I just purchased a DSLR (Canon Digital Rebel XT)

[007bond]

The numbers given in millimeters are the focal lengths of the lens. In layman's terms: the higher the number, the more "zoom" factor you're getting. A 75-300mm lens is a telephoto zoom, meaning it has a range of focal lengths, all of which make distant objects appear to be closer. The kit lens you have ranges from a wide-angle focal length (18mm) to a mild telephoto (55mm) on your XT. There is also a type of lens that does not zoom at all; this type will have a single focal length, and the term for this category is "prime lens." Primes are less convenient because they can't zoom through a range of focal lengths, but they are easier to manufacture and therefore tend to have better optical quality than zoom lenses do.

The other numbers you will find on lenses begin with an "f" and designate the maximum aperture that the lens can achieve. The aperture blades can open wider on some lenses than others, meaning that they let in more light to the sensor all at once. Rather confusingly, larger f-numbers mean smaller aperture openings; for example, f/2 is a larger opening than f/8. I always recommend that beginners play around with a so-called "nifty fifty," which is a relatively inexpensive 50mm lens with a large maximum aperture of f/1.8. The large aperture will enable you to achieve effects (such as a sharp subject against a blurred-out background) that will help you to learn about the relationship between aperture and shutter speed.

Thank you very much for the information! As for the f-numbers, I remember learning about that in my physics class, but it's much more useful to hear it in laymans terms. I will definitely put this information to good use.

 

[MCAsan]

Also, does anyone know if a Lightroom license can be transferred between computers? I currently have an iMac and want to use Lightroom on my MacBook Air when I get it. Would that be allowed?

Lightroom and Elements both come in boxes that have both the Windows and Mac version with the license number. You can see that on the outside of the boxes. The license is typically good for up to 3 computers owned by the same family.

 

[007bond]

Lightroom and Elements both come in boxes that have both the Windows and Mac version with the license number. You can see that on the outside of the boxes. The license is typically good for up to 3 computers owned by the same family.

Alright, thanks. I'm going to look up information about the student version, as that one may have some limitations.

 

[zombiecakes]

Here is something important to know about focal lengths: http://www.techgeeze.com/2011/11/ho...-can-beautify-or-uglify-your-pretty-face.html

Dont just take everything at 18mm because it can fit more stuff or because you can get in closer. Short focal lengths highly distort things, especially people. The human eye has a focal length of around 100mm (there is a lot of debate about the exact number but "around 100" is a good guess, I would vote 120mm) so the closer you can get to that number the more natural your shots will look. Also you have a camera with an APS-C sized sensor, which is smaller than the "full frame" 35mm cameras, so lenses on your camera will have a higher focal length compared to a full frame SLR which is what the numbers are representing (multiply your mm number by 1.6, so at 55mm it is actually taking pictures at 88mm). Here is a comparison of a 50mm lens shot with a full frame camera (left) and an APS-C camera (right), as you can see the one on the right is a lot less distorted because it has a higher focal length thanks to the smaller sensor

You should seriously consider getting this lens: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-...=UTF8&qid=1344272673&sr=8-1&keywords=50mm+1.8

It is cheap and takes excellent shots. You will notice a huge difference in the professionalism of your shots taken with that compared to the kit lens, and the big aperture sucks in so much more light so it can be used in low light conditions. Type "50mm 1.8" into Flickr to see what it is capable of. And remember it will be shooting at 80mm on your camera which means you will have to stand pretty far back from what you are shooting but not so far back you cant use it indoors (set your kit lens to 50mm to get a sense).

 

[007bond]

Here is something important to know about focal lengths: http://www.techgeeze.com/2011/11/ho...-can-beautify-or-uglify-your-pretty-face.html

Dont just take everything at 18mm because it can fit more stuff or because you can get in closer. Short focal lengths highly distort things, especially people. The human eye has a focal length of around 100mm (there is a lot of debate about the exact number but "around 100" is a good guess, I would vote 120mm) so the closer you can get to that number the more natural your shots will look. Also you have a camera with an APS-C sized sensor, which is smaller than the "full frame" 35mm cameras, so lenses on your camera will have a higher focal length compared to a full frame SLR which is what the numbers are representing (multiply your mm number by 1.6, so at 55mm it is actually taking pictures at 88mm). Here is a comparison of a 50mm lens shot with a full frame camera (left) and an APS-C camera (right), as you can see the one on the right is a lot less distorted because it has a higher focal length thanks to the smaller sensor

You should seriously consider getting this lens: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-...=UTF8&qid=1344272673&sr=8-1&keywords=50mm+1.8

It is cheap and takes excellent shots. You will notice a huge difference in the professionalism of your shots taken with that compared to the kit lens, and the big aperture sucks in so much more light so it can be used in low light conditions. Type "50mm 1.8" into Flickr to see what it is capable of. And remember it will be shooting at 80mm on your camera which means you will have to stand pretty far back from what you are shooting but not so far back you cant use it indoors (set your kit lens to 50mm to get a sense).

Thank you for even more useful information! That lens looks very appealing, but it is currently out of my budget. It is on my Amazon Wishlist for the time being.

