Bought a new camera
 

I've been putting it off for a long time but I finally decided to go for it. I've always wanted to get into some amateur photography. Now to take some classes.

Nikon D5000 DX-Format Digital SLR Camera Two-Lens VR Outfit (18-55 VR & AF-S DX VR 55-200mm F4-5.6G) - 25454-2166 - RitzCamera.com

Very nice, hope you enjoy the hobby.

Co-worker was here this morning showing some very cool pics she took with her (much lower level than what you bought) Nikon.

Awesome, now go out and capture something awesome.
Here's one I got with my new rig to spur your ambition...
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...IMGP0520-1.jpg

Shoot some "raw" pics and see how they turn out. Mine its 30-40 megs each but unbelieveable quality and detail.

Just remember that there is no in camera sharpening in RAW mode.

Dave.....please explain. I just bought a new camera too (Pentax K-x) and am working through the "technical terms".

do you realize you have purchased one of the FINEST MOST VERSATILE CAMERAS EVER PRODUCED?

yep yer gonna have fun lak me. bought exact same kit.



all lenses produced by nikon from when baby dinosaurs roamed will fit that camera and mine. so you have the ability to pick up some bad ass lenzz very inexpensive and have a very versatile arsenal of lenzz in your holster/bag/backpak.


remember the VR(vibration resistant) lenzz are different and thats when ya better be ready for total wallet meltdown with these.

thangs to buy:

1) rear screen clear plastic lenzz cover


2) a very beefy neck strap padded

3) lenzz cover attachment strap or risk loosing lens cover. PITA but ya get used to it and sometimes it gets very dusty due to track dry or dust and ya wanna keep yer lenzz covered.

4) a hefty trash bag in yer pouch if it rains so you can cover entire camera bag.

5) my next purchase will be the LOWE DRYZONE 200 totally waterproof camera backpack.

6) auto remote button. trust me once ya figure it all out these are fun.


7) spare batterys and spare camera cards 8gig. last race over 850 pics taken. very easy to burn alot. and we burn alot of pics.

8) dont bother deleting pics until home. learn DELETE ALL button after downloading to puter. then delete from puter.

9) lennz filters. clear and colored. have them on both my lenzz.

10) camera cleaning kit.


enjoy. best xmas prez i have had in years.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1266759736.jpg

above pic taken by my son of himself no flash no light except stars.



there are various external flashes. i have not bought one yet but my buddy bought the $500 nikon external flash for weddings for his d-5000 and he really likes it except ya gotta have alot of spare batteries to run it.



take camera with you every day and take STOOOOO-PID pics to learn camera. its brain is wayyyy larger than ours as far as functions.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1266760058.jpg

Each manufacturer has its own extension for RAW - Nikon .NEF - Pentax .PEF - Canon .CRW....

In short, RAW just captures the image as is and writes the image to a file. The camera does not alter the image before it creates the file. The files are larger and take longer to write, but gives the photographer ultimate control over the file in post processing.

A bit more info than you probably want, but the first few paragraphs are easy to digest.
Raw image format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hope this helps. It's early and I just seem to be staring...

Thanks for all of the tips. I've got a long way to go but I've always liked taking pictures and always wanted to learn to take great pictures. I'm going through it right now reading and learning about it's settings and capabilities. Boy there is a lot.

The difference is like this:

The way Alfred Hitchcock made movies, and the way James Cameron makes movies.

RAW mode is closer to what the old 35mm film SLR cameras with no auto or program mode did - you needed to set the f-stop, the shutter speed...etc. all by yourself - the camera won't make adjustments for you.

-Z-man.

That sounds like manual mode to me, RAW images are like your negative before being turned into prints, no pushing or pulling of the image, what you've got is exactly what the camera caught.

You are correct, RAW is what the camera saw without any of the magic bells and whistles thrown in the mix.

The question is, do YOU want to take the photo or do you want your CAMERA and all its software, bells and whistles and so on to take the photo?

Guess I am old school and can most of the time do it better without the software, but then I did grow up with a 35mm rangefinder Leica and a handheld light meter! :)

Congrats! My wife has the photo bug and I am her sherpa / technical advisor. Here is what has helped her.

1) Scott Kelby's trilogy on digital photography. Light, easy reading that gives lots of great pointers.
2) Take a "photo safari" of sorts. If you can go shoot with a bunch of folks more talented than you, you will soon be similarly talented (maybe). I know that in Portland where we live there is a monthly event at no charge. Just a bunch of photo geeks doing there thing.

Have fun!
Larry

Wow! You managed to photograph a short-hood in the wild! :eek:

This is a good freeware/shareware RAW image program and converter

Raw therapee

they is EVERYWHERE HERE! and they is ALL TEETH AND AZZHOLE!


have had numerous experiences late at night and early morning with them and none of it is pleasant.


back to NIKON D-5000. the best way to learn this camera is ashcan the manual and start taking pics on different settings. the trick is remembering which setting ya have it on. to retain all the info in the manual is wayyyyy beyond my patience level. knowing the menu is key.


sooooooooooooo.............go out and take (1)juan flavor on "auto". then go back to puter and download. check pics out, delete what ya dont like.

then go out and set it on "P" and repeat

then "C" and repeat

then "M" and repeat

und so veiter.


check out what ya come up with. you'll be surprised at what ya get.


composing pics is one thing. blasting away getting moving images is a blast picking out which one is best.


i try and carry mine ready to go at all times. ya never know whats gonna pop up.


i was hoping tee-gar woods was in rehab in wickenburg,az. and prowling around cuz i heard the national enquirer was offering 250K for his pic. LOL!


get to know an authorized NIKON dealer/repair. we have tempe camera and those guys are great. have been very helpful on my (2) NIKONOS underwater cameras as far as info on the nikonos IV and nikonos V w/strobe.


i have the luxury of my buddy who is a professional photographer as my mentor and some of the crap we have done while enjoying mass quanities of beers has been an ABSOLUTE BLAST.


some of the new nikon zoom VR lenzez(lenses) are so damn *****en for taking long range shots its pathetic. truly amazing the clarity.