Christmas in June

Some of you might possibly remember me from my first post here.

Well...after returning home, and months of endless reading on POTN while I was away, I finally have a camera and a few lenses. I went with a 30D, a Canon 50 1.4 and a Canon 24-105 4L. And since there was a rebate going on, and I knew that I would eventually need this lens, the wife went ahead and bought me a Canon 70-200 2.8L IS as a birthday present. Talk about equipment over-load!

I've been sitting in my living room all day reading through the owner's manual for the 30D and learning all about the many controls and settings. I've been at it for hours, and I'm only half way through. Also waiting patiently next to me is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I figured I should become somewhat familar with my camera's controls before diving fully into that book. It all seems so overwhelming, but I'm taking it one subject, one discovery, and one smile at a time. I realize that it won't all come at once.

My wallet is a little upset, but I keep trying to reassure it that everything will be ok. For some strange reason, it doesn't believe me.

I want to thank all of my fellow POTN members for the advice, debates, stories, and inspiration that has been shared on this website. You have been very helpful to a newbie like me.

Ok, back to Chap 5 pg 83 in the owners manual...I have a lot of reading to do!


Bryan

you're wasting time! the best way to get to know your gear is hands on experience. the manual is just there as a reference to a few things to help along that way good luck! and enjoy

Ducks, baby, ducks!

I hear you Ryan. I'm actually punching buttons and taking pictures while reading so I can better understand what I'm doing.

I actually took a little over 200 exposures in automatic mode right after getting the camera, but now it's time to learn how to create photographs rather than just point and shoot.

Thanks,
Bryan

Very nice starter kit Enjoy your new gear!!

Since I started hanging out here, I think I've had Christmas at least once a month.

Mark

blueM wrote in post #3332147
Ducks, baby, ducks!

It's funny that you mention ducks, because I told the wife that the first picture I took had to be a duck. She didn't quite get it until I explained that it was part of POTN's flavor.

I haven't had a chance to go to the park to shoot some ducks yet, but I did happen to catch some geese with their goslings on a cloudy day.

Bryan

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Hey Bryan,
actually I think you would learn more about your camera and settings from reading "Understanding Exposure" than you would from the manual. you should give that a go, and anything you don't understand I think they have a little section in the back that you can read. I have the book as well and learned many new tricks from it. enjoy!

Congrats, that'll keep ya busy for a while.

Congratulations on your purchase. Sounds nice!

As for reading the manual: DEFINITELY read the manual. Then you won't look like a moron asking "how do I make the flash pop up?" "How do I manual focus the lens?" and other simplistic questions that are right there in the manual.

Definitely shoot and have fun but remember - there is a shutter life on that thing!

Congrats, you have obtained more equiptment in one month than I have in the year and a half I have been into this!

Sounds like you've got a solid kit. I need to add a 50 to mine to kinda "round it out".

Have fun!