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

I agree with eagle, expensive glass is not a must (but it will certainly improve image quality when you decide to make that move). That kit lens will be fine for you to get going, so don't sweat it. I've seen plenty of great shots from the kit lens.

William

Elise, one thing that you should realize is that you probably don't have enough memory cards or memory card space.

This WILL happen some day: You will hit yourself for leaving a memory card in your card reader next to the computer, and you're 40 miles from home ready to do a shoot when you made the discovery. IF you have a couple of spare cards in the camera case, you will breathe a little easier.

SkipD wrote in post #2269053
Elise, one thing that you should realize is that you probably don't have enough memory cards or memory card space.

This WILL happen some day: You will hit yourself for leaving a memory card in your card reader next to the computer, and you're 40 miles from home ready to do a shoot when you made the discovery. IF you have a couple of spare cards in the camera case, you will breathe a little easier.

AND spare battery. This has bailed me out countless times - a disaster "Card's in the reader and I'm on location" has been turned into "Ah dangit I'll just use the backup".

What I do with the batteries is this - start with one in the camera, one in the bag. When the one in the camera drains, I get the one from the bag, and put it in the camera. I then charge the depleted one. After charging, I put it in the bag. This way the batteries are more or less evenly used, and there is always a charged spare in the bag.

what bank are you with??
contact them about a personal loan to satisfy your addiction if SLR photography takes off for you :P

read the eos software install guide before connecting camera to pc

Eagle wrote in post #2269004
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.

Thanks for this, Eagle. So far, I am not in debt, but KNOW I will be soon! I am saving for lenses esp.

ahmads wrote in post #2268318
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!

This is great advice. I just got mine last Thursday 11/9. As soon as I left work (I am a teacher), I went and purchased a 1GB CF card, a UV lens protector, and a lens leash (as I am notorious for leaving the lens cap wherever I am) LOL .I am in love with it, but havent taken any serious pics, just shot around! Good luck and have fun! I am!

Youve got some great people here. I think theyve covered everything, and even gave me some advice.

Next purchases for me: (yes,I will have to take out a loan for these)

1. lens for more focal points, unless someone can suggest best "next step" (I mainly shoot family, friends, and family events) (I am not a professional, by any means)

2. a UV lens protector (of course) for whatever lens I purchase next

3. extra battery

4. extra memory card

I know there are more accessories to add to the list, but these will be soon for me!

Keep visiting the site. I really enjoy reading through and getting cool advice and ideas!

learn to select focus points and generally shoot centre focus point. I never focus and recompose because it can be inaccurate especially at shallow DOF's. I always select the focus point with the multi controller (C-Fn 13-1) and shoot as soon as i focus.

Set up your camera to focus with the star button. (C-Fn 4-1)

Not doing the above you have no control what is in focus. Say your doing a portrait it most likely focus on the persons chin of chest if you focus with automatic focus point selections. This doesn't mean you set your lens to MF.
Always leave your lens on AF unless you cannot focus in AF then use MF.

Thanks for all the advice! I've had a fantastic time with it and I must say thankyou to kiwibloke for selling it to me, it has totally made me very happy indeed . I've already taken some good pictures with it, just snapshot ones while learning it. It's so much different to a P & S for sure. I thought I'd know how to use it being reasonably familiar with M and AV modes on the P & S but it's a whole new ball game!
I'm loving it!

ahmads wrote in post #2268993
Hmmm... I wonder if people like me who do not ever plan on spending 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?

Absollutely not. I was just kididng and I meant to post an explanation to the post, but got distracted.

It might seem like good glass is a must, but it really isn't... just like shooting a duck with your first picture. You can learn and make beautiful pictures with the kit lens and learn all you need to know about photography.

I'd say that the next investment should be a GOOD tripod.

elise1030 wrote in post #2270175
Thanks for all the advice! I've had a fantastic time with it and I must say thankyou to kiwibloke for selling it to me, it has totally made me very happy indeed . I've already taken some good pictures with it, just snapshot ones while learning it. It's so much different to a P & S for sure. I thought I'd know how to use it being reasonably familiar with M and AV modes on the P & S but it's a whole new ball game!
I'm loving it!

It was a pleasure to help make your day! Don't be surprised if I have left some of my 'defaults' in place - like the focus is on the * button at the back...

You will have found the 2 batteries in the grip by now - it will run just fine with one in there - but, with both, you will get around 700 shots per 512Mb card.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2270196
Absollutely not. I was just kididng and I meant to post an explanation to the post, but got distracted.

It might seem like good glass is a must, but it really isn't... just like shooting a duck with your first picture. You can learn and make beautiful pictures with the kit lens and learn all you need to know about photography.

I'd say that the next investment should be a GOOD tripod.

Agree on the tripod - with that camera and kit lens on an average tripod it managed shots like this:

http://www.kiwi-in-oz.com …n=7&ee_lang=eng​&u=1261,11

Ahh John, I didn't know about the focus button, that's cool. I took the grip off to see what it was like without it and I put it back on straight after awhile. I do have a tripod here that's an Ambico one which served the needs for the P&S butI will probably get a stronger one to support the 350d as I'd hate for the wind to throw it or something. I went 'birding' in my yard this afternoon, but unfortunately with the wind blowing around and the cold weather there wasn't much of a variety like there usually is on a warmer day..... off to get my duck shots tomorrow

lol - remember, ducks are for countries that don't have the native parrots flying around - and the parrots are way more interesting.

The grip makes all the difference on that camera - when you put the 75-300 on you will notice the camera feels a little more balanced with the grip - and it certainly makes shooting in portrait mode a little easier - less human pretzel effect