I got my first Canon SLR!

So whats the big difference between lightroom and photoshop? I do web development and have worked with photoshop for years. I've been interested in learning about lightroom, I just never had a camera until now.

Welcome ocn, I'm a noob as well in a sense. I have been around here a lot longer but I just recently started getting more and more into this all. I shoot with an XT too! Just wanted to greet you and say good luck and have fun!

be sure to check out Adorama's Watch and Learn. look a bit down the page on the left-hand side, you'll see a lot of tutorial videos.

http://www.adorama.com​/alc/category/AdoramaT​V

ocnmidget wrote in post #12997911
So whats the big difference between lightroom and photoshop? I do web development and have worked with photoshop for years. I've been interested in learning about lightroom, I just never had a camera until now.

A lot of the editing functions in Lightroom can be accomplished in Camera Raw and Photoshop, but Lightroom has a lot more options in terms of organizing and sharing photos, and is obviously geared more toward working with raw photos.

ocnmidget wrote in post #12997911
So whats the big difference between lightroom and photoshop? I do web development and have worked with photoshop for years. I've been interested in learning about lightroom, I just never had a camera until now.

The Big difference between Lightroom and Photoshop is that Lightroom is easier to use, its geared towards post processing of pictures like adjusting color, noise,exposure and so on. Photoshop is like lightroom only more advanced and you can do more with it but its also harder to learn. You can do things in Photshop that you can't do in Lightroom.

If you are just wanting to touch up your photos and give them maybe a brighter look in color and so on then Lightroom is the way to go. If you want to go in and completely change the photo with a new background for example then photoshop is the way to go.

Ease of use goes to Lightroom for more advanced techniques Photoshop wins.

I used to use only photoshop, but since trying lightroom, I'm leaning more towards it. I don't really do anything in the way of layers or manipulating backgrounds, etc. I try to do what I want to accomplish in camera, and use lightroom to tweak.

Photoshop costs fortune, Lightroom not.
Photoshop works with layers and masks, Lightroom not.

Read books for photography in addition to the Manual, it helps a lot.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #12995057
2. Try putting the camera on auto ISO, and then turn the dial to AV mode and move to the lowest number possible. Try that a little. It really works.
(oh, and shoot in RAW).

XT doesnt come with Auto ISO unfortunately.

But that shouldnt discourage him from trying to move his ISO to the lowest number possible!

When I first started I had a rebel xt and 18-200mm lens.
The guy who sold me the camera showed me the basics of Manual mode and suggested that I just keep the cam at ISO 400, and learn to compensate with Shutter speed and Aperture. Once I felt comfortable with that, then I moved to fiddling with ISO. Worked greatly for me as I never found ISO 400 to be too quick, or to slow until I started to try and get more deliberate and "artsy" with my camera.

If you already got that down, then ignore what I said and just shoot shoot shoot, read, then shoot shoot shoot some more.

jay125 wrote in post #12994058
probably one of the MOST recommended books of all time is bryan petersons "understanding exposure" which is a great and easy read.

I second that. That's the book that changed everything for me, and gave me the confidence to switch to "M" (which is when photography went from being a hobby to an addiction!)

Congrats on the DSLR and have fun shooting!

18-55mm non-IS or 18-55mm IS? If it's the former, you REALLY want to get the IS version. Much better, optically.

Start by reading this https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=414088

As has already been mentioned, get hold of a copy of the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Petersen.

Congrats on the purchase. My next lens will likely be the 55-250 or Sigma's 17-70. I like the reach of the 250 on the 7D and for the price the lens has an excellent rating.