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digital photography for dummies!
locoboy - 20/12/08 at 03:24 PM

Guys im a new owner to the canon 450D and im after a simple to use reference book that i can cling to as my bible for a while until i begin to learn the relationships between apertures and f numbers and shutter speeds and depth of fields and white balance etc etc!

Does anyone have anything they would reccommend?

Jasper - 20/12/08 at 03:29 PM

Go on a local photography evening course - much better than any book

Mark G - 20/12/08 at 03:50 PM

Digital camera magazine has a free book with this months issue, covers pretty much all of the basics and then some. For £4 you cant go wrong.

I learned my camera (Olympus E510) by simply reading the manual.

mr henderson - 20/12/08 at 03:51 PM

Local library will have several, maybe even dozens of applicable books

John

jos - 20/12/08 at 04:15 PM

I got one called understanding exposure by brian pederson from ebay on the reccommendation of a photographer from loton park

I'll lend you mine if you like but i'd thoroughly reccomend getting your own copy. I think I found a copy in Shrewsbury Waterstones but it was twice the price of the ebay one and the ebay one got delivered really quickly too

Scott W - 20/12/08 at 04:48 PM

As the poster says above me, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Paterson is a great book. I got this last Christmas as I'd just got myself a 400d and this book explains everything really well.

I still refer back to it now from time to time as well so try and find a copy on eBay or Amazon, etc...

jos - 20/12/08 at 05:18 PM

Understanding Expsoure - Bryan Peterson

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Photograph s-Digital-Camera/dp/0817463003

serieslandy - 20/12/08 at 05:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by locoboy
Guys im a new owner to the canon 450D and im after a simple to use reference book that i can cling to as my bible for a while until i begin to learn the relationships between apertures and f numbers and shutter speeds and depth of fields and white balance etc etc!

Does anyone have anything they would reccommend?


Digtal Camera Magazine as previously mentioned.
F is quite easy to understand if you try and shoot indoors at night. F2.8 will let lots of light through (large hole in lens), F22 doesn't let a lot of light through (small hole in lens). Aperture also determines the depth of field.
Stick to aperture prority (Av on the dial) so you set the F stop and it guesses the shutter speed and shoot in RAW as it gives you the greatest flexability when editing the pictures on the PC.
Iv'e had a 20D for nearly 2 years and i'm still learning how to use it.

Flamez - 20/12/08 at 06:06 PM

leave it on auto.......

Liam - 21/12/08 at 12:14 AM

1. Get googling stuff like "introduction to digital SLR photography". Loads of good guides/explanation/forums online.

2. Subscribe to one of the mags. Packed full of guides and lessons - not only for while you're out shooting, but also for when you're playing in the 'digital darkroom' later.

3. Read the manual!


That should get you started. Like serieslandy, I shoot almost always in aperture priority mode as depth of field is normally what you really want primary control over. Just keep an eye on the shutter speed in low light. Very little genuine need to go full-manual mode whilst out general shooting. Oh and RAW RAW RAW.

Liam

[Edited on 21/12/08 by Liam]

locoboy - 21/12/08 at 10:55 AM

Cheers Guys,
I have ordered the book mentioned above and will be doing a lot of reading over the festive break!