Star_Of_Life89

I will be 28 in August. I have a Nikon D5000. It's my first DSLR. I slowly got more and more interested in photography and got fed up with the point and shoot cameras always focusing on the WRONG OBJECT!!!! So I took up the task of learning how to use manual focus and manually set my aperture and shutter speeds along with ISO, but needed a camera that would allow me to do it. I have the basic 18 to 55 mm lens and the 55 to 200 mm lens, as well as a cheap macro lens, a UV filter, tripod and remote for the shutter. As I learn more and get more money (mostly money) I acquire more equipment that I can get a lot of use out of without breaking the bank, so nothing too fancy. I don't typically use my video feature because I don't like to mix pictures with videos, but I have in the past and like that I have it if I need it. I don't often use the high ISOs for two reasons. Mainly because all I know about it so far is that it can make the pictures very grainy, but also because I don't do a whole lot at night (mosquitoes and difficulty focusing on objects I can't see through the view finder). I absolutely love landscape photography as well as macro. As I read more "How-to" photography magazines, I learn new techniques that sometimes become favorites for me. Still very much a novice, but getting great use out of everything I own and making some quality shots. I don't shoot in RAW because I simply don't have the time to do any editing and it takes up far too much space on my card. Photography is only one of many, MANY hobbies of mine. An absolute MUST HAVE for me, and one of the reasons I chose the Nikon D5000 is the screen is adjustable. I love being able to hold the camera up and tilt the screen down to see what I'm getting a picture of (Great in crowded areas or if there is any sort of obstacle) but most importantly because the screen rotates 180 degrees, I can turn it to face the body and prevent scratches from my body or the bag. I will probably never buy a camera without this feature. I don't typically use custom menus (not sure I actually know how) but I use some of the touch up features, the ISO and white balance menus and a few others. Again, still learning about what a lot of this stuff actually does and with each new "discovery", the quality of shots as well as diversity of shots I can take, increase exponentially. Hope this helps.

Retired fat guy with a camera Loc: Colorado

For those who have, and those you have not yet responded, I thank each and everyone of you.
I absolutely love the fact there are photographers in their 70's and 80's, still taking pictures. Congratulations, to you all. I gives me something to look forward too.
I realized there were features I also do not use. Live view, I guess, I like to squint with one eye shut. I don't change my metering, or white balance and leave them on auto. I do use Aperture, shutter, and manual modes. I need to learn to take shots with the bulb setting. Although that takes using a tripod. I know they are a tool. I have a tripod with a gimal head a monopod with a ball head. I hate them both. If I had a dollar for every time I have been pinched or missed a shot setting the dang thing up, I would have a brand new 1DX, with all the bells and whistles.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

Almost 87. Very rarely use video, but nice to know it is there on both my Canon 6D (which is going to be sold when I get around to advertising it) and my 5D IV. Haven't used every feature, but it is hard to get a good camera with limited features. I also have a Canon G15 which I do use the video on more often than on the DSLRS. During my film days, when I needed video, I used a dedicated video camera by Sony. I am not to keen on editing and processing video. I am not a professional, although I do sell some photos and have also put photos in charity exhibits.
Bud

Digital1022 Loc: Holland, PA

70 years old. Never use Program mode; Never use video. Own a D800 and a D500. I do care about MPs, low light capability, and autofocus capability for Wildlife. I hardly use the built in flash on the D800 unless I am in a pinch. I do use an SB800 for fill flash on macro and other closeup photography. Primary subjects are Landscapes, architecture, wildlife and nature (flowers). Not much with people other than family. I have a full complement of lenses, all Nikon, including 14x24, 28x70, 70x200, 28x300, 105 macro, 60 macro and 200x500. I use them all from time to time depending on whether I am traveling, on photo shoots or workshops, or just getting out on a Sunday afternoon. Generally, I subscribe to the theory that if I am not using somthing at least three times a year, it is just gathering dust and taking up space and I sell it. Pure hobby for me although I do enter local contests and internet contests from time to time; more for critique value than any desire to win. My goal is to continue to get better.