 

[Phrasikleia]

Thank you for even more useful information! That lens looks very appealing, but it is currently out of my budget. It is on my Amazon Wishlist for the time being.

Another way to go would be to buy an M-42 to EOS adapter ring on eBay (they go for as little as $3 with shipping from China) and then pick up any vintage 50mm M-42 lens on eBay. These lenses are often 50mm f/1.7 and can be had with shipping for about $50. The only downside is that you'll have to shoot with them in either manual or Av mode and will have to focus manually, but in my view those really aren't downsides at all. Those vintage M-42 lenses tend to be built very well (unlike the plastic "nifty fifty") and are very sharp.

 

[NZed]

Another way to go would be to buy an M-42 to EOS adapter ring on eBay (they go for as little as $3 with shipping from China) and then pick up any vintage 50mm M-42 lens on eBay. These lenses are often 50mm f/1.7 and can be had with shipping for about $50. The only downside is that you'll have to shoot with them in either manual or Av mode and will have to focus manually, but in my view those really aren't downsides at all. Those vintage M-42 lenses tend to be built very well (unlike the plastic "nifty fifty") and are very sharp.

That sounds pretty complicated compared to going to B&H photo and clicking add 50mm 1.8 to cart then pay.

 

[Phrasikleia]

That sounds pretty complicated compared to going to B&H photo and clicking add 50mm 1.8 to cart then pay.

Two clicks on eBay versus one on B&H...not so complicated, whereas paying twice as much for the new plastic lens is a complication for someone who can't afford to do that. The OP said that the new 50mm is out of his budget.

 

[NZed]

Two clicks on eBay versus one on B&H...not so complicated, whereas paying twice as much for the new plastic lens is a complication for someone who can't afford to do that. The OP said that the new 50mm is out of his budget.

What??? How can i missed that!

OP! The cheapest Canon lens is our of your budget?

Oh well, I was kinda in your position before, completely understandable. Good luck!

 

[dkersten]

OP- Awesome thread first of all!

Edited because I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread

 

[Phrasikleia]

OP- Awesome thread first of all!

Second: I am also looking to get into the photography game as a hobby. I have virtually no experience with cameras other than in my cell phone and a cheap digital camera. I have very little knowledge on the features of a camera or lens technology.

So my question(s) to the more experienced photographers here are:
1) How did you learn about photography? Are you self taught or did you take a college class on photography or something similar?
2) I want to become experienced enough to buy and use a DSLR effectively eventually. Do you recommend springing for a beginner DLSR right away or do you recommend a "bridge" camera or perhaps one of the new mirror-less cameras?

Any and all recommendations are appreciated.

A great bunch of questions, and I guarantee that you will get a lot of great replies if you post it as a separate thread in the digital photography forum. Buried in this one, your post is going to get little attention and is a bit off-topic.

 

[dkersten]

A great bunch of questions, and I guarantee that you will get a lot of great replies if you post it as a separate thread in the digital photography forum. Buried in this one, your post is going to get little attention and is a bit off-topic.

Good Point! I don't want to hijack this thread from the OP either so I'll start a new thread.

 

[007bond]

What??? How can i missed that!

OP! The cheapest Canon lens is our of your budget?

Oh well, I was kinda in your position before, completely understandable. Good luck!

I'm starting college in the fall, so tuition/housing>camera lenses at the moment. Hopefully I can pick up the lens after getting a better job on campus.

 

[007bond]

Hey, all. I wanted to post an update on the camera.

I absolutely love the picture quality. Even when I'm taking quick shots in Auto mode, pictures look fantastic compared to my Point and Shoot. I guess that's expected, but I'm still a bit surprised at the drastic difference.

I've also been messing around with the Av, Tv, and Manual modes. Quite frankly, I just can't get the hang of it. I'm really having trouble optimizing the settings for the perfect shot. I'm going to keep trying, but could you guys point me to some good tutorials? I am googling it, but I am finding many of these guides to be somewhat complicated. Or maybe I'm just being a noob

 

[cjmillsnun]

Hey, all. I wanted to post an update on the camera.

I absolutely love the picture quality. Even when I'm taking quick shots in Auto mode, pictures look fantastic compared to my Point and Shoot. I guess that's expected, but I'm still a bit surprised at the drastic difference.

I've also been messing around with the Av, Tv, and Manual modes. Quite frankly, I just can't get the hang of it. I'm really having trouble optimizing the settings for the perfect shot. I'm going to keep trying, but could you guys point me to some good tutorials? I am googling it, but I am finding many of these guides to be somewhat complicated. Or maybe I'm just being a noob

My best advice to get you started, put it in Av mode (A on Nikons) and select an aperture of f/8. It's normally the sweet spot of the lens. By putting the camera in Av mode, it will select the shutter speed automatically.

In good light set the ISO to 100 or 200, and you should start to get good shots.

Also check where your camera is focusing. (you will have a number of focus points in the viewfinder - make sure the right one is selected so that it will focus on the object or person you want it to!)

Once you've got the hang of that, experiment with changing one setting at a time, for example the aperture by one stop, and seeing the effect it makes on the picture.

Give it time and you'll master it!