First of all, thank you for your time in reading this. It's a bit lengthy, but possibly different from most "G9" posts?
I'm just starting out in the world of digital photography, and seem to have found my first point of real confusion.
I'm planning on heading down the path of dslr photography very soon, but after reading through my first book (Mastering Digital SLR Photography, D. Busch), I decided that a stepping stone might be best for me. I should also say that I very much wanted a "pocket" size camera as well, so that when I do make the jump to dslr, I would have something that I would carry regularly, so as to capture shots as often as possible, without any concern of what lenses I have with me, or a need for a more obtrusive tool and case.
So I decided that the G9 seemed to fit the bill. I based this on it's RAW capability, which would help me learn post-processing, it's manual adjustment abilities (this is my main concern in this post), and very much due to the images, that I've seen posted, that were taken with the G9.
What seems to have stone walled me, is the overwhelming concept of manual adjustments. I've used much older Canon SLR's before (70's era), and in some ways it seemed so simple. A twist here, a twist there, and I was off to take a very unimpressive picture in no time (I never said I was good with those either). But at least it felt quick, easy, and while haphazard experience wise, it felt like a simple progression of steps.
Now I'm using a histogram for the first time. The focus adjustment can display itself in feet, meters, and the like, where as before I didn't even look at the setting, but just twisted until it appeared correct in the view finder, as if I were turning a wheel on a car.
How does one approach the progression of manual control when so overwhelmed with all of the changes that have been formed into menu, and sub-menu settings?
For instance, say I have five seconds to adjust for a shot, and I want to go as manual as possible (if for the sake of learning, if nothing else). Where does one usually begin? ISO? Aperture? Manual focus, which feels much longer now, or skip that altogether if everything seems ok? When the seconds are counting down, I seem to be fumbling around, and not sure what setting to go after first.
Granted, I haven't described what type of shot I'm taking in this scenario. That is intentional. Skipping a step here, or adding one there, based on what type of scene is being captured, will of course have to come with experience, or when the camera is fully capable on auto setting (which, so far, seems almost like magic in a little box, to me).
As a general progression, what do you attack first, second, third, while adjusting your G9, or really any modern, semi-menu driven camera, while trying to go as "manual as possible" without running out of however much time you might have (let's exclude sports/action from the potential list, at least, as I doubt even the mighty G9 can tackle that like a dslr)?
Again, thank you for your consideration and review of my questions, as this seems to be the one thing I haven't found in posts, or the seemingly comprehensive "beginner" book, that I've read.
I'm just starting out in the world of digital photography, and seem to have found my first point of real confusion.
I'm planning on heading down the path of dslr photography very soon, but after reading through my first book (Mastering Digital SLR Photography, D. Busch), I decided that a stepping stone might be best for me. I should also say that I very much wanted a "pocket" size camera as well, so that when I do make the jump to dslr, I would have something that I would carry regularly, so as to capture shots as often as possible, without any concern of what lenses I have with me, or a need for a more obtrusive tool and case.
So I decided that the G9 seemed to fit the bill. I based this on it's RAW capability, which would help me learn post-processing, it's manual adjustment abilities (this is my main concern in this post), and very much due to the images, that I've seen posted, that were taken with the G9.
What seems to have stone walled me, is the overwhelming concept of manual adjustments. I've used much older Canon SLR's before (70's era), and in some ways it seemed so simple. A twist here, a twist there, and I was off to take a very unimpressive picture in no time (I never said I was good with those either). But at least it felt quick, easy, and while haphazard experience wise, it felt like a simple progression of steps.
Now I'm using a histogram for the first time. The focus adjustment can display itself in feet, meters, and the like, where as before I didn't even look at the setting, but just twisted until it appeared correct in the view finder, as if I were turning a wheel on a car.
How does one approach the progression of manual control when so overwhelmed with all of the changes that have been formed into menu, and sub-menu settings?
For instance, say I have five seconds to adjust for a shot, and I want to go as manual as possible (if for the sake of learning, if nothing else). Where does one usually begin? ISO? Aperture? Manual focus, which feels much longer now, or skip that altogether if everything seems ok? When the seconds are counting down, I seem to be fumbling around, and not sure what setting to go after first.
Granted, I haven't described what type of shot I'm taking in this scenario. That is intentional. Skipping a step here, or adding one there, based on what type of scene is being captured, will of course have to come with experience, or when the camera is fully capable on auto setting (which, so far, seems almost like magic in a little box, to me).
As a general progression, what do you attack first, second, third, while adjusting your G9, or really any modern, semi-menu driven camera, while trying to go as "manual as possible" without running out of however much time you might have (let's exclude sports/action from the potential list, at least, as I doubt even the mighty G9 can tackle that like a dslr)?
Again, thank you for your consideration and review of my questions, as this seems to be the one thing I haven't found in posts, or the seemingly comprehensive "beginner" book, that I've read.