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Chris HW

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Troy, MI, US
I just bought the DR!! I've been lurking and reading here constantly for several weeks and finally took the plunge!! I used an old Pentax Spotmatic for several years (it's older than me, 30+ years) then graduated to an Olympus 2020. This is my first dSLR and I can't wait for the battery to charge. I just bought the camera at Sears (10% off when you use their credit card plus a 30 day return policy with no re-stock charge)

Any first steps?? I've read a little on checking for dead/hot pixels; anything else I should do right out of the box?

I also just wanted to thank all the regular posters - you guys (and gals) are GREAT!! I'm really looking forward to learning and using this camera!

Chris Warburton
Troy, MI - USA
 
I would recommend choosing one AF point, but Sandman, whom I respect, says he finds the 7 point AF works for him. Most of us use the center point. Enjoy losing the shutter lag headache.

Don't use Green mode. Try Program instead. Don't be afraid of upping the ISO. It really is clean to 400 for sure. I have an Oly 3040. DOF is very different. If you want lots of DOF, choose f 8, 11, 16 in aperture mode. Your Oly has much more DOF which believe me is not a good thing if you want to blur a background behind a portrait.

Be prepared to do some post processing of your photos with some USM. Your Oly photos are more finished straight out of the camera.
 
Juli Valley said:
I would recommend choosing one AF point, but Sandman, whom I
respect, says he finds the 7 point AF works for him. Most of us
use the center point. Enjoy losing the shutter lag headache.

Don't use Green mode. Try Program instead. Don't be afraid of
upping the ISO. It really is clean to 400 for sure. I have an Oly
3040. DOF is very different. If you want lots of DOF, choose f 8,
11, 16 in aperture mode. Your Oly has much more DOF which believe
me is not a good thing if you want to blur a background behind a
portrait.

Be prepared to do some post processing of your photos with some
USM. Your Oly photos are more finished straight out of the camera.
Click to expand...
 
Good news. Now the learning begins!
Steve
Chris HW said:
I just bought the DR!! I've been lurking and reading here
constantly for several weeks and finally took the plunge!! I used
an old Pentax Spotmatic for several years (it's older than me, 30+
years) then graduated to an Olympus 2020. This is my first dSLR and
I can't wait for the battery to charge. I just bought the camera at
Sears (10% off when you use their credit card plus a 30 day return
policy with no re-stock charge)

Any first steps?? I've read a little on checking for dead/hot
pixels; anything else I should do right out of the box?

I also just wanted to thank all the regular posters - you guys (and
gals) are GREAT!! I'm really looking forward to learning and using
this camera!

Chris Warburton
Troy, MI - USA
Click to expand...
 
Chris HW said:
Any first steps?? I've read a little on checking for dead/hot
pixels; anything else I should do right out of the box?
Click to expand...
Yep, don't do any tests, you'll just confuse yourself. Put it in P, select the center focusing point and go out and shoot a bunch of nice shots. You'll come back feeling good. Then you can start looking around with your new toy.
--
Dave Lewis
 
Set the focusing point to the center only and use the Creative modes.

Don't get anal with the stuck pixel, viewfinder alignment, mis-focus or flash under exposure.

Don't get fixated with lens or flash inferiority complex. The kit lens is great. The build in flash has good range and recycles fast.

Use it a lot, play with it, try all the settings and have fun take lots of picture, its for free now. ;-).
Chris HW said:
I just bought the DR!! I've been lurking and reading here
constantly for several weeks and finally took the plunge!! I used
an old Pentax Spotmatic for several years (it's older than me, 30+
years) then graduated to an Olympus 2020. This is my first dSLR and
I can't wait for the battery to charge. I just bought the camera at
Sears (10% off when you use their credit card plus a 30 day return
policy with no re-stock charge)

Any first steps?? I've read a little on checking for dead/hot
pixels; anything else I should do right out of the box?

I also just wanted to thank all the regular posters - you guys (and
gals) are GREAT!! I'm really looking forward to learning and using
this camera!

Chris Warburton
Troy, MI - USA
Click to expand...
 
Thanks everyone - got the battery charged up and blasted through about 75 pics - it's rainy here in Detroit so indoors only. There is a LOT to learn on this bad boy.

Any pointers with on-board flash usage?? I'm going to a halloween party on Friday and I'll need the flash.

Thanks again everyone,

Chris
Sandman said:
Chris HW,

Welcome to the forum. Lurk no more, you are now a Rebel!

Yeeeeee Haaaaaaa

Cheers,

jim

--
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
Click to expand...
 
I don't know what pentax lenses you have but for under $20 you could get a eos-m42 adapter and use them lenses manualy.

ENJOY!
Chris HW said:
Sandman said:
Chris HW,

Welcome to the forum. Lurk no more, you are now a Rebel!

