frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

First of all, welcome to UHH.......You have a great camera. Don't let it scare you. As has been stated watch a few videos. I would also download the manual form the Nikon site and put it on your phone. You can get it here http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/330/D3400.html Since you are new to it, read the manual FIRST!!! then play with it (you can not hurt it) and take some photos. If you do not learn enough before going, there is nothing wrong with putting it in auto mode. Or aperture (A) Mode at somewhere between 8 and 16, since you will be taking pictures that you will want mostly in focus. You can also look at the pic with the preview and if you don't like it, take another. You don't mention what lens you got with it, but it is probably a zoom, 18 to 55. Use the 18 or so for your landscapes. Just remember to have fun and take a lot of pics, and post some when you get back. I envy you, I am scotch Irish and would love to go back there myself, but probably it will remain on my bucket list till I pass. You might also get an app called hyperfocal pro for your phone. You enter your equipment and settings and it gives you what will be in focus and the hyperfocal distance. great app for beginners with a new camera. It will help you learn your camera settings for manual mode.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

When you get there and if confidence fails or recent education slips a cog in the wheel, suggest going to P mode and adjust EC +- . Even pros use this mode sometimes. If trip is happening soon, would concentrate on learning this mode first. Have a great trip.

BebuLamar

You owned and used a Yashica FX-3. If you could use it well then the D3400 is easy. To start just use it like you used your FX-3. Put the camera in manual. Set you aperture and shutter speed just like the old days. There is also the similar + and - exposure indicator in the view finder. You can put the camera on manual focus and focus the same way you did on your FX-3. You can set your ISO to various value and it's still working fine but for a start set it at 200 just like old time.
Then you can read the manual to find out all the bells and whistles that it has. You may like to try some of them and may not like some of them at all.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I completely agree with Bebu on this. The good news is that you have a couple of months until your trip. I'm not familiar with the FX-3, but I do have an FX-1 that I inherited which was aperture priority. Also, don't try to do too many things at once, you will probably learn fastest if you start with what is familiar to you, and slowly build on that. I would suggest manual at first, and go out and shoot with all of your lenses, look at the results identify the results that you like and why, and the ones that you do not, and why not. Try to work out what didn't work and try to fix it. Practice, practice, practice. When you think you have the basic modes OK, then try adding another mode to your range, practice again until you are happy, then repeat. If you do this several times a week you'll probably be OK by the time you get on the plane. Do not put your camera and lenses in checked baggage.

Good luck

Bobcat87

I have this author's book on the D5600. I am also a first-time DSLR user and am finding it very helpful and understandable.

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

I used p mode a lot at first then I got critical of my work and seldom use it now nice thing about digital is you can review your pictures immediately and make adjustments to get the results you want with experience your results will improve don't be afraid to experiment

Bohnzye

Oh, well said. Yeah, I have some great parks nearby with streams and rivers which will allow me to play with the "gulp" manual settings. I was diagnosed "color blind early on in life, My eyes are missing cones and rods critical for discerning / identifying shades and hues so I probably wont really know what looks good or what doesen't. Thanks a whole bunch.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Yes I have good advice for you. If you want photos to be proud of, take the camera you know how to use, the Panasonic Lumix Dmc-FX07.

Learn to use your DSLR before you attempt to take once in a lifetime pictures with it.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

My advice would be to stay out of "Auto" mode entirely. If you get a chance for a quick shot that won't allow any time for figuring out adjustments use the "P" programmed mode rather than "Auto" since you will at least have some control via exposure compensation. In most circumstances would normally shoot in "A" (Aperture Priority) to control the depth of field the way I want it. If stopping action (movement) is the primary objective, use "S" (Shutter Priority) and set the speed to whatever is needed. I would also recommend using the VR if your lenses have it available unless you are using a tripod for the shots, then I would shut the VR off. Also try to keep your ISO as low as you can allowing for the light available.

I don't own a D3400 myself, but I have used one. You should be able to get some great shots. Watch some videos and read your manual to familiarize yourself with the metering system and modes, and the auto-focus. Once you are comfortable try switching to shooting some in "M" (Manual) mode. Having used the 35mm Yashica, you shouldn't have too difficult a time learning to use Manual for when you want the extra control in your shots.

One last thing, if you don't already have a flash, I would recommend getting a decent "iTTL" (Nikon's TTL) compatible one. There are a number of reasonably priced ones available rather than paying a lot more for an actual Nikon brand flash. I have and use two different ones, an "Altura Pro AP-N1001" and a "Vivitar 583 (DF-583) for Nikon". Both work work extremely well and cost much less than one made by Nikon. "Yongnuo" and "Neewer" also are popular brands that offer "iTTL" flashes. Any of these will give you much better results that you would get using the built-in flash.