Camera n00b needs advice

dasReaper · 02-11-2009, 09:43 AM

I just recently got an Olympus E-510. All my prior photography experience is with simple digital point and shoots like Nikon Cool Pix. I'd really like to be able to take my camera off of auto mode. It takes extremely good photos but I know it can take infinitly better ones. It has two different lens which when I get home I will post up what they are. I read thru many posts and even looked thru the Demo For Beginner Photographers someone posted by HP. However, it did not help me much with my camera. Any advise especially with my specific camera would be very appreciated.

rodi · 02-11-2009, 11:52 PM

put it in manual mode.
get a lens that doesn't "zoom."
shoot lots and experiment.

TWiTCHY · 02-12-2009, 01:30 AM

There's no better way to become a better photographer than to get outside and practice. Go downtown and take some shots.

jhv · 02-12-2009, 04:02 AM

practice makes perfect. i never took a formal class, i just read up on photography forums and fiddled around with my camera

Teshi · 02-12-2009, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodi

put it in manual mode.
get a lens that doesn't "zoom."
shoot lots and experiment.

No, I would move onto this later.

It throws you into the deep end but does not help to teach or display to you what each setting can actually do.

To the OP - If you camera has an aperture priority mode and a shutter priority mode, read the manual and start with those two modes.

Shutter speed priority in short will allow you to designate your shutter speed and it will pick the correct aperture.

Aperture priority will allow you to control your aperture(depth of field) and will change the shutter speed accordingly.

Once you see how your aperture readings tie in with your shutter speed, you can THEN move onto things like ISO, exposure compensation etc.

MCS · 02-12-2009, 07:57 AM

Practice - Take lots of pics without the flash and with for comparison.

Adjust settings and reshoot.

I'd suggest reading photo.net and to a lesser degree - Ken Rockwell.com

Russian325is · 02-12-2009, 07:09 PM

Teshi's advice is the way to go...
And fire away...don't be afraid of filling your memory card.
Also...shoot and review. After you take the pic..look at your LCD and zoom into the pic. Make sure it's not blurred, light is correct, white balance is right, etc...

Russian325is · 02-12-2009, 07:10 PM

Also....don't be afraid of trying different angles. Like I heard somewhere "if you think people are thinking 'wth is that guy doing' then, you're doing it right."

TWiTCHY · 02-12-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian325is

Also....don't be afraid of trying different angles. Like I heard somewhere "if you think people are thinking 'wth is that guy doing' then, you're doing it right."

Very true - with wide-angle lenses, I often find myself flat on the ground, or high off the ground

FolsomMike · 02-13-2009, 09:36 PM

First -congrats on the camera. I bought the same one w/ 2 lens kit and am very pleased with it. It.s my fourth digital camera in seven years and I don't think I'll need to upgrade again anytime soon.

As others have said, just start experimenting. If you're really organized, you can try taking shots of the same thing with different settings and write down what setting you used for each shot. One piece of advice -always shoot at a high resolution unless you're shooting solely for on line use. You can always convert a high res shot to low res but not vice versa.

I would highly recommend that you take a one day intro to digital photography class such as offered by The Learning Exchange. You also might want to check out any local camera clubs.

The main thing is to have fun.

02-11-2009, 09:43 AM	#1
dasReaper Enthusiast 54 Rep 20 Posts Drives: '09 128i Black/Black Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Camera n00b needs advice I just recently got an Olympus E-510. All my prior photography experience is with simple digital point and shoots like Nikon Cool Pix. I'd really like to be able to take my camera off of auto mode. It takes extremely good photos but I know it can take infinitly better ones. It has two different lens which when I get home I will post up what they are. I read thru many posts and even looked thru the Demo For Beginner Photographers someone posted by HP. However, it did not help me much with my camera. Any advise especially with my specific camera would be very appreciated. __________________ "Life is risky business" ~Schirmnov, Oleg
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02-11-2009, 11:52 PM	#2
rodi . . . 181 Rep 2,391 Posts Drives: your FACE! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta proper iTrader: (-1)	put it in manual mode. get a lens that doesn't "zoom." shoot lots and experiment. __________________ 2009 135i \| space grey \| sport \| navi \| hifi \| heated dinan stage 2 software \| bmw performance exhaust kw v2 \| hotchkis front sway \| vmr v710
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02-12-2009, 01:30 AM	#3
TWiTCHY Colonel 376 Rep 2,526 Posts Drives: '13 AW E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (6)	There's no better way to become a better photographer than to get outside and practice. Go downtown and take some shots.
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02-12-2009, 04:02 AM	#4
jhv Lieutenant General 1695 Rep 17,304 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	practice makes perfect. i never took a formal class, i just read up on photography forums and fiddled around with my camera
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02-12-2009, 07:57 AM	#6
MCS e90 newbie 35 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E93 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Practice - Take lots of pics without the flash and with for comparison. Adjust settings and reshoot. I'd suggest reading photo.net and to a lesser degree - Ken Rockwell.com __________________ E93 IL Blue M3 ZPP, ZCW
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02-12-2009, 07:09 PM	#7
Russian325is Private First Class 24 Rep 161 Posts Drives: 335i '08 E92 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA iTrader: (0)	Teshi's advice is the way to go... And fire away...don't be afraid of filling your memory card. Also...shoot and review. After you take the pic..look at your LCD and zoom into the pic. Make sure it's not blurred, light is correct, white balance is right, etc...
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02-12-2009, 07:10 PM	#8
Russian325is Private First Class 24 Rep 161 Posts Drives: 335i '08 E92 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA iTrader: (0)	Also....don't be afraid of trying different angles. Like I heard somewhere "if you think people are thinking 'wth is that guy doing' then, you're doing it right."
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02-13-2009, 09:36 PM	#10
FolsomMike Lieutenant 23 Rep 502 Posts Drives: crimson red 335 cabrio Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Folsom, California iTrader: (0)	First -congrats on the camera. I bought the same one w/ 2 lens kit and am very pleased with it. It.s my fourth digital camera in seven years and I don't think I'll need to upgrade again anytime soon. As others have said, just start experimenting. If you're really organized, you can try taking shots of the same thing with different settings and write down what setting you used for each shot. One piece of advice -always shoot at a high resolution unless you're shooting solely for on line use. You can always convert a high res shot to low res but not vice versa. I would highly recommend that you take a one day intro to digital photography class such as offered by The Learning Exchange. You also might want to check out any local camera clubs. The main thing is to have fun.
	Appreciate 0 Quote