Cambridgeshire Newbie

[Karlloss]

Hi, I've just joined this forum as I've purchased a new DSLR after many years of getting fed up with poor quality photos from a point and shoot camera. I did a bit of research as to which camera to buy, looking at bridge cameras as well as DSLRs. In the end I chose a DSLR and a model recommended by a professional photographer who recently did my wedding pictures.

The model I have bought is a Nikkon D5100, as recommended. Now I have got the camera I need to know how to use it, as currently I'm stuck on the auto settings. Therefore any help guidance will be very gratefully received. Addtionally if there is anyone in the Chatteris area, or Cambridgeshire who would like to meet up for a coffee and chat with a view to showing me how to make better use of my camera please get in touch, coffee is on me :-)

[moonshine]

Hi, I've just joined this forum as I've purchased a new DSLR after many years of getting fed up with poor quality photos from a point and shoot camera. I did a bit of research as to which camera to buy, looking at bridge cameras as well as DSLRs. In the end I chose a DSLR and a model recommended by a professional photographer who recently did my wedding pictures.

The model I have bought is a Nikkon D5100, as recommended. Now I have got the camera I need to know how to use it, as currently I'm stuck on the auto settings. Therefore any help guidance will be very gratefully received. Addtionally if there is anyone in the Chatteris area, or Cambridgeshire who would like to meet up for a coffee and chat with a view to showing me how to make better use of my camera please get in touch, coffee is on me :-)

Hi, i'm also a forum newbie. The best piece of advice I can give to get you off the auto setting is to learn the relationship between, Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO. There is loads of info out there but to get you started Shutter speed and aperture are the two things that determine how much light hits the sensor, therefore if you close the aperture you will have to compensate with a slower shutter speed (shutter open longer) to let the same light in. ISO number is the sensors sensitivity to light, Don't know if you remember film but it used to have an ISO number printed on the box, usually 100 or 200 off the shelf.
The bigger the number, the faster shutter speed you will get away with, useful for low light without a tripod, but be aware that noise (grainyness) increases with the ISO number, although not as bad as it used to be with film.
Best way to learn is to put it in Manual (M) and have a play with aperture and shutter speed, you will also see what effect the various apertures have on the amount of shot that is in focus, called depth of field. Enjoy learning and ask away if you're stuck.

[Karlloss]

Moonshine, thanks for the pointers, I do remember the ISO numbers on film, I remember that you had to buy ISO 400 for taking pictures of fast sporting events.

[Magog]

Welcome to the forum, from another (relative) newbie from Cambridgeshire. This forum is a great learning resource, and from my, admittedly limited, experience the members are unfailingly helpful, however dumb the question may seem.