Yeeeeee Haaaaaaa

Cheers,

jim

--
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
In West Virginia there are no strangers.. Only friends we have'nt met..



George, K2EWL http://wwwbg.tripod.com
Pics at http://www.pbase.com/george_druther
also at http://www.bytephoto.com/ (free hosting site)
 
Welcome to the club.
Got mine for 4 days only and enjoying it a lot.
I was surprised how easy it was to "learn" this camera.
If you are interested, I posted my first pics under following thread:
" first day with the rebel"

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=6466244

pics are here

http://www.pbase.com/ponceletf/first_day_with_rebel

Fred
George Druther said:
ENJOY!
George Druther said:
Sandman said:
Chris HW,

Welcome to the forum. Lurk no more, you are now a Rebel!

Yeeeeee Haaaaaaa

Cheers,

jim

--
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
In West Virginia there are no strangers.. Only friends we have'nt
met..



George, K2EWL http://wwwbg.tripod.com
Pics at http://www.pbase.com/george_druther
also at http://www.bytephoto.com/ (free hosting site)
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ponceletf/root
 
...these aren't exactly newbie suggestions, but once you get comfortable...

First, I agree with everyone that choosing the center point focusing is the best way to get started. With that, you point the center at the subject, half-press, the recompose; its the classic way to do it. However, I have found that my pictures got a lot better in terms of focus and exposure once I started choosing the focus point as needed for each shot. Several other poeple have made a similar observation. Note that the use of this button is cumbersome, so you really should get comfortable with the camera before getting bolixed up with this. After a week or so if using this feature, I am quite comfortable with it and happier with the results.

Second, start thinking about a better lens. I am still using the kit lens for wide angle stuff, but I got a high-end lens for telephoto and, man, does it make a difference. Here's a threads from a guy who bought an inexpensive 50mm lens and the results are very impressive. He said he couldn't get a decent shot with his kit lens, and this agrees with my experience. But look what he did with his ($100?) prime lens.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=6489015

Charles.
--
The other day I went to... no wait, that was someone else.
Canon Digital Rebel (Since Sep 26, 2003)
Sony 707 (Since Oct 14, 2002)
http://homepage.mac.com/charlesclloyd
 
Congratulation Chris! Just use your first 2 weeks and shoot every thing you see with your kit lens in different lighting conditions and don't worry about other lens...save your energy and headache until 2 weeks later in case you want to keep the camera :-)

And welcom to the Rebel Forum.

Antoine
Chris HW said:
I just bought the DR!! I've been lurking and reading here
constantly for several weeks and finally took the plunge!! I used
an old Pentax Spotmatic for several years (it's older than me, 30+
years) then graduated to an Olympus 2020. This is my first dSLR and
I can't wait for the battery to charge. I just bought the camera at
Sears (10% off when you use their credit card plus a 30 day return
policy with no re-stock charge)

Any first steps?? I've read a little on checking for dead/hot
pixels; anything else I should do right out of the box?

I also just wanted to thank all the regular posters - you guys (and
gals) are GREAT!! I'm really looking forward to learning and using
this camera!

Chris Warburton
Troy, MI - USA
Click to expand...
--
Antoine - F717, The Mirror Image
http://www.pbase.com/image/6381098

Antoine - F717, The Mirror Images
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291244987
 
Chris you are about the fifth guy from Michigan with a 300D. I'm from Armada, not too far away. We go to church in Troy, Michigan. Maybe we can start a Michigan/Detroit area users group!
 
Nice to meet you Gadget Man!! Maybe we should start a SE Michigan Rebel club! The camera is great, I've been shooting everything in my house.

I will definately be looking at additional lenses in the future. I want to learn the camera and kit lens (and it's limitations) before I start adding lenses.

Thanks for the responses everyone!!

Chris
Gadget Man said:
Chris you are about the fifth guy from Michigan with a 300D. I'm
from Armada, not too far away. We go to church in Troy, Michigan.
Maybe we can start a Michigan/Detroit area users group!
Click to expand...
 
Hey Gadget Man! I met you at Best Buy the day I bought MY 300D. You were leaving your liscence and taking the display camera outside. I'll join the group! I have much to learn!
Gadget Man said:
Chris you are about the fifth guy from Michigan with a 300D. I'm
from Armada, not too far away. We go to church in Troy, Michigan.
Maybe we can start a Michigan/Detroit area users group!
Click to expand...
 
Wellcome to club Chris ! Mine is 5 days old, that makes abaut 270 pics. Rebell is lovely tool to handle and has marvellous picture quality.

My patent is to learn slowly all new features of the camera. Only one adjustment change at a time. Good Luck with pictures wishes Jouni, Stockholm
 
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