The Learning Curve (Page 3): That is why you read the manual initially when the information will be somewhat foreign to you, use the camera for a while to become more familiar with it...

Lazy J Loc: Pacific Northwest

DerBiermeister wrote:

Thanks -- I will do so. I usually find however that owner's manuals are not structured well for learning. They may have all the information within, but do not take you through a logical learning process.:)

That is why you read the manual initially when the information will be somewhat foreign to you, use the camera for a while to become more familiar with it, and then go back and read the manual again when things will make more sense to you. You will retain much more info the second time.

Thereafter, use it as a reference manual only.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

go to camerasim.com and work the simulations.

anotherview Loc: California

Study composition. Effective composition will improve your photographs.

DerBiermeister wrote:

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand new to DSLR (or SLR). As a retired EE, I hope I am smart enough to pick up on all the various techniques in perfecting pictures if I work at it. I realize that I'm going to have to use the camera on a regular and frequent basis (even if I have no real need for taking a picture) in order for it all to become second nature. That will be my goal -- to get to a point where I can zip through the menu settings for different types of pictures without any struggle.

I have another week to go before receiving the new camera. Right now I am watching the youtube tutorials. I was lucky in that the first one I watched happened to put cameras into the perspective of involving only three main areas -- shutter speed, aperture openings, and ISO sensitivities, and that adjustments to one of those will result in the need for changes to the other two. Keeping that always conscious in my mind will help the learning process.

All of the tutorials start off with simple stuff but quickly move into the "unknown". I am finding that it would be a LOT easier if I had the camera in hand while watching the tutorials.

One thing I have read: my new camera (Nikon 5300) is not the most user friendly on the manual settings. Extra steps involved with buttons and scrolls vs say a Canon. Plus there is no touch-screen ability. Because of this, I did something that may seem ridiculous -- I bought the red version of the camera, thinking that the black buttons and controls will stand out and be easier to locate quickly. Time will tell if there is a method to my madness.

I bought one of these packages that has a lot of peripheral stuff -- things like an external flash, a tripod, remote control, etc. Learning to use a flash properly is another whole topic by itself. I know from using my old point-and-shoot camera that I never was able to take any good pictures with a flash.

Any tips on how to learn would be greatly welcomed. Thanks for listening to my ramble.
DB

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand ne... (show quote)

kcimato

http://canontrainingvideo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=66

I am more of a visual learner and found this guy's video very valuable. He takes you step by stept for your cameras setup. This is how i learned to use my Canon 60D. I sat at the computer with my camera and manual The second part of the video contains his photography school. You won't be dissappointed. He is also on youtube so google Miichael Andrew or Michael the Maven. It says Canon training but he alo produces videos for Nikon. He has one specifically for the 5300.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Shoot pictures 100's and 100's of pictures.Try different settings. Then shoot 100's and 100's more. Digital film costs zilch. Shoot a 1000 shots and you will know your camera. The shutter is good for minimum of 140000 more shots so those will all be stunning photos cos you know the camera. Using it and consulting the manual in between lots of shooting is how you learn it.
Enjoy it is the main thing.

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

If I find I do not like the free youtube videos that abound, I will spend the $38 bucks for the Michael Andrew course.
Thanks for the link.

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

I thank everyone for the great inputs. While I may not respond to each post, trust me, I am reading them and will follow the advice.

I watched this video yesterday -- found it to be pretty informative.

Are any of you familiar with this guy's videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr1Zj76Inh4

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

ronwande wrote:

I suspect you can find and download the manual for your new camera. DSLR manuals are usually pretty good cures for insomnia read late at night. If you watch TV in the evening, have it handy and read during commercials. :-)

Thanks for that.

I usually remember to get my manuals online - not sure why I didn't think of it this time. :roll:

I just downloaded it and will spend sometime today perusing it to see how it is structured. Like others have suggested, I am not going to dive into it too deeply, especially not having the camera yet.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Adicus wrote:

How to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Just take it slowly and you will get there, as I can tell from your post that you are mad keen to learn .

