You ripped open all the pretty paper this last week and there it was — a new camera. So now what? It can be pretty overwhelming to get a new camera, whether it’s your first one or your third one. I’ve had three SLRs in my life, and it’s always a new experience with each one. Even getting a new point and shoot camera (like I did this year) can be overwhelming as you try to learn the new settings and the capabilities of the camera.
So what do you do now?
Well, first get the camera out of the box. You have done that, right? Of course you have. But that box is going to be a little overwhelming with all the cords and books. The book itself is overwhelming because I have yet to see a manual that isn’t an inch thick. And that book isn’t going to tell you everything.
There’s plenty of reading material out there about what you should do with your camera outside of the manual. I like Photojojo’s round-up of how to take care of your new camera (plus get on their newsletter). There’s also this list of the seven things you should do with your first DSLR.
Some tips here I agree with:
- Protect your lens — Just a UV filter on your lens is better than nothing. But if you’re going to use other filters, know what you’re using. A polarizing filter is good for those outdoor shots, for example. Each colored filter does something different (which I’ve never used, so I can’t give advice).
- Use a tripod in low light — But you might not always have a tripod handy, right? And they can be a pain in the butt to carry around. In a photography class in college, we were taken out to shoot the Washington monuments at night. None of us had tripods. Instead we used whatever we had handy, including our camera bags. Find something sturdy to lean against or to set your camera against. Door frames always are good for this if there’s one around.
- Do read the manual — But also do some research around the Internet about what exactly everything means in practical terms. I didn’t truly understand the difference between One-shot AF and AI Servo AF until I read about it on several blogs. The key here is to read. A great place to keep reading is Nikon’s tip of the day.
- Know the limitations of your camera — My old point and shoot camera is fantastic to use in bright light and daylight. But in low light? It’s pretty awful. My first DSLR had problems when I was using the zoom lens. Every camera isn’t perfect, and it’s important to know what your camera cannot do. Then you can get around those problems.
- Get out and shoot often — You’re never really going to know your camera well if you don’t shoot photos. Use your new camera early and often. My first SLR years ago came with free film and free processing because the camera shop wanted me to test out the camera to make sure it worked well for me. But this is the point of having a camera, right? To take photos!
For advanced items, check out this article of 13 Things Your Camera Wishes You Knew. Even if you know a lot, there’s things to learn in here. It’s where I finally grasped the difference of the auto focuses on my camera. And, really, you don’t need to take three shots of the same photo. That’s a very film-minded approach to photography, and even then you didn’t need three shots.
And getting a new strap for your camera is a glorious thing. It doesn’t even need to be expensive. I have this split strap on my DSLR. And I have this adapter to turn my strap into a sling because that’s how I prefer to carry my camera.
Plus make sure you have your camera’s serial number written down somewhere. There’s a new service that allows you to track your camera if it ever gets stolen. It is based on knowing the camera’s serial number. But want to prevent theft? Don’t leave your camera in your car or at least lock it in the trunk out of sight. Most people I know who have had their cameras stolen have had them taken out of a car.
Want your photos to look good once you get out shooting. Know how to compose them well with the rule of thirds. This video is a good tutorial on the rule of thirds and how to make it work for you.
Happy shooting!
thank you so much Sir, really beneficial