Wanting to learn

As the title suggest, I want to learn as much as I can about my new Canon EOS Rebel T3. This may well be like a "Brownie" to some but it is a real challenge to a point and shoot guy like myself. I previously had a Canon S2 IS which worked well for me until it didn't. Work that is.... I am finding the menus, settings and all of the possible adjustments somewhat confusing. I may be little old to learn all of this but I going to give it a shot. I'm looking for a class locally that can help me understand the workings of my Canon and I am trying to read as much as I can. I know that my camera has an automatic setting but I would like to better understand the potential and value in making manual adjustments. So far I have to admit that the auto setting does better than my skill. But if I don't learn I have wasted about $500.00 plus bucks which represents a fair amount to me. I really do want to learn and enjoy this as a hobby. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot and glad to be here.

Welcome to the forum!!

Regarding learning the camera: The best advice I can give you is read the manual a couple of times while learning all the dials and gizmos.

To learn more about photography, get the book "Learning Exposure" and study and practice!

Don't forget to use the search feature on this forum and ask questions if you cannot find it addressed.

Enjoy!

luggage wrote in post #14645917
As the title suggest, I want to learn as much as I can about my new Canon EOS Rebel T3. This may well be like a "Brownie" to some but it is a real challenge to a point and shoot guy like myself. I previously had a Canon S2 IS which worked well for me until it didn't. Work that is.... I am finding the menus, settings and all of the possible adjustments somewhat confusing. I may be little old to learn all of this but I going to give it a shot. I'm looking for a class locally that can help me understand the workings of my Canon and I am trying to read as much as I can. I know that my camera has an automatic setting but I would like to better understand the potential and value in making manual adjustments. So far I have to admit that the auto setting does better than my skill. But if I don't learn I have wasted about $500.00 plus bucks which represents a fair amount to me. I really do want to learn and enjoy this as a hobby. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot and glad to be here.

You are never to old to learn something! And it already sounds like you are on the right track - looking for classes, reading up information, and telling yourself not to lean on the Auto mode crutch! Good for you! But you might want to start on Auto anyway, just for a little bit. That or AV mode (If T3 has it, I'm not familiar with that camera). How I learned (Before attending classes) was to have my camera (the T2i at the time) teach me. That is, I set it to AV mode, half-pressed the shutter on the subject I wanted to take, and watched the rear display to see the settings change as the camera corrected itself accordingly. This trial by error way allowed me to see the patterns in the settings being used in different lighting situations (ISO, Aperture, and Shutter speed). Once I started attending classes though all of the individual settings became a lot clearer to me. I guess it depends on your learning style, I'm one of those "hands on, do it myself" type.

I remember when I bought my first DSLR and everything confused me. Just keep researching around POTN and the internet. If you have a friend that knows about cameras ask them for help. I'm sure you can find a photo class at a community college near you. There are plenty of tutorials online. Youtube has actually been a good friend of mine for learning too.

Do a 365 project. Put your camera in manual mode, pick it up, and shoot something everyday. It will dramatically increase your learning curve. The subject doesn't matter, its the experience that you will gain.

This is excellent and better than many books: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=414088

I agree with looking on POTN and searching the net. That is what I have been doing since I picked up my first DSLR over a year ago. There is a wealth of information on this site. I wish I would have found it when I got the camera. I can't believe how much info is on here. If you have a question ask it. But odds are its been asked before and someone will post a link that will lead you to the answer, and create a whole new question. I say welcome, although I too am new.

Oh and take pictures, if that wasn't obvious.

When i bought my 50D years back. I was confused and overwhelm with all the features the camera has to offer. Hate reading the MANUAL! So i bought a DVD tutorial on how to use all the features of my camera and other photo techniques that the camera is capable of. I paid $40. But it so worth it.

I learn more visually. So, i sat with this video for a week with my camera in hand while watching everything from how to go to the step by step guide on how to use the menus of the camera.

Don't forget Youtube, you most likely will find videos specific to your camera. Canon also has videos for specific cameras, I know there are some for the 7D which may help you understand some of the settings.

http://camerasim.com/c​amera-simulator/

is always worth a look as well

You have yourself a nice camera there, have fun with it. try shifting from full auto to program mode, it opens up more options and allows you to play with aperture and shutter speed, see how one changes when you change the other then move on to aperture priority Av or Shutter priority Tv. Most of all play around with the settings and read plenty

David

My wife shoots with a T3, so if you still have specific questions, PM me and I will try to help.

Sit down with the camera and manual. Read it cover to cover and play with everything. Go out and shoot. Rinse and repeat.

Take the camera everywhere. shoot everything. Figure out what works and what doesn't.

Get Understanding Exposure and do the same thing all over again.

And can the 'too old' crap.

Read the manual. And if you have a smartphone or tablet, down a PDF version and keep that on you. There will be a lot of questions about your camera that you might have and it sill be in the manual.

cambridgeincolour.com

Be patient. I wasn very disappointed in my first dslr pictures, couldn't seem to get anything with 'snap' to it, but after about six months, I got comfortable with manual, and started getting some good stuff, especially after starting with RAW.

Btw, I had used film slr's for years, so was no stranger to slr's.