Nikon D80 body purchase

[Cap]

Well, after talking about it for months, and having invrease levels of frustration with my happy snapper (ie wanting more out of it), I took the plunge and put down a deposit on a used (hardly used!) Nikon D80 body only.

At this stage ill just lay-by it, im in no hurry to have it, but at least now I can look forward to enjoying photography moreso when I get my hands on it and some lenses.

So hopefully in the not too distant future I will be able to contribute moreso to this section (be a big poster like Chucaro)

Question now.. can anyone recommend reading material re the use of photographic equipment, terminology etc. I am ignorant in this area, so ill need some readin material to wisen up!

Cheers,

[dmdigital]

Get either one of these eBooks and practice using the camera as you go.

Thom Hogan - Complete Guide to the Nikon D80
Digital Secrets (Follow link to D80 book)

Both are excellent and don't cost a lot. Thom Hogan's style is very good and the iNova books are a little more interactive. I bought both for my D200 and found them excellent. I also bought the Thom Hogan D3 book recently as it helped in coming to terms with the miriad of settings for the D3s.

[Cap]

Phew! Talk about information overload

Just looked through some youtube videos and site by Rob Barron. Excellent tutor, has a good way to communicate the technicalities into laymens terms. So know I know about aperture, focul length and ISO to start with. All stuff to do with depth of field... very interesting indeed.

His site link is:

Rob Barron & My Photo Tutor

[Roadrunner]

Good stuff. Bought a D90 a few weeks back and still work through the basic settings. I tend to take every picture 4-5 times with different settings just to see what it looks like. You've been talking a long time about a new camera so I'm sure you will have lots of fun.

Matt

[Cap]

Good stuff. Bought a D90 a few weeks back and still work through the basic settings. I tend to take every picture 4-5 times with different settings just to see what it looks like. You've been talking a long time about a new camera so I'm sure you will have lots of fun.

Matt

Thanks Matt. I actually read somewhere (so many sites I cant remember where now) but it was suggested that the best way to learn this stuff is by experimenting, like you are. I plan to do same, so I will be clicking away for some time too

[dullbird]

Thanks Matt. I actually read somewhere (so many sites I cant remember where now) but it was suggested that the best way to learn this stuff is by experimenting, like you are. I plan to do same, so I will be clicking away for some time too

Actually I disagree to an extent, I think the best way to learn if you have never owned an slr before, is doing a short course.

I did this and I would do it again, I learnt so much in such a short space of time I felt the course was well worth the effort.

of course you never stop learning so i still experiment and try different things...but I feel its hard to experiement if you have no ida what the settings do that your experimenting with

Just my opinion of course

[dmdigital]

I think you're spot on Lou, that's why I suggested the two eBooks in the post earlier. You need that initial kick to give you the basic understandings and a short course or good hands on text are the way to go. That the leads to practicing what you learn and building on it.

[Cap]

Dont get me wrong here, I have READ SO MUCH in the last few days, photography isnt really that complicated when it comes to the 3 amigos (A, S and I)... what is complicated is using it! I find this happens in the Graphic Design field where some people think that having Photoshop and other high end applications make them a great designer

But im very much a hands on guy, I always learn by doing... I can only read so much

[DeanoH]

Dont get me wrong here, I have READ SO MUCH in the last few days, photography isnt really that complicated when it comes to the 3 amigos (A, S and I)... what is complicated is using it! I find this happens in the Graphic Design field where some people think that having Photoshop and other high end applications make them a great designer

But im very much a hands on guy, I always learn by doing... I can only read so much

Well, if you can figure out how to use PhotoShop then the D80 should be a breeze.

Deano

[Chucaro]

For me the best way to learn is by doing and participate in good forums or visit them and read all the info.
Have a look THIS forum

And THIS as well they are among the best for photo nature

Take the shots in NEF only and use Nikon Capture NX2 for open them and save in Tiff. After that you can play with PSCS3

A good site tu uinderstand photography is HERE

And HERE are heaps of links.

Chau