This damned camera is confusing me dammit!

I borrowed my cousin's Nikon d3000. She knows nothing about it. She just shoots on auto all the time. So I gave her my point and shoot and I got her nikon. I am trying to figure out how to work it on the "M" mode in regards to the aperture and f-stop stuff. And also when to use the "A", 'S', and 'P' modes.

 

honestly man, thats stuff is way too complicated to explain on a thread. It took me a good day to read through a 200 page book on photography to learn how to use all the features correctly. Search the internet for some basic photography info.

As a quick run down, the camera has a sensor behind the lens [inside the body] and the sensor has to receive the perfect amount of light for the picture to come out properly exposed. If it gets too much light, the colors are blown out and your picture often comes out very white. If it doesnt get enough, it comes out really dark. So the trick is getting in the perfect amount of light from your environment.

The amount of light hitting the camera's sensor is controlled by

1. shutter speed: how long your shutter stays open
2. Aperture: the size of a pinhole in the back which can be opened up, or closed up to let in light. This will also affect the depth of focus on your pictures though
3. ISO: The sensitivity of the sensor

You'll also need to play with white balance to perfect the colors and such.

Once you get it, it awesome and you can produce some amazing stuff. Untill then, shoot on auto. Or go read up.

 

Welcome to the world of DSLR's your going to be hooked.

Manual mode it really simple if you know the basics. You can always read the manual or go on youtube there is so many tutorials for Nikon cameras

Here's one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orpw4jRvbo0

 

Now you know why she uses "auto" all the time!

 

Download the manual off the web. Even if you have the manual download the PDF. It's the way to master that camera.

 

hit it with a hammer

 

Lol yeah I guess. But she bought the thing with no intention of figuring it out.

 

He may find that panorama is built in. What ever the first picture uses will be the exposure for the rest till you click it done. You just have to select it from the menu.

Don't think I've ever used it on my Nikon. I just hand hold them and I take a lot of panoramas and they have always worked. I don't think I've even used a tripod yet. I've misplaced my small tripod.

 

Thank you ma'am That is some great info

 

Hey matt if you don't like the d3000 i'll buy it off of ya if its in a decent condition

 

http://stopshootingauto.com/exposure-lessons-in-order/

Take the lessons in order. Dont skip. It shouldnt take you no longer than 4 hours total to read through all them. 2 or 3 a day.

 

I found this out the hard way. I took about 300 pics on a timer every 5 seconds and tried to make a time lapse movie. Well, there was shade, sun, clouds, wind, everything...and my fstop changed each pic. So my time lapse looked like i was turning the lights on and off outside...lol...

Manual is best for these type of shots as well.

 

this

this

this

im in manual 99% of the time. eventually you will know in what kind of lighting what settings to use.

 

Sure bob

 

OK! Just send the money to me and I'll get riiight on sending you the camera.

 

I responded to the wrong thread it seems. You can read here for the method I'm trying out.