*New Title* I've Just got my first DSLR, the Nikon D40

[MaxxxRacer]

lol yayayaya

Google is my friend.

I'll read the manual, but I just learned plenty off that rockwell site. I read like 45 pages of stuff.. Very informative. and now I just need to learn my camera and take pictures and try different things out. I'm getting the $14.00 IR remote tomorrow. looks cool

Just make sure you dont get sucked in to his crazy point of view on life. He has some great reviews and has alot of great info on the site, but some of the stuff he says is just plain dumb. This is why you will see alot of people on the net saying alot of bad things about Ken. In my opinion, he has alot more good information on his site than bad, but you have to have some independent thought to notice when he is going off his rocker.

[xguntherc]

off his rocker on what. things about life.. as you said he has a crazy point of View on life. or are you saying he has some crazy thoughts about Camera's and such.. what would his views on life have to do with Camera reviews. other than him maybe being slightly out there personally and how he acts.

All I read is info about my camera, it's lens, and the 18-200, and the cheaper one I'll probably get, the 55-200VR also. So idk. Now I need to read a guide that will help me mostly with how to get the best pictures with my actual lens I have now. and what are the high and low points of it. So thats my goal tomorrow, and maybe drive around and take a few shots. The guy used it for macro shots only. I'm having problems with Macro's. they look good when they get taken. but sometimes it wont actually take the picture, but once I get the actual camera farther from the item.. it takes the shot.

I'm obviously doing something wrong. and i just need to learn more.
Is it partly true that the lens will play more a roll in good pics than the camera will. Maybe dude will sell me his 55-200. I'll ask

[Nate P.]

The reason it probably won't take the photo is because the camera doesn't have an AF lock on the subject. Probably because the lens can't focus that closely to the subject.

[MaxxxRacer]

The guy used it for macro shots only. I'm having problems with Macro's. they look good when they get taken. but sometimes it wont actually take the picture, but once I get the actual camera farther from the item.. it takes the shot.

I'm obviously doing something wrong. and i just need to learn more.
Is it partly true that the lens will play more a roll in good pics than the camera will. Maybe dude will sell me his 55-200. I'll ask

It wont take the shot when you are that close due to the minimum focal distance. This is the closest you can have the camera to your subject before it wont focus. If you are closer than this the camera wont be able to focus on your subject. when you backed up, your subject was within the focal range and then it was able to take the shot. the best bet is go to manual focus set it to the minimum focal distance at 55mm and just move the camera back and forth to find your focus point. when you think you have it, go back to autofocus (AF-S, not AF-C) and let it get the exact focus.

[xguntherc]

Yes your right nate.. and it seems to struggle a little with getting Black things.. I can understand why though. makes sense.

and it's not getting a lock. thats exactly it. So would I be able to do this better with the 55-200VR right? it would get closer easier?

So set to 55mm. manually find it, then set back to auto and take the shot. I guess that would probably work ok.. cool Thanks for the input. I shoulda known that it was not getting a lock..

[YugenM]

put an edge or something contrasty in the focus point, press AF-LOCK, recompose, then shoot.

[xguntherc]

AF-lock.. that did it.

Thank you. now I need my tripod to get here. instead of this ghetto cheap one I have. something worth using. lol and I'll do better.

[MaxxxRacer]

and it's not getting a lock. thats exactly it. So would I be able to do this better with the 55-200VR right? it would get closer easier?

The 55-200 does not focus as closely as the 18-55 so you will have to back up further to take the shot.

[[XC] 2long4u]

I have gotten some great close up's with the 55-200VR.
Here is one. It was at 200mm but I was several feet away from the subject.

[teyber]

wow dude!

[xguntherc]

not bad at all.. I like it.

so do you use the 15-55 more often, or the 55-200?

you were several feet away from that huh. thats pretty cool. Ya I've been shooting at about 24mm until it locks, then I zoom to 50-55 or so and then take my shot. They are turning out of so far i guess.
I'll keep learning.

[hoax]

heh I love this kind of thread.. starts with a bunch of question and ends with great results!

I specially like the one with the dog (call me nuts).. its so 'casual' yet it has such great colors and subtle shadows

[Scubar]

Ive not really used the 55-200mm lense that came with my D80 kit so far. Mainly because it is a Tamron 55-200 and i dont particularly like it, seems slow as hell. Im currently just using the 15-55 Nikon VR lense and ill be getting myself a 70-300mm Nikon VR lense so that i can carry just those two around with me for taking my shots with.

[xguntherc]

oh ok.. thanks scubar. Maybe it's cuz it's a Tamron though. I want to get the actual Nikon 55-200 VR.. Gots to have the VR.. I hear it's pretty quick and near silent. I used it for a minute before I bought my D40. I seemed to like it. Maybe you should go to best buy or CC and try the actual 50-200VR instead of your version and see if you like it. If so sell yours and get it.