Draw865

70 years old. Took up photography after I retired. I've been more interested in building a basic skill set than in playing with the gadgets. That being said, I appreciate the array of features my cameras and other equipment offer. There's always something new for me to learn, and it's fun to see how the more experienced use what I may not. I will never test the limits of what the equipment can do, but others have different needs and applications. I'm happy the technology can serve so many and such diverse needs.

And I don't do video -- yet. Seldom explore the upper regions of the ISO -- yet. Probably look like a newbie much of the time. But I'm having a ball in the process.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Wow! Im 87 What was the question???

BebuLamar

I don't care for bells and whistles but sometimes I must accept buying a camera with bells and whistles because I don't have enough money. What's the minimum price of a current DSLR that doesn't have pop up flash? What about one that doesn't have video?

Anyway my camera doesn't have either pop up flash or video. It doesn't have any scenes mode. It has MASP modes and I don't use S or P. I do use A mode but if the camera doesn't have it I don't miss it. It has live view which I never use. It has ISO up to 100,000 or so and it's usable to me up to 12,800 and I do use that often. I never use the exposure compensation, I never use auto bracketing, I don't use AE-L or AF-L or BBF. I never AF-C not set the camera in continuous mode. I always use the single frame mode. I never use rear curtain sync. I don't use slow sync either as I switch the camera to M when I use flash.

Pilot 6 Loc: Eugene, OR

At 91, still manage to shuffle around the Saturday Market, grabbing people shots with a D750 and tiny Voigtlander 40mm. Homo sapiens is lifetime subject of choice, with a close second being absolutely anything to get strong abstract images. Use AF, A-ISO, A-WB.

Video, flash, wi-fi are bells that don't ring and whistles that don't blow---for me.

Bob

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I'll be 63 in August. I guess I can answer your question in general by saying I have not discovered all the Bell & Whistles my cameras may have. You can read my tag line below to see what cameras I am using. I do have a lot of lenses. Mostly vintage.

> I don't shoot video (though some of my cameras are capable of it).
> I'll use the modes M, Av, Tv, and X; I never use Full Green Auto, P, Sv, TAv. (Nikon uses very different terms, Pentax and Canon share some terminology, and Pentax has some odd "Auto-ISO" modes)
> I find AWB works fine much of the time, but if I know the light balance I'll switch to Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Flash, Quartz, etc. But it really does not matter as I shoot RAW normally. One click in ACR and I can set to any Color Balance / White Balance I want.
> I use Photoshop CS6 (from one of the last DVD-ROM copies sold).
> I really have not gotten into the BBF habit yet. I tried it once and found it confusing. Too many years using my index finger atop the camera I guess.
> I sometimes use AF, but since many of my lenses are vintage and not AF, I often manually focus. Though with my Pentax cameras you still get an "in-focus" beep and flash.
> I've used the self timer in my camera(s).
> I've even done interval timed exposures.
> I've never tried automated in-camera panoramas or HDRs. But I've done DHR and Panos manually from many exposures.
> I have done manual focus stacking.
> I have set the shutter to open timed before exposure for macro shots, but it is a lot of confusing effort.
> I have customized or changed both front and back dials on my cameras.
> As stated I shoot in RAW.
> I've rarely gone above ISO 1,600. Mostly shoot at 100, 200, 400.
> Even though I have a lot of glass I find I mainly use the same few lenses with my APS-C DSLRs and a slightly different selection with my film SLRs.

DSLR
**smc-Pentax-DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited lens,
**smc-Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4 Lens,
**smc-Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8 Lens,
**smc-Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 Lens,
**Vivitar (Pentax-KA mount) 19mm f/3.8 Lens,
**smc-Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens,
**Tamron (Pentax-KFA mount) 18-200mm f/"variable"? Zoom Lens.

SLR
**smc-Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4 Lens,
**smc-Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8 Lens,
**smc-Pentax-A 135mm f/2.8 Lens,
**smc-Pentax-M 100mm f/4 Macro Lens
**Vivitar (Pentax-KA mount) 19mm f/3.8 Lens,