What have I done????

[olivia]

My new 20D has arrived and I already feel a nervous breakdown coming. This is such a reach for me. What was I thinking?

I do want to accept the challenge, but I'm not sure of the most logical approach to learning, that is, what to do first.

Once I get accustomed to the "feel" of the camera and focusing, etc., should I start in AP as I begin to learn how to make my own adjustments? Some other mode?

What learning sequence would you recommend if you were teaching a class on this camera?

BTW, can I just say that this manual leaves a bit to be desired. It's nice that it's small enough for a pocket, but I think I also need a nice large print, spiral bound thing for study.:confused:

HELP, please, from anyone who won't beat me up anymore than I have done to myself for thinking I can grow into this quality equipment. :-)

[Jack W.]

Welcome to P.O.T.N., and welcome to the world of digital slr's, Olivia.
I'm strictly an amateur, but I would recommend a trip to a good book store, or the library, and look for a good book on photography for beginners to learn how it all works, i.e shutter, aperature, exposure, etc.
As for a better manual for your 20D, try here:
http://www.shortcourses.com/bookstore/book.htm
The sell books that are particular to specific cameras.
They're large, with larger and easier to see print/illustrations, and spiral bound. These books are basically the same as the manual, but have much more info as to why you do certain things, not just how.
Not the fanciest books out there, a bit pricey and in black and white, but pretty good. I bought the one for the Canon G3, which was my first digital camera. Helped me quite a bit.
Jack

[ssim]

It's not really as daunting as it may seem. You need to take the approach of having fun instead of one being overwhelmed. I can remember that same feeling when I got my 10D.

In order to learn the camera you need to use all of its settings. Some you may never go back to but you need to try them. I did that originally and I took notes on what settings I was using. I would suggest that you start shooting in JPG mode so that you don't have to worry about RAW conversion at this point. Just go out and shoot and try the various settings that the camera has to offer. I really do think that Canon has developed the manual for people that have had some previous experience. It could be a little more comphrensive with examples for those persons that this camera is their first DSLR.

In the end I shoot probably 80+% of my shots in AV and adjust the f-stop to get the desired shutter speed. If I can't get the right combination then I adjust the ISO. There is another great resource for answers to your questions and that is right here. Take the time to use the search function. The 20D has been discussed at length.

Now go shoot and shoot and most importantly, have fun.

[cfcRebel]

Oh, you reminded me of the feeling i had when i first received my 300D. It's ok. I guess it's normal. :)

I am not saying you should do what I did but........this is what i did to learn in the beginning. I started with Auto mode. Made some shots of different things, landscape, close-up, colorful subjects, dull subjects, high contrast, low contrast........ Then I studied the exif of them to see where I did wrong and what I did right. Also I compared the histograms of the pictures, to understand what the chart meant.
Then i didn't wait long. I switched to Av mode. Took pictures from the same spot and stopped down gradually to see the difference. When i had a good grip of what Av can do, I started to play with the Exposure Compensation while using Av. Then same with Tv mode. I had tried using M mode a few times but got burned and shy away from it for now.:p

I am happy for you about your new 20D.

[GyRob]

as camara shake can be a problem for someone new to dslr i would say set it on tv (shuter priorty ) and around 1 200th sec ,this is if your using the kit lens and for indoor shots set it on auto so the flash pops up when needed . but have fun you will be fine with it .
Rob.

[canon2od]

Oh, you reminded me of the feeling i had when i first received my 300D. It's ok. I guess it's normal. :)

I am not saying you should do what I did but........this is what i did to learn in the beginning. I started with Auto mode. Made some shots of different things, landscape, close-up, colorful subjects, dull subjects, high contrast, low contrast........ Then I studied the exif of them to see where I did wrong and what I did right. Also I compared the histograms of the pictures, to understand what the chart meant.
Then i didn't wait long. I switched to Av mode. Took pictures from the same spot and stopped down gradually to see the difference. When i had a good grip of what Av can do, I started to play with the Exposure Compensation while using Av. Then same with Tv mode. I had tried using M mode a few times but got burned and shy away from it for now.:p

I am happy for you about your new 20D.

