Kissel vonKeister Loc: Georgia

Hey, good luck, but just one comment. Why do so many folks use a UV filter for "lens protection"?
A sensor doesn't react to UV filtration the way film does, and the best lens protection is a [hopefully cheap, better yet rubber] LENS HOOD! Modern lenses have enough air-to-glass surfaces without adding two more!

alycat Loc: Canton OH

You know photography, so use Auto, figure out Program and shoot, shoot, shoot. Remember, no film costs. shoot and delete.

SS319

My $10 UV filter saved me a couple hundred a week ago. I will use a filter ALL the time and a lens hood ONLY when I need it.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

The APS-C cameras are excellent, so don't ever feel you "settled". My first DSLR camera was the D7000, which was purchased based partly on my budget - I decided to buy the best I could afford because the learning curve was going to be steep no matter which model was chosen.


Yes, the manuals are long, but they contain a wealth of information. Too bad you had to download it, I carry the one that came with my camera in my camera bag in case I need to find out something.

Reading through the manual helps to get a feel for the camera and its features. The first time through it feels overwhelming. The second time is best done with camera in hand so you can better learn where all the buttons are located and what they are for. This is a practical, hands-on way to learn and feels more productive than just reading.

One thing to pay particular attention to is the section that deals with setting up your camera. You may not understand every part of it, and those items should be left at factory settings until you learn whether or not you need to change them. In general, factory settings are fine, but you just might find something that would suit you better. And some of the buttons can be "re-assigned" for functions none of the other buttons will perform.

You have a lot of previous experience with SLR film cameras, just need to learn how to interact with the digital experience! I had used film cameras, but always point-and-shoot, then went to a digital point-and-shoot. I looked at all the different shooting modes, played around with them, learned a bit about how each one worked and what it could do. For a long time, I used aperture-priority almost exclusively, but eventually switched to manual which is still my preferred mode. There are times when one mode is better for the situation than the others, so knowing them all gives you the choice.

Having used a point-and-shoot for so long, I never messed with Auto, but it can be useful at times.


As OP have pointed out, the UV lens is not considered by many of us to be necessary in most situations. The exceptions are in windy conditions with lots of dirt or sand blowing around. There is no proof they are adequate protection for the lens under normal circumstances. A circular polarizer is always a good one to have. I have never used the 81B, but have heard it produce a nice effect. The other one I have is a graduated neutral density filter, which comes in a rectangular shape. There are screw-in holders, but it is much easier to hand-hold them. Great for extremes of light and dark, such as land and sky.

Despite what OP have said about the lens hood, I know from experience how it can protect a lens. I took a nasty fall about a month ago, my camera was around my neck, and I ended up face-down in shallow muddy water populated with rocks. The lens hood protected the lens, and the L-bracket protected the camera. There were muddy water splashes to clean off, but no damage done. I was OK too, luckily, aside from bruises and a cut on my head.

Enjoy your new camera!
Susan

BebuLamar

Films generally are sensitive to blue and thus also sensitive to invisible UV. Digital sensors are sensitive to red and thus sensitive to IR and so they have IR filter on them. I don't think UV filter is needed for digital.

tbpmusic Loc: LaPorte, Indiana

Well, living on the tip of Lake Michigan, wind is almost always an issue - what we in the Chicago un-affectionately call "The Hawk", usually blowing straight down from Canada unimpeded (brrr!!).....
I use a UV solely for protection - one has saved my lenses more than once. At least with film, I never perceived any difference at all in the images (or I wouldn't have used one).
I do also use a lens hood.
And the 81B is like an old friend to me, warming things up in a predictable fashion.. I trust it more than some engineer's software version of what "warming" is. Now, as my familiarity with the camera develops, that could change of course. I'm old, but not totally averse to new stuff........not a curmudgeon yet, though I can get a little prickly at times......

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

No matter what you do here it starts an argument...lots of people on this site like to find fault, correct, and argue. Just ignore it and move on. I do have UV filters for my lenses but often end up taking them off to put a circular polarizer on or an ND or ND grad and then I forget to put the UV filter back on. This is why I now have one lens that has a scratch near the outside edge of the lens. It does not show on a photo but could have lost the lens: I backed up from tripod and it fell sidewise at Yosemite in the woods. The trials and tribulations of photography.

One thing about digital, probably others, too, is that you should expose on the highlights to get good shadows, this is opposite of film unless you used slides. You might even read up on Expose To The Right (ETTR) if you want to go into detail on exposure, this is if you will be shooting in RAW. This does not apply to JPEG, but even with JPEG you still want to stay to the lighter side of the histogram. You'll enjoy having a histogram to check for the blinks, basic exposure, and also, if the camera does it, for separate RGB histograms when shooting reds and blues. Digital cameras have so many wonderful features to use. Enjoy. There are a couple of good books on the Nikon focus system, too, that you might get. Both available in PDF. Secrets to the Nikon Autofocus and The Nikon Autofocus System: Mastering Focus for Sharp Images Every Time-well worth the read.

tbpmusic Loc: LaPorte, Indiana

Well that much seems true - what was intended as simply a statement about getting a camera yielded a ton of (unsolicited) advice, arguments, and scolding. It's ok, I have a thick hide.

Yep, with slide film expose for the highlights, there will (usually) still be detail in the shadows - with print film expose for the shadows, let the highlights fall where they may.
I'll remember that piece of advice, thanks........

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Considering the conditions where you live, a UV filter does sound like a good idea! I have heard of warming filters, never used one. Something to put on my list of things to investigate, and perhaps put on my "wish list".

I think you will definitely get familiar with your digital camera, probably faster than I did... As for being old, that is a state of mind more than anything. I like to think about it as a good brandy or bourbon that gets better as it gets older!