I'm short for cash so thats all I'll be able to get for a while I'm thinkin. but we'll see.

and ya I like the puppy picture also. Thanks for the input. Any input for now is good. I'll take what I can get. (I love his tongue stickin out) I got more puppy shots coming after work also.

Yup. started off asking questions. and is getting towards the end with me happy and some cool photo's. Just what I had in mind. thanks for maxxxracer for his thoughts. helped me seal my choice. along with a few others elsewhere.

[[XC] 2long4u]

not bad at all.. I like it.

so do you use the 15-55 more often, or the 55-200?

you were several feet away from that huh. thats pretty cool. Ya I've been shooting at about 24mm until it locks, then I zoom to 50-55 or so and then take my shot. They are turning out of so far i guess.
I'll keep learning.

It depends what I'm doing. If I'm inside I use the 18-55 or my 50mm 1.8, which is a kick ass lens.

[xguntherc]

I see that one is only $100 bucks and less used.

What's the main uses for that. and why use it over your 15-55.. when you can go to 50 in it.. or is it the 1.8 thats special, and the lightweight of the 50mm 1.8???

oh and I got my ML-L3 remote today.. badass.. I can't stop playing with it. lol

[MaxxxRacer]

I see that one is only $100 bucks and less used.

What's the main uses for that. and why use it over your 15-55.. when you can go to 50 in it.. or is it the 1.8 thats special, and the lightweight of the 50mm 1.8???

oh and I got my ML-L3 remote today.. badass.. I can't stop playing with it. lol

50 1.8 and 50 1.4 are for low light shooting. I am currently using a 50 1.4 that I rented and its pretty good for low light, but still not good enough to not use flash indoors on my D300. Maybe with a D3, but not the D300. That said, the bokeh is awesome.

[[XC] 2long4u]

In bright daylight the D40 will be at 1/2000 of a second and it will still have to close down to f4.

[xguntherc]

I've not figured out how to adjust shutter speed yet on my D40. I need to be in P, or A huh.. or M..??

anyone know how

[YugenM]

I've not figured out how to adjust shutter speed yet on my D40. I need to be in P, or A huh.. or M..??

anyone know how

M or S

M, you gotta adjust the aperture too, S, the camera chooses the aperture

[xguntherc]

So do I use M or S, or I can use both, but M i have to adjust aperture and shutter speed...? Cool, Thanks. I've been working late. but once i get a day off I'll take some cool pics around Vegas and post em.

[YugenM]

So do I use M or S, or I can use both, but M i have to adjust aperture and shutter speed...? Cool, Thanks. I've been working late. but once i get a day off I'll take some cool pics around Vegas and post em.

Yeah, pretty much.

[xguntherc]

Hey guys. I have a new Question for everyone.

Basically maxxxracer. you sort of covered this back before I got my Camera. but now I wanna ask again and make sure on my decision.

Basically here is my options. I have my old P&S camera. it's a Kodak M1033 HD 10MP Camera. Not bad, but pretty ghetto and cheap. I'm selling it online. but I've now been thinking maybe I should keep it. Wont there be times like fishing, boating, and hiking type of things where I'll want a small compact digital camera like my Kodak. or will I always want to use my new amazing D40 I'm loving.

I'm thinkin I'd always wanna use the D40, but then I'd wanna be careful and not risk anything and just take the cheap Digi. So my first question is should I sell it and get a lens. or should I keep it for a backup and for those random times.

My next question. if I sell the Camera (and I think I probably maybe will, lol) what lens should I now get for my Camera. I know maxxx suggested I get the Nikon 55-200mm VR lens first.
I can get a 4 month old 55-200VR from guy I got my D40 from for $140 if I ask. So should I do that. as I can sell my Kodak for that same price.

Should I get the 55-200VR, or something else? should I get a different lens. I want to take Macro shots, city shots, street shots and some pics of the Las Vegas Valley and Lights. What would be best for me overall for my first lens only purchase. Remember that I am a newbie in photography, and this is my first DSLR.. what you all think?

Thanks!

[[XC] 2long4u]

The 55-200 VR is a great lens. The VR really helps when you can't get the shutter speed very fast, and you are hand held. The VR is useless with a tripod. You will get really good close up results with the 55-200. I'll see if I can find another.

This was taken with the 55-200VR but I wasn't paying attention to the settings and the ISO was at 1600.

[xguntherc]

oh wow.. ya those are good shots. but for sure need to crank down the ISO.. lol

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I think I might get that 55-200VR tomorrow used from the dude. He said $140 and it's mine. so I just need to decide already on that or something else. so that lens will do better in general, and in Macro's then the standard 15-55 non VR then right?