Is there anything I need to know when first starting out?

I'm about to receive my first DSLR(350d) which should arrive in the next few days to a week.

Is there is anything I need know when I pull it out of the box? I'm gonna be pretty excited and wound up over it so I'd hate to stuff it up by doing something wrong. It'll have a kit lens with it. What is the best setting to start off with to get some shots with it?

Thanks.

Yes, you need to know that your spending has just begun!

Congrats, I just got my first DSLR a few weeks back to the first few steps are still fresh in my memory. All very simple, really.

1. Charge the battery
2. Install the battery in the camera
3. Make sure the camera is off and install the lens.
with the kit lens yopu just aling the white dot on the lens with the white dot on the body and turn the lens until it clicks into place. (do this in a clean non dusty environment)
4. Turn the camera on. Set the main dial to "Auto" and take a few shots.
5. Switch out of "Auto" and start experimenting.

good luck!

My camera arrived just a few minutes ago. I wasn't expecting it for a few more days!

Congratulations!

Handle it with care, same as your A610, nothing special. Don't put it in a bag with other items in the same compartment, scratched my nearly-new 350D that way. First scratch hurts a lot, but now it's just another character mark on the well worn 350.

Beware the spending, though. Very scary you will soon discover the kit lens is not long enough, so you will want to add another long tele, a fast portrait prime, an ultrawide, a macro lens....

RUN, RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!!!!! Send the 350D BACK!!

(no actually, welcome to the club. And avoid looking at the white lenses. :mrgreen

Throw away the kit lens
Order something worthy for a couple of grand
Take lots of pictures of ducks

It would have been safer to pick up a Meth habit.. you may live longer with this but will spend a lot more money....

congrants...dont forget the duck...

Thanks everyone! I already knew before buying this I wanted a 50mm 2.8 so that's on the cards after Xmas. There's plenty of ducks around so I'll be sure to get a duck shot LOL. Right now the hubby has decided he really likes the camera and I haven't actually played with it yet.... is this trying to tell me something?

Congratulations! If you ever get over excited about the camera, try peeking into the world of post processing (Photoshop, Digital Photo etc etc) It's a whole new world and something you're going to need after taking your shots. Worry not - there's equally great advice about PP on this site as well.
Enjoy!
Kenny

Thanks nippon, I already dabble with PP'ing on my A610 now so I'm no stranger to that.

Read the manual.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2268508
Throw away the kit lens
Order something worthy for a couple of grand
Take lots of pictures of ducks

Hmmm... I wonder if people like me who do not ever plan on sepending a lot on glass are better served by P&S cameras. After hanging around this forum I am starting to wonder if it is a mistake to buy a DSLR if you are only planning to use consumer (non L) lenses?

You can get good looking pics with non-L lenses. Even with the kit 18-55mm. Alot of people here are either wealthy or way in debt and believe everyone else should be also.

ahmads wrote in post #2268993
Hmmm... I wonder if people like me who do not ever plan on sepending a lot on glass are better served by P&S cameras. After hanging around this forum I am starting to wonder if it is a mistake to buy a DSLR if you are only planning to use consumer (non L) lenses?

Don't mind him the electrode post on his neck is a little loose sometime. He'll be back to his old self after the next electrical storm.