<----- fng

Ok Name is Ben, i was in the market for a DSLR for a long time 4yrs but never had the $ to do it. So had the simple PnS for years till couple months. I was opting for a D90, but me being me, and having $ in hand. I ended up with D300s.

Im here to learn the Concepts of DOF, ect...... Im over the PnS....

I want to learn how to take real Pictures that are worthy of making into prints i can hand on walls....

Some one point me in the right direction, please......

Tkx
Ben

Welcome to the neighborhood, Ben. I'm glad I could point you in this direction. Check out some of the forums, and show us some sample images in the appropriate forums as well, so we can help you achieve your goals.
As far as creating images that are worthy of printing and hanging, it's a matter of what's important to you. Over the master bed is a large framed image of our happy dog running down the beach with a stick in its mouth. Would it sell in a gallery? Probably not. Is it something special and significant to us? Yup.

Keep shooting, posting, entering contests here, and placing photos in the critique section.

Hi Ben, and welcome to the Nikonites Community. Thats a big step going from a PnS to a D300s. There is something of a learning curve there but nothing you won't be able to handle. The D300s is a great camera. It will be easier for us to give you the help and information you need if you let us know what lens you are using. Please list the camera and lens and any other equipment information in your profile. We have people here who can answer almost any question you have and you usually get quick responses. You mentioned wanting to learn something about DOF. To get started with that go to DOFMaster.com on the internet. That site has a number of articles, Q&A, charts, and calculators, that cover the whole gamut of depth of field.
Happy shooting,
Joseph

I only have one lens it came wit, Still. 18-200mm, some days wish i had a lens with a better zoom and/or one close shoots
but lately been doing research for tripods and wireless remotes

Welcome Ben! Which branch did you serve or were you around? (I recognize the Freaking New Guy, ahem, reference.)

Hi Ben
Welcome you jumped with both feet going from PNS to the D-300s, but you made a great choice in camera. You will find a ton of help on this site, but Essence of Imagery' s comment about posting some images is correct. It would be easier to see your shots look at the data and ask some questions. With that info people will be able to make recomendations for you to try. That will give give you enough info to get you started but ultimately the final numbers will be up to you. You could give 3 of the same cameras & lens to 3 diff. Photographers and ask them to photograph the exact same object same light all same factors and they will probably all shoot at 3 differant sets of camera settings. Learing how the F-stop relates to the shutter speed and to the ISO and that changing anyone or more of these will still give you very good results but very different . This is where your practice and constant shooting will help you to develop your style or the artistic side of your photography. Sorry for the long wind I qwn the D-300 and the D-90 not much diff between the 300 and the 300s except the video and dual cards so I would be glad to be of any help I can.

Fotojo

All hail the FNG! hehe..welcome, Ben. Tell us where you're from and all that other good stuff. It helps us to answer any and all of your questions, believe it or not. I trust you'll have fun here, and enjoy the site to its fullest. Lots of knowledgeable Nikon enthusiasts here to help you when you need it. Again.welcome.

-Eduard- Pops was in the Navy, friends from all branches of military, all older or younger no one my age.

-fotojack- Imfrom Charleston, SC

Aren't you glad I told you about this place Ben? BTW, those images you sent me were too blurry to fix - which wasn't too surprising when I looked at the information.
Don't trust Pansy mode to get it right all the time.

FWIW:

1000 ISO
105mm focal length
f/5.6
@ 1/10th of a second
=blurry image

Next time - and I know there will be a next time - either raise the ISO or use the exposure compensation in order to use a faster shutter speed. At this point, I would have probably used a +5 (max) EV in order to get the shot blur free.

Not your fault - the camera just couldn't pull it together with the lighting.

eheh yea i remember that lil test you had me do wit speed vs ISO yea me relying on my equipment auto settings...

Aperture controls the DOF, the area between point focus forward and aft (area in focus)
Shutter controls the time the shutter is open (speed)?
ISO

er it time for work ill continue this later tonite

Hello Ben and I also find fng familiar, Basic camer settings for DOF etc are not peculiar to DSLR's. There is lots of basic info available concerning aperture, shutter and iso available and then it's time to experiment with the camera to achieve some of the results you want. Once you get the basics mastered they become second nature and the composition of the picture is what becomes important.

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