First DSLR - Canon 600D - any advice/tips?

Jamous

Jamous

Jamous

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Hi, first time of posting in the section.

I've bought a Canon 600D with the kit lens of 18-55mm, picked it up from Currys, paid £250 which I thought was a deal and it's finally dragged me into the DSLR game. I've had various compacts and my current camera is a Fujifilm HS30EXR bridge which I really like.

So, I'd like to ask for any tips and advice on the useage of the D600, I'd really like to find out the must-have lenses, I've ordered the 50mm f1.8, but thats it, so any other lenses/batteries/bags etc I should be buying or any other advice would be gratefully received.
 
Take lots of pics, check them after and find where you went wrong and then improve on that next time :)
 
Make sure you completely understand what aperature, shutter speed and iso are, and find out how each affects your pictures.

For example shooting a landscape use a smaller aperture (higher number) and longer shutter.
 
Personally I don't think there's any need to buy a book to understand aperture when there's so many places to get that information online.

Put that money you'd spend on books towards a new lens... Event if it won't account for even 1% of what you'll want to spend :P
 
Phal said:
Personally I don't think there's any need to buy a book to understand aperture when there's so many places to get that information online.

Put that money you'd spend on books towards a new lens... Event if it won't account for even 1% of what you'll want to spend :P
Click to expand...

Actually, your right. Bought the book, but if I'm honest, internet gave it all up for free.
 
Congrats on the purchase. The most important thing is to understand the use of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. Understanding these will get you great results.

As regards choice of lenses, after you have mastered the above, will depend on the type of photography you like to do for example portraits, macros/close-up, landscape, action/sports etc
 
Between the kit lens and the fast 50 you've got more than enough to be getting on with. Inevitably you will get that itch to go for a telephoto lens before long but your money is probably better spent elsewhere, unless you have a passion for wildlife or motorsport you haven't mentioned.

Bang per buck Lightroom is arguably the best investment (other packages are available but I recommend LR)

Also dont obsess over gear, and don't underestimate the value of books. Yes you can find basic tuition and good discussion online but I must have about 30 books on the subject and don't regret buying them for a second. I personally find they go much deeper on a given subject and are generally more cohesive. Online material is good, but there is a huge difference between an assortment of 'clippings' from bloggers and something that has been published.
 
Thanks for the replies,

Battery charged - check!

I understand a bit about shutter speed, aperture and ISO, I've also dabbled with a circular polarizer.

My subject matter is varied;

Portrait shots - mainly of my cat lol

Landscape -definately, I go to the Scottish Islands twice a year and always take my camera

Motorsort - yes, definately, Knockhill is my local, but I've been to Croft, Donnington, Oulton Park and Silverstone.

I would like to be better at macro as some macro shots are stunning, but I would also like to have a go at night/moon/stars photography.

I am wondering if I should have looked at the Nikon D3200 too and I'm obsessing about getting a telephoto lens, my old Fuji HS30EXR has a 30x zoom and I know it's all about focal length now, but what lens would I need to compare with the 30x zoom?
 
Ignore all the fluff like art filter and scene modes. They won't help you in the long run. And also turn off Auto ISO!

Learning to understand exposure is important. This doesn't mean you need to shoot manual all the time. The key thing is to understand what's going on and how to select the best auto exposure mode for your situation.
 
Jamous said:
I am wondering if I should have looked at the Nikon D3200 too and I'm obsessing about getting a telephoto lens, my old Fuji HS30EXR has a 30x zoom and I know it's all about focal length now, but what lens would I need to compare with the 30x zoom?
Click to expand...

30x is relative since it's the difference between the lense's widest and narrowest setting. For instance your 18-55 is roughly a 3x len, but so is a 55-200.

But basically to get the same field of view as the HS30 on maximum zoom you would need a 500mm lens! Which isn't cheap or very portable. Compared to the Fuji the sensor in the 600D is massive, the trouble is the larger sensor requires a larger lens so achieving the same zoom range as a superzoom with a DSLR isn't practicle.

However you will find that the significantly higher quality from the Canon will give you the possibility of cropping. There are plenty of affordable lenses up to about 300mm. I don't shoot Canon, so I'm not that cluded up on their lens range. But I've heard a lot off good things said about their 50-250.

It might be worth having a play with this website. Don't worry that it's Nikon, the concept is the same.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/
 
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