Just got my first 'real' camera ...tips?

Veemac wrote in post #10634770
Another recommendation for Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure book. At this stage in your photographic progression, it will do you worlds more good than any gear you could purchase.

Congrats on your camera and welcome!

Ya going to barnes and noble tomorrow and see what all they got.

Thanks! Hopefully it will be a nice change from what I had

Also the guy I bought it from said it had under 2k pictures taken. What is a good amount of pictures before I need to look for another camera or get it fixed up ... that type of stuff...

This site has been invaluable to my learning about photography. Also just straight practice and messing with setting while out shooting will help understand what everything does. So just browse the internet and play with your camera! Congrats on the awesome camera and have fun!

copenhagen69 wrote in post #10634806
Also the guy I bought it from said it had under 2k pictures taken. What is a good amount of pictures before I need to look for another camera or get it fixed up ... that type of stuff...

don't worry until you top 50,000 or so, and the shutter will likely last to 100,000. At a "normal" pace that will be 5 years away, although if you shoot sports or weddings every weekend like some of us that will happen in less than 2.

timbop wrote in post #10634881
don't worry until you top 50,000 or so, and the shutter will likely last to 100,000.

Even don't worry at 50,000. I think I must have passed 50,000 a week or so ago, but my camera's still clicking along great.

thegloaming wrote in post #10634878
This site has been invaluable to my learning about photography. Also just straight practice and messing with setting while out shooting will help understand what everything does. So just browse the internet and play with your camera! Congrats on the awesome camera and have fun!

Yep I have already learned a ton from this site and I have been a member for like 5 hours lol.

timbop wrote in post #10634881
don't worry until you top 50,000 or so, and the shutter will likely last to 100,000. At a "normal" pace that will be 5 years away, although if you shoot sports or weddings every weekend like some of us that will happen in less than 2.

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #10634952
Even don't worry at 50,000. I think I must have passed 50,000 a week or so ago, but my camera's still clicking along great.

Ok, sweet. That makes me feel a lot better then!

What you might want to do, for starters, is put the camera on TV and take a few pics. Use speeds of 60-200 for things that don't move, a little faster for things that move, and 1000 or so for things that move fast. That's just a start.

Shoot in Jpeg at the beginning, and then move to RAW later.

Mostly have fun, and don't worry at first if the pictures aren't what you think they should be. Almost every single person, upon getting his first DSLR, questions whether it can outperform a point and shoot. The truth is that the DSLR, once you get the hang of it, will beat any point and shoot.

Don't forget that you can rent really nice lenses, both online and probably locally too (online is usually cheaper). If you order locally, take advantage of holiday weekends and Sundays so that you can get two or three days for the price of one.

You'll want to rent the 100-400 for zoos, airshows, sports, etc. in good light, and then you'll find that rentals are fun and productive.

The nifty fifty they're talling you about is a great lens. I actually don't use it much, but for portraits it takes incredibly sharp photos. It's just not very good for action shots.

This is a Brazilian surfer at a professional event last year, taken with the XS and a 100-400 lens I rented.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #10635004
What you might want to do, for starters, is put the camera on TV and take a few pics. Use speeds of 60-200 for things that don't move, a little faster for things that move, and 1000 or so for things that move fast. That's just a start.

Shoot in Jpeg at the beginning, and then move to RAW later.

Mostly have fun, and don't worry at first if the pictures aren't what you think they should be. Almost every single person, upon getting his first DSLR, questions whether it can outperform a point and shoot. The truth is that the DSLR, once you get the hang of it, will beat any point and shoot.

Don't forget that you can rent really nice lenses, both online and probably locally too (online is usually cheaper). If you order locally, take advantage of holiday weekends and Sundays so that you can get two or three days for the price of one.

You'll want to rent the 100-400 for zoos, airshows, sports, etc. in good light, and then you'll find that rentals are fun and productive.

The nifty fifty they're talling you about is a great lens. I actually don't use it much, but for portraits it takes incredibly sharp photos. It's just not very good for action shots.

This is a Brazilian surfer at a professional event last year, taken with the XS and a 100-400 lens I rented.

