Bohnzye

Greetings all, I am a midlifer preparing for a bucket list trip to Dublin in October. I started my photogrophy passion in the 1980's with a 35 mm yashica Fx-3. I upgraded in the 2000's to a Panasonic Lumix Dmc-FX07.I have now just purchased a Nikon D-3400 camera kit and am over whelmed with the settings and controls. I know this camera comes equipped with builtin modes to take the thinking out of the equation but I will only be in Ireland for a week and want to take photographs that I would be proud of. Does anyone have advice or tips & tricks for a clearly amateur photographer? Thanks loads

AllenDpics Loc: Williamsburg Virginia

I just bought the same camera about 6 weeks ago. I can tell you that it is a good camera capable of taking very good photos. I have already taken some photos where I said to myself....did I take that? I would suggest searching for Nikon D3400 on Youtube. There are some very good tutorials on the basics of the camera. And of course you have come to the best place here at the Hedgehog for information and help. They have been very helpful to me.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

There is a wealth of videos on youtube that will not only cover using that particular camera, but also instructional on general photography, as well. You should have the general part down pretty well, considering you've already done some camera work in the past. Additionally, you have a few months to work with the camera, get familiar, and develop some good techniques.

A lot will depend on who much you want to apply yourself to becoming proficient.
--Bob

Bohnzye

Awesome UT!, I followed up my impusive spending and bought the lens kit off of amazon, Wide angle and telephoto..) The spending is done, Now I just have to learn myself something while my brain is still accepting fragmented data. Lol

Bohnzye

Thanks Bob, Will do.Cant tell you how many life crisis youtube has helped me with from a blown start up capacitor on my fridge< saved me from throwing out $150.00 in freezer food and so many other things. )))

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Don't cringe at the title. This is part of a very good series of books for new camera owners (among other things) and Julie King is a good writer - from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D3400-Dummies-Lifestyle/dp/1119336244/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502231729&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+d3400+for+dummies+book

Bohnzye

Oh no, Im a dummy lol, At least lame with this camera right now. I am in to nature and have captured some action stills with my new rig.Where in this forum would be appropriate to post them for scrutinization? And thank you, just added that book to my shopping cart.

BebuLamar

Use it like your old Yashica FX-3

d3200prime

Look at the top of UHH page and click on the Help button. The "How to post a picture" is the fourth topic down.

Bohnzye

Cool, Thanks D3

SS319

In the two months between now and Ireland, watch a YouTube video on your camera and landscape photography everyday and take a dozen or so pictures EVERY DAY. Put the pictures into a photo view program and find out what you like and what you don't like. Practice getting buildings across a meadow with mountains in the background, practice taking close up photos to record the textures and feel of what you see, and practice taking pictures of people you do not know. I personally find this last part very difficult. If you feel it would help, Digitial Photography School has a deal on a 31 days to better Photography program available for $49. Here: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=FQscR&m=JDLoAS01MbkfGf&b=171ES_mJesTpLzHpdk.B0w

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Ain't no sin in using automatic and let the camera do the thinking. If you can master the Manual Settings, then there are quick settings for certain things, eg: Flowers, my C-1 custom setting for Canon SX50, is low ISO, f-8, 1/250, flash on, spot focus. You or friends can suggest others. But having your camera on Auto gives you quick shoot from the hip. It is unfortunate that you do not have time to be an aficionado of the new camera DSLR settings. If you got good shots with your FX107 which was mostly automatic, then chances are good that the same will hold true for the Nikon. Takes time to know what to do when with camera settings.

BUT! Make a list of camera settings recommended by those in the know. eg: Water Fall, slow speed give you the blend water look, also take high speed to stop the flow. Same waterfall two entirely different photos. Treat your new camera like a kitchen and bake the cakes and take the photos by tried and true receipt. later become a gourmet cook.

PS: Shoot to maximize the use of the sensor. Shoot RAW and JPEG.

Make a small wallet card made of colored film cut a hole the aspect ratio of the camera and view the scene thru the hole, close to the eye is wide angle away is telephoto... this trick makes for good composition.

Take your old camera along, it is small and if the new one fails or you fail the new one, then the old faithful one will be ready.

I am a strong advocate of super zoom pocket cameras... I have a full DSLR stable of gear, but no husky Germanic Brunhilde to lug my gear. Also that $2500 camera could cost you your life in some countries in some areas. Few would kill you for a pocket super-zoom when an expensive pack of DSLR gear was there to steal.

CO

Nikon eliminated the ultrasonic sensor cleaner in the D3400. All of Nikon's recent DSLR cameras have had that feature. I would get a good filtered blower. You might get some dust on the sensor that will show up in photos. I got the Koh Global Hepa Jet Air II blower. It has a large hepa filter that filters out 99.97% of dust particles. It also has an anti-static filter and one-way check valve. It also has a medical grade PVC bulb. Blowers that have a rubber bulb can shed fine rubber particles that can end up on your sensor. The PVC bulb won't do that. Adorama Camera has it and you can also order directly from Koh.

As far as shooting goes, aperture priority is what I use almost all the time. You have more control over the depth of field and you can get into the "sweet spot" range where the lens is the sharpest.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nice camera. Put it on Auto and shoot away. It's a very smart camera. After a while, try P, where you can adjust one thing, and the camera will adjust the other. Then you can move to A and S. If you shoot on manual while you are in Ireland, you will probably not come home with great pictures. Auto will seldom let you down.

Some useful links -
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3400/users-guide/index.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3400/users-guide/menus-setup.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Setting-Up-Your-Nikon-D3400-DSLR-Camera-Properly&id=9680613
https://www.cameratips.com/nikon/d3400

Excellent video -
https://www.creativelive.com/courses/nikon-d3400-fast-start-john-greengo

Bohnzye

Wow, How did I hap heartedly find this website? You all are really professed photogaphers in your own rite.The information streaming my way is amazing. Alot to take in but Im up to the challenge. Thank you