Brand new here (and to dslr..)

Hi all, first post here.. looking for a little direction, not sure if this is the right place to post these questions..

I JUST received a Rebel 3T and am getting geared up to use this sucker! Any newbie tips/tricks would be greatly appreciated.

The main thing I'm wondering about is the f/number.. I'm really hoping to master taking photos like:

Flash wrote in post #14510705
Who? Me? Pass up an opportunity to post a pic of my beautiful baby?

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

So I'm guessing the kit lense that came with my camera isn't going to do this?? I can't seem to get the f/number to go below 5.0.. i accidentally got it down to 3.5 but I don't know how I did that.. it was like the second pic I took and can't seem to replicate the setting..

Is there a "getting started" or "beginner tips/tricks" type thread..?

Any helps is GREATLY appreciated thanks in advance

f3.5 will only be at one end othe lens, learn basics and get to know your camera first before you start spending mony on lens

The particular lense that it was with is:

embassy wrote in post #13591292
f3.5 will only be at one end othe lens, learn basics and get to know your camera first before you start spending mony on lens

Thanks, ok so how do I get to the 3.5? is there a particular mode?

step by step (finger movement by finger movement) instructions would be awesome..

go to AV and there ou can change the F stops , 3.5 will be one end of the zoom

When you use your lens and you are not zoomed at all, you can go to 3.5, when you start to zoom, the low number increases to 5.6. That is why it says 3.5 - 5.6 if there is a lens with just say 2.8, that means that 2.8 is available through all lenghts of the lens. I hope that helps....

The kit lens has a variable aperture. It's as big as 3.5 at the short end and only 5.6 on the long end. It's quite common for zoom lenses to be set up that way; although some more expensive zooms have a constant aperture throughout their full range.

Shots like that of the dog you posted are usually done at close to wide-open aperture on lenses that have apertures as big as f/1.4 or bigger. Your kit lens doesn't open that wide and likely can't achieve that effect -- which is a shallow depth of field (D.O.F.).

One universal recommendation you'll get around here is to read Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure (http://www.amazon.com …aphs-Camera/dp/0817439390) it is an excellent resource for a beginning photographer.

embassy wrote in post #13591306
go to AV and there ou can change the F stops , 3.5 will be one end of the zoom

Gotcha, do you mean the mode "Av" on the mode dial?

I can't seem to get used to these "creative modes" everytime I line up the shot and THEN press the shutter button, it autozooms and ruins my focus..?? any assistance with that is also helpful! thanks

mule wrote in post #13591319
When you use your lens and you are not zoomed at all, you can go to 3.5, when you start to zoom, the low number increases to 5.6. That is why it says 3.5 - 5.6 if there is a lens with just say 2.8, that means that 2.8 is available through all lenghts of the lens. I hope that helps....

This absolutely helps.. so what I would need to do (after learning a bit more about my camera) would be to buy a lens that specifies 2.8 and plan to use that lens primarily for upclose shots (similar to the picture of the dog above)?

mplezia wrote in post #13591326
The kit lens has a variable aperture. It's as big as 3.5 at the short end and only 5.6 on the long end. It's quite common for zoom lenses to be set up that way; although some more expensive zooms have a constant aperture throughout their full range.

Shots like that of the dog you posted are usually done at close to wide-open aperture on lenses that have apertures as big as f/1.4 or bigger. Your kit lens doesn't open that wide and likely can't achieve that effect -- which is a shallow depth of field (D.O.F.).

One universal recommendation you'll get around here is to read Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure (http://www.amazon.com …aphs-Camera/dp/0817439390) it is an excellent resource for a beginning photographer.

THanks!! I will get that book..

if I were to eventually buy a lens like you mention (f/1.4 or bigger), is this the main application for this type of lens?? what other effects could I acheive?

Thanks so much this place is great

I'm uploading some images now so I can explain even more what Id like to eventually do..

Your lens is the EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS II

What this means:
EF-S - The mount. Your lens fits EOS 1.6X sensor cameras with a white dot, and pretty much no others.
18-55mm - The focal length. Since this is a range, you have a zoom lens that goes from 18mm (which is a moderate wide angle on your camera) to 55mm (which is a short telephoto).
1:3.5-5.6 - The maximum aperture. Since this is listed as a range, it means the maximum aperture varies with the focal length. You can only reach f/3.5 near 18mm focal length. At 55mm focal length the lens is f/5.6 at best.

Interestingly, blurring backgrounds is affected by both maximum aperture and focal length. I suggest you will struggle to create really blurred backgrounds with that lens, but it is possible. Use the lens at 55mm and f/5.6, get as close to the subject as you can tolerate and then try to have the background far back.

More blurred backgrounds are most easily achieved with long lenses (long focal lengths), but can also be done with really large maximum apertures. Large maximum apertures have the disadvantage of blurring the background by creating really thin DOF as well. Really long focal lengths have the disavantage of forcing you to stand a long way back from the subject.

A lot of people learn about DOF and blur by buying a cheap and fast (large maximum aperture) prime like the EF 50/1.8. I caution though that this education can be incomplete, because a lot of people fail to learn that they can get huge background blur without having to resort to a fast aperture and shallow DOF by instead selecting a longer focal length.

mplezia wrote in post #13591326
One universal recommendation you'll get around here is to read Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure (http://www.amazon.com …aphs-Camera/dp/0817439390) it is an excellent resource for a beginning photographer.

I agree with this recommendation. That book helped me get off to a good start when I first got into DSLR.

JeffreyG wrote in post #13591377
Your lens is the EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS II

What this means:
EF-S - The mount. Your lens fits EOS 1.6X sensor cameras with a white dot, and pretty much no others.
18-55mm - The focal length. Since this is a range, you have a zoom lens that goes from 18mm (which is a moderate wide angle on your camera) to 55mm (which is a short telephoto).
1:3.5-5.6 - The maximum aperture. Since this is listed as a range, it means the maximum aperture varies with the focal length. You can only reach f/3.5 near 18mm focal length. At 55mm focal length the lens is f/5.6 at best.

Interestingly, blurring backgrounds is affected by both maximum aperture and focal length. I suggest you will struggle to create really blurred backgrounds with that lens, but it is possible. Use the lens at 55mm and f/5.6, get as close to the subject as you can tolerate and then try to have the background far back.

More blurred backgrounds are most easily achieved with long lenses (long focal lengths), but can also be done with really large maximum apertures. Large maximum apertures have the disadvantage of blurring the background by creating really thin DOF as well. Really long focal lengths have the disavantage of forcing you to stand a long way back from the subject.

A lot of people learn about DOF and blur by buying a cheap and fast (large maximum aperture) prime like the EF 50/1.8. I caution though that this education can be incomplete, because a lot of people fail to learn that they can get huge background blur without having to resort to a fast aperture and shallow DOF by instead selecting a longer focal length.

More awesome info thankS!

I'm trying to acheive this effect, but it was tough.. took like 15 shots to get..

Two more..

The 18-55 kit lens is very capable but if you want to replicate the picture you posted for cheap try picking up a 50mm 1.8 for about $100. Enjoy your new camera.