how long does it take to learn a system?

[coolshot]

Right now I feel i'm getting better and more comfortable with my gear that I currently have. I still miss lots and forget settings and stuff. My current keep rate I would say is around 25%. Right now I'm taking the stuff I'm reading from books like understanding exposure and trying to apply concepts. Its pretty hard because I haven't mastered the settings of all my gear and understand how they work. I know my gear has the ablity to achieve great results because i've seen people here do it.

what kind of tools be it accessories,books(I have understanding exposure/digital photography book) or online resources do you guys recommend to help with the learning curve?

[LBaldwin]

Best thing ever - a simple notebook, will work well. Keep notes of all the image - settings etc.

[DStanic]

-Learning and using the histogram, will help you set the correct exposure
- shooting at the right time of day (ie don't shoot at mid-day) will produce nicer pics
- I like using Adobe Camera raw or Lightroom, and shooting in RAW, because it tells you all the settings that you used and you will learn how to shoot better next time.

read read read, and shoot tons. I've already clocked over 7000 on my XTi since christmas and I still feel like I have a long ways to go.

[watchtherocks]

To learn a complete system, like how to change settings without looking and where the menu items are and what the C.F.'s do, takes me about 1 or 2 hours with the manual in front of me. Done on the train, usually.:D
But you're always learning new tricks. No doubt the manual says it somewhere, but I just figured out I can change the framerate on my camera by pressing the button and THEN turning the dial within six seconds. I knew I could do that with all of the other settings, but it just never occurred to me.

Just write notes and play with in. When you go to bed each night have the camera in front of you and muck around with the settings and buttons, as research shows you will remember things better if you fall asleep soon after learning them.

[coolshot]

well see thats what i'm talking about. For example I know how to set up a continuous shooting mode no problem. It took me two seconds to set up. After a botch action shot, i realized I shouldn't start shooting just as it happens, it was too late. Good thing it was repeatable and I told them to do again. This time I planned ahead and shot a string about 2 secs before and I caught the action properly. I still need to work on timing as it was my first action shot but at least I know the jist of it.

[PhotosGuy]

See if this sheds some light on using M settings:
Virtual Camera
http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/
Notice the background change when you use his "Shutter and Aperture" settings!

Sticky: Ben's Newbie Guide to Digital SLR Photography (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088)

How the subject affects the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free: Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)

Try manual to learn faster. First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO. Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)

[coolshot]

That simulator is pretty cool. I usually shoot in Av mode to take some of the guess work out of the equation and hopefully in get a better exposure in conditions i'm not familiar with.

[rodal126]

That simulator is pretty cool. I usually shoot in Av mode to take some of the guess work out of the equation and hopefully in get a better exposure in conditions i'm not familiar with.

AV mode is a good place to start. Once you'll familiar with the shots that you get from the aperture setting then you can venture in M mode.

Basically time behind the camera is the best way to implement what you've read in books/forums. Check out the EXIF data of people's pictures and take note of the settings and try to duplicate that yourself... before you know it will be almost be second nature.