Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

Hi abstractist, the camera body and wrenches (both are icons in menu settings of a Nikon) are explained in the manual that should have come with the camera. If for some reason you didn't get a manual, you can download one from Nikons website. If you look through the manual, you'll find references to adjustments and where to find the settings on the camera, usually with the icon that they are found under. If you have questions about adjusting this or that, look it up in the manual and the manual will point you in the direction you need to go to make the necessary adjustments (for example, how to adjust ISO - just look up ISO).

Once you figure out how to make the adjustments you want to, you can always ask more specific questions here about your camera limitations when adjusting ISO/ASA. Be sure to mention what model your camera is when asking questions to get quick good answers.

AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC

Someone gave you a DSLR with two lenses and all you can do is bitch about it? Look, we are all visual learners, and yes, the instructions that came with your camera are useless. Find a good introductory class. Most of us on this site made the same transition you did. It took me a while, too. But digital has many advantages over film and not having to buy film is one of them. Go learn something and you will discover that digital camera makers have done a great job.

PeterBergh

Gear Acquisition Syndrome: the irresistible urge to buy more gear.

Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

I agree, if film cost and developing costs weren't so high, I'd still shoot film but I'd go broke in a long weekend of shooting, as I often come home with between 1,000 and 3,000 photos from races (yes, I love burst mode) or 500-800 when shooting a freestyle ski/snowboard event. Paying to develop that many would break the bank quickly.

AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC

Actually, Kodak is still very much in business and film sales have been steadily increasing for a few years. Millenials love film. And so do I.

jzehaz Loc: Pleasantville, NY

Take a look at this article - https://www.slrlounge.com/shoot-film-styles-on-nikon-how-to/ - tells you how to load and use use Nikon Picture control and links to https://nikonpc.com which has a lot of presets you can load into camera and experiment.

Stephan G

Gear Acquisition Syndrome

Aka Keeping up and surpassing with the equipment (photographic, in this case) of the Smiths and Joneses.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

DSLR cameras have the capability to mimic film. They just don't have a menu that does it for you.



I agree that it would be nice if the manuals were more user-friendly. With my first DSLR [Nikon D7000] I struggled with it too. My newer camera [Nikon D810] I saw definite improvement in the manual. But it still leaves a lot to be desired. As others have said, there are many other ways to find out what you want to know. There are a lot of photographers out there who have branched out into teaching, and have websites and Facebook pages devoted to that. There is a website called CreativeLive where they offer what they call "On Air" broadcasts of tutorials which are free, and those are also for sale if you want to have them to study at your own pace. One of the members of UHH, Steve Perry, has a website and also offers advice on this forum [https://backcountrygallery.com/]. Others are: Digital Photography School, Digital Photo Mentor, Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowsky, Ben Willmore, PHLEARN [Aaron Nace] are just a few. UHH is a very good forum, but if you want to try some others, DPReview and Cambridge in Colour each have a lot to offer.



Even though the manual is not ideal, it still has a lot to offer. I always recommend reading it from cover to cover. There will be things you do not understand, but go through it anyway. You can work on what you do understand, then do some research and ask questions about the rest. Next, read the manual again, this time with camera in hand. Doing this will show you where each control is, and what it does. There are some things people talk about like "back button focusing" that are not specifically mentioned, but the way to do it is really in there! Leave that for later, then come back to it. First learn what you can, then go out and take photos! You can experiment with different functions and then see how it turns out. No extra charge, since you don't have to buy film... As a result it won't feel so bad when you decide that most of those images need to be deleted! Keep the manual in your camera bag so you can use it to try and answer questions that arise.

It is all so different from what you did before, it is understandable that you feel a lot of frustration. Don't think of yourself as stupid, you can still learn new things. I went from a digital point and shoot which made most decisions for me, to a DSLR where I had to make so many more decisions. Steep learning curve, but it can be done. You already have learned about composition and perspective, you already understand about the light and what qualities are most desirable for a good image under different circumstances. Some people never learn that. You also know about f/stops and the way that aperture, shutter speed, and film sensitivity interact to find the perfect balance for a good image. Translate film sensitivity to ISO and you now have the exposure triangle mastered for digital.

