anotherview Loc: California

Try these two Web sites for gaining a foundational understanding of your DSLR:

http://www.cameraporn.net/2007/12/24/aperture-iso-and-shutter-speed-the-good-kind-of-threesome/

http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html

Nikonuser Loc: South Dakota

One of the advantages of digital cameras is that it does not cost anything to practice. For openers just put the camera on Auto and take pictures of anything and everything and see how they look on the screen. Once you get used to the auto focus and zooming in and out for composition, then read your manual or other books on your Canon.

helmigr

Congrats on your new toys. Set the round dial to "P" and start taking pictures. Just make it a goal that after some point you're going to forget that setting even exists. Take all this other good advice that you've been given and you'll be on your way. Just remember that with nearly everything photographic the more you experiment the more you are going to learn.

srenee Loc: Florida

cameraporn.net???

srenee Loc: Florida

Dyluck4 Loc: Georgetown Indiana

I think this was great information to share with the party of this post as your Manual dosen't explain all this in detail. Not saying to not read the manual because you need to properly know how to operate the camera to make these ajustments and when.

user2071 Loc: New England

I've hear that cameraporn.net is not porn ... don't know why they chose that name.

Ruthlin Loc: Long Island New York

Hi I have been gradually upgrading my Canon camera's I just got the T3I. When I got my first DSLR about 5 years ago, I took a course on how to use it. It was the best thing I did. From there on I began to feel comfortable with DSLR.
There are a number of books you can buy from Amazon specificall on the T3I. I bought two of them. You can review the contents before you buy them. If you have a kindle you can download them immediately or even get a sample before you buy it.

I now take courses on Better Photo. They are great and I believe they offer beginner courses. I have take 7 courses and I have learned from all of them. Good luck and there is nothing to be scared of. Just go slow and take a course.

user2071 Loc: New England

Can you give a link for Better Photo? I've been looking for a course on Photoshop and I live in something of a cultural dead zone, so online works for me.

beckycooper

I would bring a notebook and pen with me. Bring your camera and lens and manual. Start at the beginning and practice the different settings and shots. Record the settings of the camera so you know what you did later on. You can do this just a little at a time so it is not overwhelming. Slowly go through the whole manual and take a photo using every single setting and mode. Practice with aperature priority, and shutter priority, putting the camera on manual. If you write down what you did, you will be able to recreate a great shot. Of course, this is just til all of this becomes second nature to you. Good luck! I am getting a new camera soon and will be in the same place you are, so wish me luck too.

Ruthlin Loc: Long Island New York

BetterPhoto.com

You can look it up on your computer. They offer many courses.
Again Good luck

azlynn Loc: Arizona

Go to Amazon.com & order: "Digital Field Guide to..." whatever your camera is. Best book you'll ever buy!

PatriciaD Loc: Palmer, Alaska

When I got my Canon EOS 60D I found there were basic videos on Canon's site about all the functions...probably 13 or so videos. And you can download them and watch again and again. Has been a wonderful resource.

Thanks for the suggested books everyone...gonna check 'em out.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Magy; if you are looking for a point and shoot, then google top ten point and shoot. Then check your bank account and go from there. Some P&S are costly and there are some entry level SLR, refurbished that are reasonable like a high end P&S price.

Canon and Nikon are good but costly. Panasonic, Sony, Olympus and some others are lower cost and you can find deals. At your level, a SLR set on Automatic will be a good start. The sensor being large in a SLR give you a lot of quality.

I have been using my Panasonic TZ-3 for a long time 5 years and it takes wonderful photos. Panasonic is up to what would be equal in number to a TZ-10 to give you an idea of progress.

Read, read, read and talk and talk and talk... go to a photo shop and pretend you are buying a gun, get the feel in your hand. Take a memory SD card and try same shot with different cameras. Perhaps a figurine at 10 paces. Then compare them by enlarging to show one small part and compare. Things like that.

http://www.dpreview.com is a good review site, check them out. Preparing to buy a camera is a lot of fun and excitement. Good luck.. Don d/p

PS: hay 5 dogs, I got a Sony Alpha 330, Sony gives a 30day no question return. So after reading about Alpha 35 and 55 I decided to return and get a 35. dp review did a full on the 55 and say the same holds for the 35. The 55 has a new sensor at 16 mp while the 35 is older sensor used in alphas 4/3 cameras for a while. I am even if it were not for $, inclined to go with the tried and true sensor in the 35. At that level not great difference. Check them out. By the way, the 330 feels good but the specs on the 35 are wow and there is lots of highgrade glass in E-Bay that is 25 years+ old for low cost. The 330 came with glass, the 35 is available - bod only so that narrows the price down a lot, like $150 more for the 35.

Minolta Maxxum glass has a sterling reputation "These lenses use Carl Zeiss optical formulas and coatings, and are manufactured by Sony to Carl Zeiss specification. These, like the G lenses, are for pro photographers seeking the absolute best in image and build quality. They are also the only AF capable CZ lenses in the photography business."
http://photo.net/equipment/sony/

Hay All: check out,,,, http://www.photospiralysis.com/
Make sure you have good mental health first.... also Mathmap to achieve nirvana with Escher. Take it for a spin..Pun intended..
http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/schani/mathmap/

Have fun, shoot lots, enjoy more!!

Orlandomusicman Loc: Orlando, FL

I got mine in July after years of denying myself some of these finer things. Same kit as you actually. I think the step by step post ead extremely helpful. Charge th battery, read the book. Little and the shot away. I have taken over 5,000 shots in just the last few months and I travel on business a lot.

Thi forum is excellent. I gave been urging here for some time and your post prompted me. Th folks here are nice and helpful.

As to th other post regarding t2i vs t3i. Pick up the t3i and don't look back. The swivel screen is an amazing accessory!

Regards...