Just bought a EOS 1000D camera and...

Am riding a bit confused!!!

After years of point and shoot to suddenly have so many knobs and doodahs to get seriously good photos is amazing if a fair bit confusing.

How does one work out what works in a given situation? what ISO settings for lightning or sunshine sunsets etc? what f number to use given a given situation?

I took some photos of a lightning show last night using the AV setting at 30 second burst... and again on the bulb setting in another area (note I "played" with all the settings TV M AV etc now Ive no idea what or how I did the changes!! ) the resulting photos were okay but without that brilliant clarity that one sees and which I think I should be able to get with this camera?

Ive had the camera for 2 weeks now and its been brilliant but now Im trying to experiment with the settings but have NO IDEA what Im doing or if theres a better way!!

Im going to spend a bit of time wandering through the forum areas but hoped someone could have some quick pointers to direct me to

Cheers!
Shane

You should buy a book about exposure, someone on here should be able to suggest one.

cheers Rob... was told there was a dvd available but no idea what its called or where to get it... lets say Im REAL new to this so I save myself some serious embaressment eh!

Cheers
Shane

This book is a good start:

http://www.amazon.com …tal-Updated/dp/0817463003

Also try out the "Camera Interactive" site for some basics: http://www.camerasinte​ractive.com/index.php#

This one is also a pretty decent beginner site: http://web.canon.jp/im​aging/enjoydslr/index.​html

I would strongly suggest the book "Understanding Exposure" too.

There are also guidebooks for specific camera models... That and the manual that was provided with the camera are a pretty comprehensive guide... Here's one example of a guidebook:

http://www.amazon.com …oks&qid=1257654​340&sr=1-1

There are others... You might want to leaf through a few at Barnes & Noble instead of just buying online.

Take a class in photography. Join a local photography group.

Over time you can learn the details of the camera. There are some pretty automated modes, but if you learn to take charge of the camera eventually you will be able to visualize and then make photos a reality. But it's a lot to learn and takes time.

Have fun and enjoy the camera.

When I got my 40D 2 years ago, it had been 15 years since I last shot a SLR (with lots of PS in between). I took a beginers course in DSLR photography at a local junior college, and it was a fabulous hands-on way to re-learn photographic skills.

Jason C