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My new camera
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Dec 18, 2015 15:28:02   #
Aneishi
 
Hello
I'm Aneishi,
I just bought the camera I've admired for years...Nikon D7100. Now, I wonder if I did the right thing. This camera is so much more than a beginners camera. I've only gotten to page 4 of the instructions...that's where I'm staying. I've copied pages 4 & 5...cut off the words so only the camera and the lines to the different buttons are left. I've been studying every day what the buttons and parts of the camera are for. Each lines says what that particular button is for followed by the page # to find out how to use the button: for exp; the depth of field...go to page such and such. I understand that one...but some of the buttons I think are written in Latin. My question; is it imperative to know every single button on this camera right away. I know there are 3 pillars of photography; aperture, ISO and shutter speed. If I learn these 3 components, will I be able to start taking photo and then learn the rest as I go along or should I wait until I know the camera inside and out?
Thanks so much.

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Dec 18, 2015 15:35:54   #
Azboy
 
Absolutely!! Go break it in, learn as you go. It is a fine camera and wants to capture your dreams. :thumbup:

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Dec 18, 2015 15:37:16   #
Azboy
 
By the way, welcome to UHH. Now make us proud!!

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Dec 18, 2015 15:38:08   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
Welcome! You may also take a look at the many D7100 resources on You-tube,some great stuff there!

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Dec 18, 2015 15:51:06   #
ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas
 
Welcome to the Hog Aneishi, you are way over thinking it, take it out and
use it, all will come in it's own good time.

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Dec 18, 2015 16:11:14   #
MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City
 
Aneishi wrote:
Hello
I'm Aneishi,
I just bought the camera I've admired for years...Nikon D7100. Now, I wonder if I did the right thing. This camera is so much more than a beginners camera. I've only gotten to page 4 of the instructions...that's where I'm staying. I've copied pages 4 & 5...cut off the words so only the camera and the lines to the different buttons are left. I've been studying every day what the buttons and parts of the camera are for. Each lines says what that particular button is for followed by the page # to find out how to use the button: for exp; the depth of field...go to page such and such. I understand that one...but some of the buttons I think are written in Latin. My question; is it imperative to know every single button on this camera right away. I know there are 3 pillars of photography; aperture, ISO and shutter speed. If I learn these 3 components, will I be able to start taking photo and then learn the rest as I go along or should I wait until I know the camera inside and out?
Thanks so much.
Hello br I'm Aneishi, br I just bought the camera... (show quote)


Welcome and congratulations on choosing what I happen to think is a great camera. (I have the Nikon D5200 & am considering the D7200 for down the road.)

My advice to you in learning your camera and photography in general is 4 fold:
1. Buy or borrow Bryan Peterson's book " Understanding Exposure" - 3rd edition. ISBN 978-0-8174-3939-2. You will learn lots about the "Exposure Triangle" - ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. That will give you the basics of photography.
2. Purchase the Nikon D7100 for Dummies book. It is a much easier read than the manual! I learned a lot from the one I bought for my D5200.
3. Read through your manua, but do not go nuts. You will paralyze yourself with fear.
4. I think this may be the MOST IMPORTANT - get out there and take photographs!

Oh, number 5 would be to post questions here on the Hog. We are mostly nice, helpful people. Don't be scared away by the few who are not.

Enjoy your new camera! Get out there and use it.

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Dec 18, 2015 16:49:03   #
tomvanb Loc: Anthem, AZ
 
Welcome to UHH and Happy Holidays. My suggestion is put in full auto for a couple of weeks to get the feel of it. Then go to A and get used to that. The manuals for these cameras tend to be a nightmare, as suggested get the Dummies book and Understanding Exposure is the way to go. Don't try to learn it all overnight. Take your time and get out and take some pictures, good luck, Tom

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Dec 18, 2015 17:26:52   #
australis Loc: Patagonia, South America
 
I give you the welcome from the end of the world .-

Great camera, She needs a good lens for good job.-

Regards from the Patagonia

Alberto

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Dec 18, 2015 18:38:17   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Welcome to the forum Aneishi!
DON'T get overwhelmed about trying to grasp everything at once, right now! You'll get frustrated and be disappointed. Learn bits and pieces at first, Basic operation, step by step. I still have settings I don't know about. I started YEARS ago with a camera that all you could set was shutter speed, aperture, ISO for the meter, and focusing (Match the needles on one). Now my camera does six thousand things... Do go over the manual often though. You'll be surprised what will stick in your head. Experiment to see what does what. You can always delete the images you don't want.