:thumbup:
There is just too much in any of the books, to learn it all in a relatively short time!
Here's what I (still) do:
I read a bunch of the articles on this forum, and when something appeals to me, I see if I can do the same thing with my camera.
But what I like best: When the weather is miserable (right now it's supposed to be mid-winter and all we get is rain!!!), I make myself a large mug of hot chocolate, turn the fireplace on, and make myself comfortable on the couch, with my camera, lenses, books about my camera, highlighter pen, pen and paper and small laptop, all within easy reach. Then I start flipping through the books till I see something that looks interesting. I read that paragraph and or chapter, also look up the same/similar in the other books (I have the user's guide plus two "outside" books for my camera). Finally, I hope I understood what it said and try it with the camera.
The wall, tv, window and husband, all across from where I sit, are the most photographed objects in this house.
I do make notes of what I do (settings are in the exif data, no need to record those).
I've been doing this for some time now, have learned a lot, and as long as the hot chocolate and my spot on the couch are patient, I'll be learning more - on little thing at a time.
The beauty of photographing things right away, is that I can immediately see if the results are what I should expect, or if I should tweak a setting, or use a different lens.
In any case, all our learning curves are different, some very long and slow, others very steep and fast, but if we want to get there, we'll all reach the top - just not at the same time.
Have fun with your new toy when it comes!
Feel free to post more questions here on the forum, you'll likely get some good answers, some bad answers and some non-answers, but althogether, there's a pretty good crew on board the "UHH."

Elsiss Loc: Bayside, NY, Boynton Beach, Fl.

DerBiermeister wrote:

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand new to DSLR (or SLR). As a retired EE, I hope I am smart enough to pick up on all the various techniques in perfecting pictures if I work at it. I realize that I'm going to have to use the camera on a regular and frequent basis (even if I have no real need for taking a picture) in order for it all to become second nature. That will be my goal -- to get to a point where I can zip through the menu settings for different types of pictures without any struggle.

I have another week to go before receiving the new camera. Right now I am watching the youtube tutorials. I was lucky in that the first one I watched happened to put cameras into the perspective of involving only three main areas -- shutter speed, aperture openings, and ISO sensitivities, and that adjustments to one of those will result in the need for changes to the other two. Keeping that always conscious in my mind will help the learning process.

All of the tutorials start off with simple stuff but quickly move into the "unknown". I am finding that it would be a LOT easier if I had the camera in hand while watching the tutorials.

One thing I have read: my new camera (Nikon 5300) is not the most user friendly on the manual settings. Extra steps involved with buttons and scrolls vs say a Canon. Plus there is no touch-screen ability. Because of this, I did something that may seem ridiculous -- I bought the red version of the camera, thinking that the black buttons and controls will stand out and be easier to locate quickly. Time will tell if there is a method to my madness.

I bought one of these packages that has a lot of peripheral stuff -- things like an external flash, a tripod, remote control, etc. Learning to use a flash properly is another whole topic by itself. I know from using my old point-and-shoot camera that I never was able to take any good pictures with a flash.

Any tips on how to learn would be greatly welcomed. Thanks for listening to my ramble.
DB

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand ne... (show quote)

Welcome aboard. The Nikon manuals that they include wit heir cameras are not very easy to follow. David Busch writes manuals for all popular cameras and they are wonderful, explain everything, and available at most bookstores or on-line at fair price. Get one for the D5300. You will love it. It will certainly make a difference in th learning curve and make things easier. It did for me!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

DerBiermeister wrote:

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand new to DSLR (or SLR). As a retired EE, I hope I am smart enough to pick up on all the various techniques in perfecting pictures if I work at it. I realize that I'm going to have to use the camera on a regular and frequent basis (even if I have no real need for taking a picture) in order for it all to become second nature. That will be my goal -- to get to a point where I can zip through the menu settings for different types of pictures without any struggle.

I have another week to go before receiving the new camera. Right now I am watching the youtube tutorials. I was lucky in that the first one I watched happened to put cameras into the perspective of involving only three main areas -- shutter speed, aperture openings, and ISO sensitivities, and that adjustments to one of those will result in the need for changes to the other two. Keeping that always conscious in my mind will help the learning process.

All of the tutorials start off with simple stuff but quickly move into the "unknown". I am finding that it would be a LOT easier if I had the camera in hand while watching the tutorials.

One thing I have read: my new camera (Nikon 5300) is not the most user friendly on the manual settings. Extra steps involved with buttons and scrolls vs say a Canon. Plus there is no touch-screen ability. Because of this, I did something that may seem ridiculous -- I bought the red version of the camera, thinking that the black buttons and controls will stand out and be easier to locate quickly. Time will tell if there is a method to my madness.