Another shot, same day, of pro surfer Rob Machado. He made it through this maneuver and kept going. Great surfer.

wow that 2nd photo is amazing! Ill pass out if I make something that cool anytime soon haha

Indeed, the rebel XS is rated at 100,000 actuations by Canon. I don't believe mine is near there, but I'm pretty far up there, and no problems so far.

As far as books go, I would HIGHLY recommend you get Magic Lantern Guides book for the XSi/XS camera as the book also comes with 2 DVD videos. The book is generic for all dSLR cameras.

The first video is specific for the XSi/XS cameras and they do a very professional job of explaining the camera functions to you.

The second DVD is called "Great Photos with you Digital SLR", which they explain when and how to use different functions of your camera. This video is generic for all digital camera bodies, but very worth while watching. They use a Nikon in this video.

I own the XSi and I have this book with the DVD's

If you have a Barnes and Nobles or Borders bookstore near you, you may find they have it in stock or you can order it online.

Magic Lantern Guides has other books for the XSi/XS camera without the videos. If you want the DVD version make sure you find the Multimedia Workshop version of the book.

copenhagen69 wrote in post #10634995
Ok, sweet. That makes me feel a lot better then!

Let me give you a caveat. Shutters are mechanical. And like all mechanical things, they can break.

Some of the lower end cameras are rated for 50,000 shots, some of the higher ones at 250,000. But some of the 50,000 rated ones can last for hundreds of thousands of shots, and some of the 250,000 ones could break ten shots out of the box.

They're mechanical, they break. There's no telling how or when. The easiest thing is to not think about it. If you're worried about it you won't enjoy photography, and then there's no point.

When it breaks it breaks, and you can replace it. Just enjoy your new camera and worry about the problem when the time comes!

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #10635571
Let me give you a caveat. Shutters are mechanical. And like all mechanical things, they can break.

Some of the lower end cameras are rated for 50,000 shots, some of the higher ones at 250,000. But some of the 50,000 rated ones can last for hundreds of thousands of shots, and some of the 250,000 ones could break ten shots out of the box.

They're mechanical, they break. There's no telling how or when. The easiest thing is to not think about it. If you're worried about it you won't enjoy photography, and then there's no point.

When it breaks it breaks, and you can replace it. Just enjoy your new camera and worry about the problem when the time comes!

Absolutely 100% true.
I've done three shutters in two cameras, not due to failure as such but due to simply being well used and worn out.

Welcome to the bottomless money ditch ... errr I mean wonderful little upgrade from the P&S!

You seem really excited. Nice to see.

To answer your question - you can do some careful testing with your used gear to make sure it focuses OK, etc. All gear has shortcomings and short of actual defects you'll get to know them and work around them. There's always something better around the corner but what you have right now has some increadible capability.

I guess the most basic advice is that gear comes a distant second to learning to connect with this thing called photography. What moves you about it, tricks and technique, what to do with all your pics. How to keep from getting lost in the forums, the spending, and the madness of thinking 500 bad photos will replace taking a deep breath and getting one really great one.

What about the 7D used to take that photo of your XS? Swapsies?

copenhagen69 wrote in post #10635057
wow that 2nd photo is amazing! Ill pass out if I make something that cool anytime soon haha

No, you'll be taking photos like that in no time. The lens did a lot of it. The L-class lenses are really good. Through rental services you have every single lens ever made.

I took that pro surfer shot about three months after purchasing my first DSLR.

I shot it in Jpeg but had intended that day to shoot in RAW. I had simply forgotten to reset the camera before shooting.

If you want to get good action shots, try this: While watching sports on TV, practice freezing the action using the remote control. This works with soccer, football, baseball, anything. You'll notice that sometimes you freeze the shot and the player looks awkward, so the "picture" is not good. Other times you nail it.

I use surf videos, and when a surfer is hitting the lip or doing some kind of maneuver, I freeze the action. It's good practice.

Or just fire away and hope for the best.

Most importantly, have fun, and if YOU like a photo, don't worry a ton about others' opinions (unless they are technical opinions like getting straight horizons, contrast, depth of field, etc.).

But if you love your photo, and want to print/frame it, then it's a great photo and you should do just that.