New camera blues: I just got a Canon EOS Rebel T3i. Stepped up from a point and shoot. Now, I know there's a big difference between the two. I just need some pointers if anyone is...

Akron1950 Loc: Akron, Ohio

I just got a Canon EOS Rebel T3i. Stepped up from a point and shoot. Now, I know there's a big difference between the two. I just need some pointers if anyone is willing to give them. I mostly like to shoot landscapes and functions at the Metro Parks here in town. I have been shooting on auto, and some on TV, witch I keep forgetting how to set everything up from sunny days to evening shots. When I'm told how to I get it, but then I forget! Is there some help for me out there??

GDRoth Loc: Southeast Michigan USA

Scott Kelby has a group of books that do a good job of introducing someone to the finer points of digital photography.

http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Kelbys-Digital-Photography-Boxed/dp/0133988066/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424447789&sr=8-1&keywords=scott+kelby

You can probably find them in your local library.

nitrophil Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Get the manual here in a downloadable .pdf file

http://www.cameratips.com/t3i/manual

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Understanding exposure, buy it, borrow it, or do what you need to, but read it.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Edition-Photographs/dp/0817439390

Akron1950 Loc: Akron, Ohio

Thank You, I'll do that. I'm thankful for all your replies.

north river 18

Read , Read, Read , the manual. Practice ,practice, practice . A good idea is to download your manual onto you smartphone or booklet and then you will always have it with you. Shoot 100-300 picture a week . Make notes who you take your shots. Join a camera club in your area. Mostly just have fun, and a little more fun with your new camera .

Akron1950 Loc: Akron, Ohio

I do belong to a camera club, but haven't been going lately because of the snow and icy roads on the night of the meetings. Thank You.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Akron1950 wrote:

I just got a Canon EOS Rebel T3i. Stepped up from a point and shoot. Now, I know there's a big difference between the two. I just need some pointers if anyone is willing to give them. I mostly like to shoot landscapes and functions at the Metro Parks here in town. I have been shooting on auto, and some on TV, witch I keep forgetting how to set everything up from sunny days to evening shots. When I'm told how to I get it, but then I forget! Is there some help for me out there??

Congratulations on your new camera.
I think you would find the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson a big help. Have fun and happy shooting.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I'd recommend starting with aperture priority. While I know how to shoot with all the mode, but I'd say 90% of my shots are shot in aperture mode.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Akron, you are just like me, so I shoot on AUTO and my T4i
takes great pictures. There is no shame in letting the camera do the work for you, that is what it was designed for.

axiesdad Loc: Monticello, Indiana

I went from a point and shoot to a Nikon D3100 some months ago, and the resource that has been most useful to me was the "for Dummies" book for that model (available through Amazon). I also bought the "Digital Photography for Dummies" book, but the model specific one has been more helpful. After that, it's all shoot and learn, shoot and learn. When you have a specific question, SEARCH Ugly Hedgehog; the collective knowledge available here for us neophytes is astonishing. (I emphasized "search" because I have embarrassed myself by asking too many redundant questions.) ;)

waapl01

Akron1950 wrote:

I just got a Canon EOS Rebel T3i. Stepped up from a point and shoot. Now, I know there's a big difference between the two. I just need some pointers if anyone is willing to give them. I mostly like to shoot landscapes and functions at the Metro Parks here in town. I have been shooting on auto, and some on TV, witch I keep forgetting how to set everything up from sunny days to evening shots. When I'm told how to I get it, but then I forget! Is there some help for me out there??

Read read read, shoot shoot shoot. Here's something I do, Take a piece of paper (stick pad whatever)/ and a pen, grab ur camera, look at an object or image, in your mind think what ur settings are or might be. Jot them down, Shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Now in auto snap the image. Compare what you jotted down and what the camera thinks the settings should be and compare the 2. This should after time help give u an idea roughly where settings should be. Once u get comfortable with this, now u can play in aperture and shutter priority modes. U can get more creative and change settings to be more of what u might want. Practice this with stationary objects, moving objects, very bright objects, objects in the dark. Hope this helps. Enjoy

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Cdouthitt wrote:

Understanding exposure, buy it, borrow it, or do what you need to, but read it.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Edition-Photographs/dp/0817439390

I must recommend this book as essential for someone in photography. Don't borrow it. BUY IT and KEEP IT. You will be glad you did. I left photography 27 years ago and even taught a class in it at the high school level before other interest and career choices took me away from photography. Even with this background I learned some things in Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

north river 18 wrote:

Read , Read, Read , the manual. Practice ,practice, practice . A good idea is to download your manual onto you smartphone or booklet and then you will always have it with you. Shoot 100-300 picture a week . Make notes who you take your shots. Join a camera club in your area. Mostly just have fun, and a little more fun with your new camera .

:thumbup:

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

David Busch's Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D Guide to Digital SLR Photography (David Busch Camera Guides)
http://www.amazon.com/Buschs-Digital-Photography-Camera-Guides/dp/1435460286/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424450343&sr=1-16&keywords=David+Bush

is an excellent book to help you learn about your camera. He is very thorough and has a good index in his books, which allows easy access to questions that you may have. With this book and Understanding Exposure you should feel confident in using your camera.