Very good suggestions---I believe this is one of the best ways to learn

[robertwgross]

The manual can't be all things to all people. I keep my manual in one specific place where I store my camera gear. However, I got the PDF file from the Canon web site and printed out a couple of copies. I keep one copy in my camera bag, and sometimes I keep a copy in my car or my briefcase. Whenever I find myself waiting for anything for ten minutes, I pull out one copy and browse through a different chapter. It can't hurt.

---Bob Gross---

[olivia]

Thanks for the encouragement and the good ideas, everyone. My husband keeps telling me to calm down and take it one step at a time. I'm so impatient!

I think I will order one of those books with spiral binding and the disc. Any additional explanations of the various options will help quiet my panic. ;) And I'll make good use of the search feature here.

I looked at several books at Barnes and Noble, but they were general digital SLR books and not specific to this camera. Probably need both. At least I won't be paying film developing costs as I learn....and I can pull out the old G2 when things get frustrating.

[k2kv]

Hi Olivia, welcome aboard!

Just put the camera in AV mode and go out and shoot. Have fun composing and framing, and do not worry about the rest of it. Along the way you will find that certain things will need to be changed, and then you will learn how to make changes. Bring your manual along, but only use it when you need to solve a problem.

The best way to learn is to "do." Don't think you have to learn everything about the camera before you start using it. Go out and shoot, and from the problems you encounter, you will learn the remedies.

Best of luck!!

[D Boone]

My vote is for auto mode... Shoot a lot. Learn what you like and what you don't and you will gradually learn to remember the various manual modes after you read the manual over a couple times and what they do... Surf this forum a lot and you will learn heaps. Its a big curve but just take it a step at a time. With auto you can just learn what makes a good shot to you without having to sweat all the other stuff right off....Take your time.. In about 3 or 4 months you'll just naturally start to transition.. and the L glass bug will bite...

[tckadventures]

You know guys, it is so good to hear that when I have been doing it MY way it was the right way. I have tried to do the courses but really, practice practice practice is the way to go I have had my EOS 300 for about 6 months and just love the instant reward when you go out shooting. You have the memory still there and all the info looking at you when you download the images. I know "I have got better" PLAYING with it all.:) :)

[mvonditter]

The best way to learn is to "do." Don't think you have to learn everything about the camera before you start using it. Go out and shoot, and from the problems you encounter, you will learn the remedies.


Absetively posselutely.:lol: Nothing beats doing. Remeber, the best pros get about 10% keepers after all is said and done.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Put it in "P" mode in the morning and go fill your CF card with stuff.

:)

Have fun!

[Marvinspu36]

Welcome Olivia! I first tried using the Basic modes, but found myself very quickly moving to the Creative modes because of many limitations in the Basic modes.

I would recommend starting with the P mode (one of the Creative modes). In this mode, the camera will pick a shutter speed and aperture value combination that will provide a reasonable exposure. Then you have the option to select a different combination of aperture/shutter speed. This way you can pick the aperture value or shutter speed that suits your situation and let the camera worry about exposure. This is a good starting point. As you gain experience you will learn to use exposure compensation to adjust exposure when the camera's choice is not to your liking.

As mentioned in one of the other posts, the Historgram is a very useful tool, both on the camera and in the software. Observe how your exposures turn out, compared to how the histogram looks. After a while, you will be able to glance at the histogram on the camera and determine if you need to adjust your settings to get a correct exposure.

I found the Short Courses series book for the 20D to be very helpful.

Most of all, take lots of photos and use the EXIF data to see how the camera settings effect the photos.

Have fun. And ask lots of questions here when you have them.

[raylks]

I think everyone who learns photography has gone through the stage that you are facing. When I receive my 300D, I didn't where i start. I then went for the book store to read some books, and know what aperture, shutter speed, and their relations are.

Next I read for composition, which is to me the most difficult-to-master topic in photography (and I am still learning it).

As long as you read as you shoot, everything will go fine.

From the start, I shoot in Av mode. I think semi-auto mode is a great learning platform. You may also try Tv mode. Some situation, such as backlight is a good platform to learn to shoot in M mode. In most cases, Av and Tv modes are sufficient. Another great function is exposure bracket. Compare the results in your computer, and lern what exposure compensation is good to the exposure.

Photogrpahy is just like learning a language. How big its world is!