Want To Learn To Use DSLR Camera
Apr 7, 2013 13:58:19 #
You have a sophisticated piece of equipment with powerful potential. If you buy yourself "Introduction to the Canon 60D" by Blue Crane Digital, it will be money well spent. They demonstrate all the buttons, controls and effects available to you. You'll learn the jargon in context. You can play and replay concepts of interest to ensure understanding. You will be on your way to using your camera as intuitively as you drive a car. You can find it in stores or online (5 stars on Amazon).
Apr 7, 2013 13:59:25 #
KEEP IT SIMPLE AT FIRST! All that has been said is great- however! My advice to you is FIRST- just get used to the camera for a few weeks by using Auto remembering to pop up flash for fill flash on people's faces. You are going from a small point and shoot to a heavier camera with large lens. It will get some getting used to in the first place. Use auto and shoot jpeg plus raw so that you can always have the raw files for when you learn how to process them later. Learn how to steady and work your zoom and just plain take photos before you get into what can be overwhelming in learning manual adjustments. Have fun first with auto. You will be able to accomplish 90% and certainly 100% of what you used to do, only better with just auto. Once you master auto all the rest will start to fall in place and the S, A and ISO will make more sense when you are used to handling the camera. Good luck.
Apr 7, 2013 14:14:46 #
Welcome. Your fellow hoggers have given you some good advice. I would add that when reading the manual have your camera with you and go hands-on, step by step and shoot and shoot and shoot. You made an excellent choice of cameras and as you get proficient with it you will be amazed what you and your Canon can do together. Happy shooting.
Apr 7, 2013 15:01:18 #
I have a couple of ideas that helped me a lot in the beginning.
One buy the book made for your camera by David D. Busch. He writes them for many cameras. He tell you what the manual left out in detail. The next book I would by is anything written by Scott Kelby. He funny and makes it easy to keep reading. But don't let that fool you. He's amazing.
Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 by Scott Kelby (May 6, 2012) $43.26 on Amazon. Well worth the money. No I don't get a cut just passing along what helped me.
One buy the book made for your camera by David D. Busch. He writes them for many cameras. He tell you what the manual left out in detail. The next book I would by is anything written by Scott Kelby. He funny and makes it easy to keep reading. But don't let that fool you. He's amazing.
Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 by Scott Kelby (May 6, 2012) $43.26 on Amazon. Well worth the money. No I don't get a cut just passing along what helped me.
Apr 7, 2013 15:14:06 #
Lym,
As usual, you will get some great advice here at UHH. All of those suggestions will help you enormously. I also find it helpful having my Nikon DSLR Shooting Modes book with me in my camera bag. It's tiny but packed with helpful info about camera menus, settings and shooting modes for just about every situation. There is a similar book for your Canon DSLR camera here http://www.amazon.com/Canon-D-SLR-Shooting-Camera-Companions/dp/1604331135
I also have an Android app on my phone called Photo Caddy which gives me tips and settings for a large variety of shooting topics.
I hope you enjoy using your new DSLR camera.
As usual, you will get some great advice here at UHH. All of those suggestions will help you enormously. I also find it helpful having my Nikon DSLR Shooting Modes book with me in my camera bag. It's tiny but packed with helpful info about camera menus, settings and shooting modes for just about every situation. There is a similar book for your Canon DSLR camera here http://www.amazon.com/Canon-D-SLR-Shooting-Camera-Companions/dp/1604331135
I also have an Android app on my phone called Photo Caddy which gives me tips and settings for a large variety of shooting topics.
I hope you enjoy using your new DSLR camera.
Apr 7, 2013 16:00:18 #
Lym wrote:
Hi br br I used to be a point and shoot "pho... (show quote)
Go on Amazon and get a field guide for your particular camera. They usually go a little deeper on why you might choose a particular setting and are easier to understand. Most books on Amazon give you a chance to read part of the book so select one that fits your level. While your at it look up Scott Kelby's series of books on Digital Photography. Put them all in your wish list for easy reference. Learn the ins and outs of your camera first. Then buy Kelby's books one at a time. As you will be purchasing items from Amazon like filters, batteries etc. the price of these books can be added to an order to qualify it for free shipping. Once you learn how to control your camera Kelby can teach you how to make good photographs.
Apr 7, 2013 16:32:24 #
BSpillane Photography
Loc: Vernon, NJ
Lym & Jinzee, Reading the manual is recommended, but some find aftermarket books easier to read and understand. Try a google search for your particular camera. Lighthouse also mentioned DPS (Digital Photography School) another great resource. You may also pick up "Understanding Exposure" by Peterson, another good source for information. But also just try going out and shooting, try different settings and see what they do and how they affect your photos. Maybe most importantly, HAVE FUN! and good luck!