I bought one of these packages that has a lot of peripheral stuff -- things like an external flash, a tripod, remote control, etc. Learning to use a flash properly is another whole topic by itself. I know from using my old point-and-shoot camera that I never was able to take any good pictures with a flash.

Any tips on how to learn would be greatly welcomed. Thanks for listening to my ramble.
DB

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand ne... (show quote)

Having an engineering background myself, I find that the artist and engineering go hand in hand. The artist allowed me to create designs and the engineering discipline kept those within the bounds of reality. The discipline provided me the necessary skills to solve the problems presented by limits of the medium and creatively working with or around them.

The problems are solved similar to engineering a little bit at a time. The first one grasping the knowledge of the photographic medium. You're off to a good start. Just tackle one problem at a time and combine that acquired knowledge to the next problem and keep building. Your engineering will come in handy.
--Bob

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Bill_de wrote:

Lesson one - stop thinking like an EE and start thinking like an artist. :lol:

Welcome aboard!

--

Nonsense. The engineering will provide valuable assets that will lead to a better understanding and solution to photographic principles.
--Bob

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

Elsiss wrote:

Welcome aboard. The Nikon manuals that they include wit heir cameras are not very easy to follow. David Busch writes manuals for all popular cameras and they are wonderful, explain everything, and available at most bookstores or on-line at fair price. Get one for the D5300. You will love it. It will certainly make a difference in th learning curve and make things easier. It did for me!

Had to backorder it from Amazon, but because you buy the paperback - you get the Kindle version for only 3 bucks. So I ordered that too -- always have it with me on my smartphone. Thanks

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

DerBiermeister wrote:

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand new to DSLR (or SLR). As a retired EE, I hope I am smart enough to pick up on all the various techniques in perfecting pictures if I work at it. I realize that I'm going to have to use the camera on a regular and frequent basis (even if I have no real need for taking a picture) in order for it all to become second nature. That will be my goal -- to get to a point where I can zip through the menu settings for different types of pictures without any struggle.

I have another week to go before receiving the new camera. Right now I am watching the youtube tutorials. I was lucky in that the first one I watched happened to put cameras into the perspective of involving only three main areas -- shutter speed, aperture openings, and ISO sensitivities, and that adjustments to one of those will result in the need for changes to the other two. Keeping that always conscious in my mind will help the learning process.

All of the tutorials start off with simple stuff but quickly move into the "unknown". I am finding that it would be a LOT easier if I had the camera in hand while watching the tutorials.

One thing I have read: my new camera (Nikon 5300) is not the most user friendly on the manual settings. Extra steps involved with buttons and scrolls vs say a Canon. Plus there is no touch-screen ability. Because of this, I did something that may seem ridiculous -- I bought the red version of the camera, thinking that the black buttons and controls will stand out and be easier to locate quickly. Time will tell if there is a method to my madness.

I bought one of these packages that has a lot of peripheral stuff -- things like an external flash, a tripod, remote control, etc. Learning to use a flash properly is another whole topic by itself. I know from using my old point-and-shoot camera that I never was able to take any good pictures with a flash.

Any tips on how to learn would be greatly welcomed. Thanks for listening to my ramble.
DB

As I said in the Introduction forum, I am brand ne... (show quote)

Cameras can be a bit frustrating to learn, but not mysterious. Reading and learning the manual will be the biggest obstacle you will face getting started. Cannot emphasize this enough.
Also IMO, the best second thing to learn after your camera is light and lighting, how it affects exposures. I have always thought our greatest photographers are those that have embraced light as their friend instead of treating it as something to be conquered. I think many of us, including myself, fall somewhere between.
Know the capabilities of your camera and gear as you add equipment, understand how light affects exposures and how to use it for what you are trying to portray and the rest is pretty easy.
Your best tool (IMO), towards taking great shots after learning about the camera and light is a tripod.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Tony Northrup's DSLR Book: How to Create Stunning Digital Photography. This is a great tool. He explains and subject and than has a video on it. It has free updates on the tablet version. I also have an Engineering background. I think it helps with the technical things. I've looked at pictures I've taken a few years ago and think "Yikes!" I've learned a lot from the nice people on this forum also. Good luck, and have fun.