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Dec 19, 2015 06:10:35   #
sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey
 
Crafty has get started fast videos that are quite good. There's one for Nikon D7100.
Aneishi wrote:
Hello
I'm Aneishi,
I just bought the camera I've admired for years...Nikon D7100. Now, I wonder if I did the right thing. This camera is so much more than a beginners camera. I've only gotten to page 4 of the instructions...that's where I'm staying. I've copied pages 4 & 5...cut off the words so only the camera and the lines to the different buttons are left. I've been studying every day what the buttons and parts of the camera are for. Each lines says what that particular button is for followed by the page # to find out how to use the button: for exp; the depth of field...go to page such and such. I understand that one...but some of the buttons I think are written in Latin. My question; is it imperative to know every single button on this camera right away. I know there are 3 pillars of photography; aperture, ISO and shutter speed. If I learn these 3 components, will I be able to start taking photo and then learn the rest as I go along or should I wait until I know the camera inside and out?
Thanks so much.
Hello br I'm Aneishi, br I just bought the camera... (show quote)

Reply
Dec 19, 2015 06:13:53   #
Impressionist
 
Welcome to the club. You have bought a fine camera that will allow you to learn at your own speed. In addition to the good Dummies book, David Busch also wrote a useful book and a users guide that are down load able to your smartphone.

Don't make a contest out of learning, enjoy the process. Nothing in this case will be a mistake if used as a learning opportunity.

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Dec 19, 2015 06:56:15   #
par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.
 
Aneishi wrote:
Hello
I'm Aneishi,
I just bought the camera I've admired for years...Nikon D7100. Now, I wonder if I did the right thing. This camera is so much more than a beginners camera. I've only gotten to page 4 of the instructions...that's where I'm staying. I've copied pages 4 & 5...cut off the words so only the camera and the lines to the different buttons are left. I've been studying every day what the buttons and parts of the camera are for. Each lines says what that particular button is for followed by the page # to find out how to use the button: for exp; the depth of field...go to page such and such. I understand that one...but some of the buttons I think are written in Latin. My question; is it imperative to know every single button on this camera right away. I know there are 3 pillars of photography; aperture, ISO and shutter speed. If I learn these 3 components, will I be able to start taking photo and then learn the rest as I go along or should I wait until I know the camera inside and out?
Thanks so much.
Hello br I'm Aneishi, br I just bought the camera... (show quote)


This camera has what I call housewife settings. That would be auto (the green icon) and auto no flash (the flash icon with a line through it). Start with these and use your camera! Take it slow and learn to use the other settings one at a time. IMO when ready, use YouTube, learn about depth of field and to shoot in "A" aperture priority with auto ISO set on to on. Good luck.

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Dec 19, 2015 07:39:24   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Aneishi wrote:
My question; is it imperative to know every single button on this camera right away.

Welcome to our forum!

Getting to your question, not right away and not ever. Just start shooting in Auto. Then switch to P (Program). That will let you change shutter and aperture, and the camera will compensate - up to a certain point. Eventually, you can try A, (Aperture) but you'll have to make sure the exposure is correct.

Camera manuals are notoriously bad - lots of words, but not necessarily very enlightening. The D7100 is a great camera, just have fun with it.

I can recommend getting a video from CreativeLive. I have several explaining my cameras.

https://www.creativelive.com/courses/nikon-d7100-dslr-fast-start-john-greengo

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Dec 19, 2015 07:58:19   #
Nukepr Loc: Citrus County, FL
 
You will love the D7100. I have one, and in truth, you don't have to know every button to use the camera. In learning, use the automatic function, then start working with aperture setting and then gradually work to full manual.Aperture, shutter speed and ISO are all easily controlled. Don't let the camera overwhelm you. It is a great camera and you will love it...and if you don't know every button or setting it won't really matter when you are taking great pictures. To help your learning curve, get the David Busch guide to the camera. It is written in clear English.

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Dec 19, 2015 07:59:50   #
tusketwedge Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
 
A good way to start is set the camera to A set the aperture to what you want and it will automatically set the shutter speed. You can then override the shutter speed by turning the rear main command dial. Try that for a while and see what you can get from it. If you are not familiar with processing .I would suggest to shoot with Jpeg fine until you get the hang of the camera first.Then comes the Raw and processing. The main thing is get out and shoot ,shoot,shoot, and have fun.

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