I am new here with a few questions!

[babygiggles04]

Hi I am new to this board! I have a nikon D40 with a 55-200mm lens... I am new to photography and I am just learning how to use it. well I am trying to learn M mode and its a big pain! Its sunny out (FL) I have my cam set on Manual F4 ISO 200 1/500 if I take the pic without the flash it comes out very dark then I go 1/1000 and darker! I use the flash very light!! how can I make the best out of a sunny day without flash and how can i set my shutter speed??? I am so confused!!! here is a pic with flash.... F4.5 1/500 (i cant go higher with the flash!!)

[Athas_orm]

I'd suggest you start with A mode. See what settings your camera uses and get used to that. Experiment first with semi automatic then manual will make more sense.

The reason that flash is brightening too much is down to time. Theres a minimum time your camera stays open for with flash.

If you want to use a fill flash in daylight and things are too bright you've got a choice of lower the ISO or close the aparture (higher 4 number)

I think.

I'm pretty newish to it all too.

You may get a better response to this on the critique section.

wes

[RLucas]

I can't see the picture, but ISO 200 is as low as the D40 will go. I thought she said the pic was too dark? The settings she had on a sunny day should almost be overexposed? I will look when I get home. I hate internet filters!

[LeeR]

I am with Athas on this. Set you camera to auto and just have a good time. Find the things you love to take pictures of and then find the things you need to know to do that better. Think of it like learning to drive a car. First, you just need to learn to drive. After you have that well in hand you might want to learn how the engine works, or how to use a stick, or how suspensions work. If you are planning to race, you will need to master all those things, but if you are going to do a lot of traveling, a class in map reading might be more appropriate. The same is true in photography. Using your camera to take pictures of your family takes a different set of skills from taking artistic landscape images. So let your own interests lead you to the information you need. And the best way to do that is to have fun shooting!

[babygiggles04]

Originally Posted by LeeR

I am with Athas on this. Set you camera to auto and just have a good time. Find the things you love to take pictures of and then find the things you need to know to do that better. Think of it like learning to drive a car. First, you just need to learn to drive. After you have that well in hand you might want to learn how the engine works, or how to use a stick, or how suspensions work. If you are planning to race, you will need to master all those things, but if you are going to do a lot of traveling, a class in map reading might be more appropriate. The same is true in photography. Using your camera to take pictures of your family takes a different set of skills from taking artistic landscape images. So let your own interests lead you to the information you need. And the best way to do that is to have fun shooting!

I have worked on auto for almost a year and I just wanted to get the best out of my camera! :-) I love taking pics of my kids outdoors and indoors... can someone explain a little better the shutter speed??? if I have it on 1/60 will that make a differance? I just dont think I need to use flash outdoors right?

[babygiggles04]

Originally Posted by RLucas

I can't see the picture, but ISO 200 is as low as the D40 will go. I thought she said the pic was too dark? The settings she had on a sunny day should almost be overexposed? I will look when I get home. I hate internet filters!

yes some of them were to dark like very dark! but when i turn the flash on it will come out like the pic above.

[slc_shutterbug]

Here you go:

34 Essential Tutorials To Get Started With Digital Photography - Pxleyes.com Blog


There are several useful tutorials here to help you out. It's too much to type out in a comment, I'm afraid.

[babygiggles04]

Originally Posted by slc_shutterbug

Here you go:

34 Essential Tutorials To Get Started With Digital Photography - Pxleyes.com Blog


There are several useful tutorials here to help you out. It's too much to type out in a comment, I'm afraid.

thanks so much!!!

[BCampbell]

I think Athas_orm may have been suggesting going to aperture priority mode, usually labeled "Av". You'll have creative control over the aperture and ISO but the camera will set the shutter speed for your conditions.

There is really very little need for full manual mode in day-to-day shooting conditions. I don't quite understand the people who buy a DSLR because they want to get "back" to shooting manually like they did with film SLR's in the 70's and 80's. DSLR's are not exactly designed for that kind of shooting. If you want control over depth of field, use aperture priority. If you want control over the shutter speed, use shutter priority. Once you've got the hang of those, you can go manual, but you'll probably find it's not as romantic as it seemed.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

I think Athas_orm may have been suggesting going to aperture priority mode, usually labeled "Av". You'll have creative control over the aperture and ISO but the camera will set the shutter speed for your conditions.

There is really very little need for full manual mode in day-to-day shooting conditions. I don't quite understand the people who buy a DSLR because they want to get "back" to shooting manually like they did with film SLR's in the 70's and 80's. DSLR's are not exactly designed for that kind of shooting. If you want control over depth of field, use aperture priority. If you want control over the shutter speed, use shutter priority. Once you've got the hang of those, you can go manual, but you'll probably find it's not as romantic as it seemed.

I don't think of full manual as being romantic. For me, I have to be in complete control to learn. I can look at a series of shots that I changed the settings on, and tweak it from there. I remember things better by doing. I have been in full manual since day one, and I wouldn't have it any other way. That is also the great thing about DSLR's. No waste of film.
Now ask me to fly a plane, and I may have to re think my strategy!