Advantages of digital are many. You have auto-focus, just have to understand how to take advantage of the focus points to get the picture sharp where you want it sharpest. Your ISO can be kept low for very bright light, or raised for low-light situations. There are different shooting modes you can use, each being useful under different circumstances. And more...

Learning to use the digital camera should NOT feel like starting over from scratch, you have so many of the skills already. Just slow down and learn a bit at a time. If you cannot stand the frustration when out to get a particular shot, you can always use Auto. But make sure you practice with other modes when you can take your time. Some people like Program, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority. There are also many who like Manual the best. So find a starting point that is good for you and take pictures!

Take advantage of all the learning opportunities out there and you will begin to "get it" more and more as you go along.

Hope this helps.

Susan

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

I started with an Argus C-3 and thought I had hit the big time wien I bought a Minolta SRT-101 in 1970, I believe. After graduating into various other film cameras, I fought digital as a "fad" for a number of years. I am now a fervent fan of digital, but still have fond thoughts about some of the characteristics of film that digital does not possess. Still, there are unquestionable advances in digital that so surpass film that I have never had the desire to go back. But the biggest issue is that digital allows you to do as much or as little as you wish; in many ways, you can still employ the major techniques with digital that you practiced with film, with a simple flip of a switch or turn of a dial. It only needs to be as complex or easy as you want. The response that suggested YouTube is right on! For a visual learner, that is a great tool. The other is just getting out there and playing with your camera. Don't fight it - just have fun!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

From what I read I can see that you are not realistic and this comes from an 82 years old senior. When you work with digital you are working with a different media, which is not film.

I have never heard till now of anybody coming from film to digital saying that he wish the cameras could be set to shoot Verichrome or Fuji 400, you happen to be the first one. I am sure you know we set our digital cameras to the ISO we want or need to use and in post we can tweak the colors to our taste. If working with b&w there are in editing programs presets to "simulate" the look of film and they give you choices for selecting different types of film. Do not expect the same results as if using that film with a film camera.

Histograms are all digital technology. What a better way to know before you save your file (negative) than to know that you nailed the right exposure. Do not tell me that a histogram is something very difficult to use because it could not be simpler. My grandson is 9 years old and he knows how to read one.

Exposure meters built in modern cameras are super accurate. With Nikon you have matrix metering that will give you a pretty high proportion of acceptable exposures but still as an old timer you have center weighted metering and spot for not only something you used in the past but also for more precise exposures.

Do not expect any camera company to make the adjustments you are willing to have. Do not expect much if you cannot read and follow instructions with cameras and editing softwares. I already told you digital is a different media. To know your camera either or you get someone that has your same camera and is willing to teach you how to use it or you learn it from the instructions manual. There are many videos in the Net that are very useful but to me the instructions that come with the camera is your best bet.

You are going to receive many more answers to your concerns from other members of the forum and I do not believe you will find many that will share your opinions.
If you ask me sell your digital camera and go back to film.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Whoa, that's a little harsh. Let the OP make his own choices. He doesn't need this kind of attitude.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

The OP needs to be brought up short with his absurd complaints and demands.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Buy a Nikon Df. Looks like an FM2, has controls on the top deck. Make a few basic settings in the menu and shoot manual. I miss my FM FE series cameras but made the adjustment and moving on despite being an old fart.

RockyMountainCanoneer Loc: Rocky Mountains, U.S.

I learned how to shoot 35mm film in the late 1970s and 1980s. Went to school for it and got a Masters in Photography. I used to use bellows for Macro, did my own B&W and Color developing in my blackroom. I don't miss dealing with the chemicals, thermometers, expiration dates, a.s.o. one bit. I also don't miss being limited by how much film I brought along, having the wrong ISO film because the weather changed, and the amount of dough I had to shell out every time before I went on a shoot to purchase more film. I know how to do anything and everything with film but I am grateful for DSLRs because they and 128GB, and 256GB disks gave me the freedom to experiment as much as I like and after all these years of mostly doing what I know they once again set my creativity free and restored the joy of discovery in my photography. Rather than see your inexperience with DSLRs as a loss, look at it as a gain and a means to rediscover what you love in a whole new way and opportunity.

Thrawn John Loc: Scotland

Ah!
Thanks, Stephan.