Apr 7, 2013 16:38:42 #
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm
http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners
http://www.geofflawrence.com/index.html
http://www.digital-photography-tips.net/digital-photography-tutor.html#tutorials
http://photoextremist.com/
http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners
http://www.geofflawrence.com/index.html
http://www.digital-photography-tips.net/digital-photography-tutor.html#tutorials
http://photoextremist.com/
Apr 7, 2013 17:41:09 #
Lym wrote:
Hi br br I used to be a point and shoot "pho... (show quote)
HI Lym And Welcome To UHH ,, You Might Try This Blue Crain Digital Video, It Really Helped Me When I Got My First DSLR, And I Bought A Book On My Camera By David Busch's , The Two Links Should Take You To Your Camera Information . Good Luck
http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Canon-Digital-Photography/dp/1435459385/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365370600&sr=1-1&keywords=david+busch%27s+canon+eos+60d#_
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Crane-Digital-zBC136-Introduction/dp/B004EBUN2Q
Apr 7, 2013 18:08:01 #
Apr 7, 2013 18:12:00 #
cambridgeincolour.com/learn-photography-concepts.htm
cambridgeincolour.com/learn-photography-concepts.htm and search within same site for exposure triangle. Learn about image composition before learning manual, then learn about Aperture and Speed (Shutter) preferred shooting. Learn about exposure bracketing. With these skills in hand manual will become a no brainier and frankly you may never have to use manual.
Lym wrote:
Hi br br I used to be a point and shoot "pho... (show quote)
cambridgeincolour.com/learn-photography-concepts.htm and search within same site for exposure triangle. Learn about image composition before learning manual, then learn about Aperture and Speed (Shutter) preferred shooting. Learn about exposure bracketing. With these skills in hand manual will become a no brainier and frankly you may never have to use manual.
Apr 7, 2013 19:41:36 #
Lym,
I do not disagree with all the comments about reading your camera manual but I find that the manual mostly tells you how to do something but does not tell you WHY you do it. I have been using DSLRs since the 20D and now own a 60D just like yours. I found a book called the Canon EOS 60D Digital Field Guide written by Charlotte K. Lowrie that does tell you HOW and WHY in very easy to understand language. It is available from Amazon.com if your local bookstore does not carry it. The price through Amazon is around $17.50 USD. It is extremely well written and will supplement the camera manual beautifully.
I do not disagree with all the comments about reading your camera manual but I find that the manual mostly tells you how to do something but does not tell you WHY you do it. I have been using DSLRs since the 20D and now own a 60D just like yours. I found a book called the Canon EOS 60D Digital Field Guide written by Charlotte K. Lowrie that does tell you HOW and WHY in very easy to understand language. It is available from Amazon.com if your local bookstore does not carry it. The price through Amazon is around $17.50 USD. It is extremely well written and will supplement the camera manual beautifully.
Apr 7, 2013 19:59:14 #
I bought a 60D last July and bought this training Video. I had one for my last digital also. It is from Michael Andrew and it shows you how to set all the camera settings ( then you can refer back to the manual. In that video he has a little photography school. It is a good place to start.
http://www.canontrainingvideo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=22
you can also do
www.michaelthementor.com
www.michaelthemaven.com
He has several youtube videos out there too.
I took 4 courses online through
www.jessicasprague.com
The instructor was Cadice Stringham and she was amazing. She sends an email everyday and they have short videos with them. Then she will give you a practice assingment and once a week there is a live webinar with her. I learned so much from other questions. She is now in the middle of her first course Oh Shoot so I don't know when it will come around again. If you scroll down on Jessica's site, click on Photography and the courses will appear. Click notify me and you will get an email when she teaches it again.
Good luck and have fun.
http://www.canontrainingvideo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=22
you can also do
www.michaelthementor.com
www.michaelthemaven.com
He has several youtube videos out there too.
I took 4 courses online through
www.jessicasprague.com
The instructor was Cadice Stringham and she was amazing. She sends an email everyday and they have short videos with them. Then she will give you a practice assingment and once a week there is a live webinar with her. I learned so much from other questions. She is now in the middle of her first course Oh Shoot so I don't know when it will come around again. If you scroll down on Jessica's site, click on Photography and the courses will appear. Click notify me and you will get an email when she teaches it again.
Good luck and have fun.
Apr 7, 2013 20:00:50 #
Hello Lym. You may want to check out Ken Rockwell at www.kenrockwell.com He give a lot of info. Also take a look at Scott Kelby...
Apr 7, 2013 22:29:40 #
Lym wrote:
Hi br br I used to be a point and shoot "pho... (show quote)
............................................................
Use your 60D in full automatic mode as you learn about controlling it better. I will provide a brief guide to using the shutter speed priority. It will take care of most of your photo challenges.
1. 1/100 sec. for shots off a tripod, such as formal portraits, architectural shots, and landscapes.
2. 1/160 sec. for candid hand-held shots such as at a party or a wedding reception. A slower speed is likely to record movement you impart to the camera. Even if the lens is stabilized, a slower speed will blur random gestures, thus ruining some of your shots.
3. 1/250 sec. for sports, if you don't mind some blurring, especially of the ball.
4. 1/320 sec. to freeze all human motion and most movement of a ball in fast action sports.
There is much more you will want to learn, but the above guide will give you through until you master whatever you want to about you 60D.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.