Need Some Help with settings and Tips on getting better results !

Mikeydigs

Senior Member
I got my new D7000 at Christmas, I up graded from the D80 (which I loved) I have been waiting for Ken Rockwell to finish his settings guide on his site, Im not sure I have my D7000 set up as well as it can be. I opted to buy the camera body only, and have purchased the kit lenes18-55 vr and 55-200vr I love the light weight but was wondering if there is a quality trade off ? I have had mixed results so far. I also own 70-200 vr 2.8 this lens is great but its huge and its heavy, I dont like carrying it around . I have ordered the 35mm 1.8 and I think that will be a good addition to my lens group. I am a long time enthusiast of photograpy but still fell like a begginner. I could use some tips and feed back.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
It takes time to learn a new camera. In upgrading from a D80 to the D7000 a lot has changed, all kinds of new functions and features and every camera performs differently and requires getting use to. This is the place to ask questions about the mixed bag results. We have experienced people here who can give you the help you are looking for but need more specifics. Where do you need help, camera functions, exposure, focus, composition. It will be of help if you post some of your shots in the critique forum you are not satisfied with and ask for help. And don't forget to post the EXIF data with the shot. I agree with the 70-200mm VR f/2.8 being big and heavy but it's hard to dislike the lens with the results it gives you. I also have the 35mm f/1.8. It's a good sharp lens that will work well with the D7000. The 55-200mm VR is slower than the 70-200mm in f/stops (won't work as well in low light) and it's slower focusing. Rather than a question of quality, it's more of a question of what you are shooting at what light level. It's still very good glass.
 

Mikeydigs

Senior Member
Hey Joseph thank you for responding. I will up load some images and and I will keep reading and most of all I will take lots of pictures. Michael
 

allenke

New member
I found the DVD "Introduction to the Nikon D7000 Basic Controls" by Blue Crane Digital to be very helpful in how to operate your D7000. Loaded with so much information that I am going to have to watch it a few times or at least sections of it.
 

Mikeydigs

Senior Member
Thank you for the tips, I ordered the Blue Crane DVD D7000 guide on ebay. I will take a look at the field guid and for dummies book when I go to Borders. I have been checking Ken Rockwells site for his upcoming guide for the D7000. again thank you and I will use the most important tip , and take lots of pictures Michael
 

Curt

Senior Member
You will love your D7000 once you get use to it. The high ISO, double SD slots, U1 & U2 (two cameras in one), etc.
Its a great camera, a powerhouse in a small package :).
 

IanCD

New member
Hi,
I just joined here.
I'm new to Digital SLR photography (had a film SLR and a couple lenses through the 80s-90s, and been using a Lumix FZ5 for a few years) and also bought a D7000 at end of December, so still a beginner.
I think you're asking about two things: camera settings, and lens quality.
As I'm new here, I'm happy for folk to let me know if there's any 'etiquette' that I get wrong in responding...
Settings
I spent quite a bit of time reading the manual and sussing out settings... then saved what I changed and why in an excel file.
I know there are bound to be things that I change again as I learn, but there are some things that I just didn't understand why the default settings are as they are - the most glaring one, for me, was why the +/- scale for exposure etc. goes +....0....- unless you reverse it... I thought that might be a cultural thing, though I haven't a clue where maths scales are that way round..?!
Also took me a while to work out what I might use the U1 and U2 settings for - until I missed a deer that broke through woods just after I'd changed lenses in anitcipation of that happening... but I hadn't changed the AF method and missed it.
So U1 is now ISO 800, continuous AF (AF-C), and either Auto Area or 39-point dynamic (can't check as I don't have the camera just now)
I've attached a file with some of the setting adjustments I've made in case it's useful - most of the settings are to make Aperture-priority mode easier for me - it's what I used with film SLR and have been using since I got the D7000.

Lenses
I'd read lots of reviews before I bought the camera.
I bought body only as I'd decided not to buy a kit lens. Seems there are pretty much always trade-offs with build and optical quality for weight. I bought the 16-85mm VR, which had lots of good reviews and feedback in forums. I've found Photozone a really good resource for reviews, and Markus, Klaus and others there really helpful in the forum. I bought two fast prime lenses for low-light photography at gigs on the basis of reviews and suggestions in their forum, and will probably add the 35mm 1.8G DX. Is that what you've ordered? Be good to know how you find it.
Hope this is helpful
Ian
 

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PhotoAV8R

Senior Member
I know there are bound to be things that I change again as I learn, but there are some things that I just didn't understand why the default settings are as they are - the most glaring one, for me, was why the +/- scale for exposure etc. goes +....0....- unless you reverse it... I thought that might be a cultural thing, though I haven't a clue where maths scales are that way round..?!
I was a math major and that just drives me nuts. I'm guessing the engineer that came up with that never went to school.
 

Mikeydigs

Senior Member
Thanks Curt,Ian and Joseph great advice ! I have been been reading a lot since I posted this and my goal is to learn as much as possible about my D7000, I feel there are so many layers of features in this camera. It's a process to understand its capabilities. I want to get the most out of my equipment. Currently I carry a small bag with d7000 18-55 vr ,55-200 vr and I have ordered a 35mm 1.8 (it's on its way, it's out of stock in most places) I can keep this gear in a medium camera bag and it's light and easy to carry . I don't want to lug around too much equipment. I have done that before and it's a drag. As I stated before, I own the 70- 200 vr 2.8. This lens is top quality, but it's big and heavy, I do use it at sporting events. I keep in a separate bag, usually in my car when I go somewhere, so it's close by if I need it. I do like the idea of a carry around set up.
 
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Curt

Senior Member
Good luck with the new D7000. Go on line and check out the (Adobe) on D7000 called "From Snapshots to great shots"
by John Batdorff. Tips in there that may help, and keep us posted on how you like your new D7000.
 
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Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Now as much as I enjoy reading and studying a camera's manual (a must to start with), the things you will learn the most from is the mistakes you will make.
Use the camera as much as you can and you will discover things that you've read in the different books but you will then understand them. It's the understanding and the usage that will make you make less and less errors while using your great camera.
The more you use it, the better it will become. And remember that digital film is at it's cheapest now. This was not the case in the old film days.
 

Sgt Preston

Senior Member
Good luck with the new D7000. Go on line and check out the (Adobe) on D7000 called "From Snapshots to great shots"
by John Batdorff. Tips in there that may help, and keep us posted on how you like your new D7000.
I just bought that book on saturday, very good, informative, easy to understand
 
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