Hey there

[McPwnus]

Hi all. My name is Holden. I just bought my first DSLR and joined this forum hoping to get some help on getting started and learning as much as I can.

I've been into photography for a long time, and have always made the best of PAS cameras. (I will post up some of my photography in the critique section later on.) I just purchased a Nikon D60 (The kit with both 15-55 and 55-200 VR lenses), and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

I'm getting frustrated because I know I'm doing something stupidly wrong, but it seems that when I take pictures, even with autofocus, it appears to be somewhat fuzzy and lack sharpness. I'm unsure of what settings to be using in what situations, because it appears that if I take a shot inside the house, with lights on, the shot appears too dark, and if I go outside, the screen reads "subject is too bright". I cannot find a good balance no matter what I adjust the command dial to.

Please help in any way you can. Pointers, beginner guides, whatever. It's much appreciated.

-Holden

[another view]

Hi and welcome. DSLR cameras can give you a lot more control over your shots, but it will take a little practice to get the most out of your gear. At the upper right of this page, look for the tab that says "Learn". Click on the Photo Lessons and How-tos for some ideas to get started. Another thing I'd highly recommend is Nikon School - there's one in Greensboro in June. A bit of a road trip but well worth it. I have a relative who just bought a Nikon DSLR and is in about the same boat, but very glad that she went to the school. Also, Rocky Mountain School of Photography has weekend schools all over the country. They were in your area in March so it'll be next year and probably in a different location, but this is a great way to spend a weekend.

I've personally been to this as well as a couple Nikon schools and I don't hesitate to recommend them. There may be (and probably are) other opportunities like this if you check around.

[Frog]

Good advice by AnotherView.
Also see the Nikon digitutor http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html. The site is also stickied in the Nikon forums.
Learn your aperture and iso and how they affect your shots. Those sound like what would make your pics too bright or dark most of the time.
Welcome aboard and if you can post up some pics with the settings,(aperture,iso, shutter speed), we'll be of more help.

[freygr]

I've been taking photos for years and the Auto Focus will fail you if you have not set it up in the menu. Just remember with the longer lenses the DOF (Depth of Field) is very noticeable at the large lens openings (small numbered F stop = larger lens opening). If you go to a lens review site like: http://www.photozone.de/ you will see that the lens sharpness is the greatest where the F stop is close to midrange. If the shutter speed is to slow then you will have to set the ISO to a higher ISO, example changing the ISO from 200 to 400 you can either increase the shutter speed or decrease the lens opening by one F stop but not both.

[retroactiv]

Welcome to PR. Make sure you go though many of these posts and just look and read, also take your camera out and try to recreate some of the photographs that you and others really enjoy (I do this).

Please post some of your shots on the forums so that we all can take a look and give you a critique. I always like to have a harsh critique, because if everything is good how can you fix it? Remember you just like the rest of us are always learning and getting better. Remember for the best critique post your settings along with the picture so we can better help you to achieve your best photos.

[McPwnus]

Thanks for welcoming me, guys. You all seem very helpful.

AnotherView: Greensboro is about an hour and a half away from me. If I'm not out of town I'll definitely look into it. When I purchased my camera, the lady also recommended a free class that Wolf Camera offers. It obviously couldn't hurt to check out, but have you heard anything about that?

Frog & freygr: ISO would probably be a big contributing factor to why my pictures...erm...suck. I believe it's set at 1200 right now >.>

retroactiv: I'll be sure to do that. Will the camera transfer settings along with the pictures, or am I just going to have to take note when I shoot?

[another view]

AnotherView: Greensboro is about an hour and a half away from me. If I'm not out of town I'll definitely look into it. When I purchased my camera, the lady also recommended a free class that Wolf Camera offers. It obviously couldn't hurt to check out, but have you heard anything about that?

Been there, and to Charlotte and Asheville for that matter. Great part of the world that you live, and good BBQ! I don't know anything about Wolf's class but take them up on it. You'll probably walk away learning a thing or two, and that's at least worth the price of admission!

[Frog]

1200 on a D60 is going to give you lots of noise and thus lack of sharpness.
I try to use 100 whenever I can but usually have to go up to 400 or more if I'm just doing snap shots.