understand about the "bulb" problem,as I have a Nikon and it took me awhile to find it.And no,the manual doesn't really explain how to find it.I think I know what frustrated you.When you are turning that dial,it appears that it stops progressing to the next shutter speed,but if you just keep turning the dial,bulb will eventually show up.I had to find this out myself,as I was getting frustrated too.

Gary of the North

Amazon sells a book titled Digital SLR Photography All-in-One For Dummies that you might find useful.

wbphoto

Sounds like you may need to actually take a class at your local college where they can give you hands-on help. There have been posted some very good advice, but it's easier to understand when they are actually showing you with camera in hand. I agree that you need to read and reread the user manual. Don't feel too frustrated....there is a lot to learn when it comes to photography. Don't expect to learn it all at once.

jcsnell Loc: SW Ohio

I have a Nikon D3100 also and love it. I also have a 55-200 and 70-300, I find that I use the 70-300 a lot more for animals,birds etc.
As far as info, you should have a disc that came with your camera that will allow you to print a reference manual. Take the time to print it out (about 200 pages) and read it. It is easier to understand than the user manual and will be a big help to you. The main thing is to keep shooting and do not be afraid to experiment. Have fun.

Bob K. Loc: Indiana

I couldn't agree with you more. I feel the same way!!!

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

I can feel your pain and frustration. I bought a Canon T3i back in October and I knew nothing about a DSLR camera or exposure, metering, software or anything. As I started reading manuals and books it just confused me more. Since I am a hands on type of person I wanted someone to show me what to do rather than me trying to figure it out by reading a book. I stumbled across one website that is absolutely fantastic but it does require a monthly subscription fee. The name of the site is called lynda.com and they use videos rather than a book to show you exactly what to click on. If you go to lynda.com and enter Nikon D5100 and hit enter it will bring up a list of all of the classes and it will even let you sample a few video before you purchase the membership. This site has helped me so much at understanding more about my camera and I'm sure it will help you as well. Once you get more familiar with the camera you can then move on to learning Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom ( I would recommend the Foundations of Photography course)

If you do join the site it is very helpful to have your camera available while you watch the videos so you can apply what you just watched.

Here is the link for your camera just in case you have trouble

http://www.lynda.com/tutorials/Shooting-with-the-Nikon-D5100/86641-2.html?srchtrk=index%3A1%0Alinktypeid%3A2%0Aq%3ANikon%20D3100%0Apage%3A1%0As%3Arelevance%0Asa%3Atrue%0Aproducttypeid%3A2

The instructor for this course is Ben Long and he is also the instructor for the T3i as well and he does a great job at breaking the details down where a newbie can understand it. Watch the samples and you will see for yourself.

Hope this Helps (It did for me)

amkras Loc: NY

I felt the same way when after several years with advanced point and shoots. I was so miserable with my new dslr over 2 yrs ago. Just a suggestion but seek out your best local camera shop and see if they have camera specific classes. We have a shop locally that does that. The manufacturers send a field rep/instructor to teach all about the camers. The go through all the menus and recommended settings. It was such a help. Also this same shop offers 1:1 time for a small fee with someone who works there or affiliated with them.

rmcquese Loc: NW Georgia

I looked at your original post and it looks like you have the D3100 not the D5100. I did not see a video on that particular camera but if you watch the D5100 videos I'm sure they should have some similarities and you should learn something. Its worth the membership to just learn Light Room and also the Fundamentals Course though.

filmjock Loc: NC/SC

On my Nikon "Bulb Mode" 1st select "M" mode right there on the upper left dial of your camera (Auto - P-S-A-M) then turn the front command dial until you see the word "bulb" show up on either your top LCD screen or on your rear display screen. On the rear screen you need to press the (info) button on the back of the camera to see it. But it will be displayed on your top LCD screen.

overthemoon Loc: Wisconsin

If you got the book understanding exposure its a straight forward book. Take one concept at a time and then come onto this forum and ask a question. I am dyslexic so when I first started I tried to take and learn it all at once it was to over whelming reading to me is difficult then add terms I hadn't seen before. I read the book and then I took one part of the book asked questions and went and did it. I didn't do more until I understood the concept. I also had to give myself catch phrases to remember things for example for Aperture "smaller the whole the larger the number". When I went to go practice depth of field I would say it in my head.

Bob K. Loc: Indiana

Thank you for the website, however my computer will not handle videos. Away out here in the country, i do not have high speed internet service. Still on dial up.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Hello Coco (Roger) As others have done, I'll also welcome you to digital!
We bought my daughter a D3100 for Christmas in 2009. I read the manual thoroughly...and also went to the Nikon site and watched ALL of their video tutorials. Keep in mind, this is HER camera...not mine.
We had alot of fun with her new camera....especially on a trip with my wife, daughter, son in law and me to San Francisco.
I loved the digital so much that they all bought me aD5000 for my birthday. I did the same...read the manual from start to finish and watched all tutorials...even though some was redundant.
I also drive my family nuts by taking the "same" picture in all different "scene" modes and trying different settings in Manual. The cool thing with this is that you can immediately see the result.
As so many have said....Take LOTS of pictures and try to keep track of what you did. Carry a notebook & write them down. I am certainly no professional and have ALOT to learn! This has been a great place for advice. Most importantly...keep it fun and don't get frustrated.

photeach Loc: beautiful Kansas

I feel your pain. I am a journalism teacher who has had to adapt from film processing to digital. I don't find the manual very helpful (because I have to read it aloud and wonder why they let bad writers write the manuals).
I have had to adjust my thinking on learning to use digital cameras. I have realized:
1. It's better to have a specific thing you want to learn, like how to change the ISO. Then learn that one thing. I have to write down the steps for each procedure and make a small poster to put in my classroom.
2. There is no one learning curve for digital photography. You learn a little and then realize there's a whole other area you are ignorant of. I don't think you can learn photography like some people learn to play a musical instrument -- in an orderly way. It's just all over the place, and technology is galloping ahead of us. Who knew that in the very near future, all the cables and card readers we bought will be obsolete because of the EyeFi cards.
3. Photographers use abbreviations like some people use salt -- too freely. The term "PP" popped up the other day on this forum and it was 5 minutes before I realized they were talking "post-processing," using PhotoShop. well, duh. I keep a poster of abbreviations, too.
4. Photographers can't use there/their/they're very well.
5. Ugly Hedgehog Forum is invaluable, and some people are very nice and extremely helpful. I've learned a lot, and I thank you.
I still won't read the manual, and I think it's a copout to tell me to. I love the D3100 I purchased for my classroom. You will love yours as well.

Jim Tolliver Loc: Loveland, Ohio

When I got my Nikon D5100 last spring, I got a book at the book store called Nikon D5100 Digital Field Guide by J Dennis Thomas. It was very helpful to me. It not only told me how to do things in general, but also how to set up my model camera. I also saw one for the Nikon D3100 as well as many other popular model and brand cameras.