Hi Everyone!

[Obir]

Wanted to let everyone know that this forum has been of tremendous help to me just by browsing through the threads alone.
So I just got my new D7000 a couple of weeks ago and am using it mainly (so far) to take pics of my 4 mos. old son. This after some frustration with the poor performance of P&S cameras (my wife and I have 5 of these) in low light conditions. This is my first SLR since, well, my old Canon AE-1. I'm so far very happy with my D7000 and hope to continue learning day by day as I continue digging into the camera's features. I've read the manual a few times over and found that it's just easier for me to take on and learn one section/feature at a time. Biggest challenge so far...focus.
This will be my "project" for a while and there sure are a lot of talented people to learn from here.

 

[fotojack]

Welcome, Obir, to the Nikonites forum, and congrats on your new D7000. Nice camera. Good strategy on taking it a bit at a time. Reading a manual is like information overload, isn't it! I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time. Just keep taking pictures and experimenting. Tell me......why is focus a problem? Your camera has an Auto focus feature. Have you tried shooting in Aperture mode? Press the shutter button half way down lightly....it will focus...then press the button the rest of the way. Voila! Picture taken in focus! Let us know how you make out.
Happy shooting.

 

[Obir]

Thanks photojack.
When I took the manual out of the box, my wife just laughed and walked away saying: "I guess I won't be seeing you in a few days".
I'm currently mostly shooting in Manual using the camera's metering as a guide (just a guide) and making adjustments from there. The D7000 makes this very easy with the rear/front dials. I'm sure once I learn all the focus modes (and there are plenty...) and how to apply to specific situations it'll be easier. My first attempts were using 3D mode and I found the camera jumping around the viewfinder changing focus points (at least in low light) even when the subject was still. A quick change in focus mode fixed that...no problem.
I posted two pics in my gallery and would really appreciate your comments (pros & cons) on them. Composition wise they're messy...I know Does focus look ok to you?

 

[Marcel]

Hi Obir,
Nice pictures. The focus looks OK to me. But with kids, you want to make sure you use a fast enough shutter speed to prevent movement during exposure. Movement and focus can be confused.
With the d7000, don't be afraid to bring the ISO up in the 1600 unless you are planning on a major poster size print.
I hope you enjoy the camera. I know I do.

Welcome to the forums.
Marcel

 

[Obir]

Thanks Marcel.
Your comments are greatly appreciated.
You have some really nice pics in your gallery. Makes me wish I had my D7K back 2 yrs ago on our trip to New Zealand.
Perhaps this is what I'm noticing...blur.
I'm shooting at f1.8 1/125 to 250 with my sb-400 bounced. I think the d7k tops at 400iso with ext flash. Maybe I should increase speed and add some flash compensation.
I like the narrow Dof using large apertures in shots like these and the emphasis in the eyes.
I'm really enjoying my d7k and its flexibility .

 

[Marcel]

Thanks for the comments of my pictures. All the pictures from the Mallorca album were made with the D90 and 18-200 Vr. This is the only lens that I took for this trip since most of it consisted of biking. All shots were raw and post processed in Aperture and CS4 at the time.
I find the D7000 is more critical of focus issues. Maybe it's because of my 27" display and the 100% magnification I use to criticize my pics. But for the tonal range and colors this camera produces...so far it's the best I've seen. I would even be curious to compare it to my old faithful Hasselblad.
It sure is a fun process to keep learning.

 

[johnwartjr]

Your D7000 will work with external flash at any ISO - but part of the point of using the flash is to be able to use the lower ISOs, too.

Part of the issue with blur may simply be that you're shooting at 1.8 - the amount of your subject that will be in focus at 1.8 is pretty limited. To get more of the image in focus, try stopping down. Say f/5.6, f/8 or f/11.

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

Obir, welcome to the Nikonites Community. Auto focus is not as auto as you might think. You have to understand the circumstances under which "auto focus" is most effective. The AF system depends on "contrast" to achieve and lock on focus. Try pointing the camera at a plain white wall and push the release button halfway down. The camera will not focus, not enough contrast for the camera to lock on. The same applies to "low light" shooting. If there is not enough contrast in the subject the camera may sit there with the focus motor working back and forth trying to find focus. The best way to check for focus is the yellow or green dot on the bottom left of the view finder. If it's blinking you're not in focus. With the dot continuously on, the camera has locked on focus. After you have done this for a while you get better at judging what scene will hold a focus and which will not. If you are using flash the focus assist light (it's on by default) will help the camera lock on focus.

 

[Obir]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
I'll change my focus settings from "release" to "focus" to ensure it locks before shooting.
I dove into the manual and found that the sb-400 max sync speed is 1/325. I'd think this is fast enough to eliminate blur, right? I'd still like to use bounce flash for a nice balanced exposure indoors if I can.
I also found that AUTO ISO was limiting to 400 while using external flash. With it off, I can dial in my own and crank it up, though I didn't think increasing the ISO would help much as the flash in i-ttl mode should give me a good exposure regardless (??)
I'll experiment with smaller apertures for greater dof. At f1.8 on my 35mm lens at that distance dof is about an inch (??) This requires some darn precise focusing... This plus a constantly moving subject plus low light conditions makes a difficult shot for me.
I have to agree with Marcel though...the images this camera produces are just outstanding even in the hands of a newcomer like me.

 

[johnwartjr]

The D7000 will only sync up to 1/250 second.

So, that's the max shutter speed that will work. The camera is the limitation, not the flash

 

[kayatink]

Hi Fotojack

 

[fotojack]

OK, let's start from the beginning: You're getting your first dslr camera, and you're changing your career to that of a wildlife photographer?
You're going to take photography classes.....and you want to be a wildlife photographer?
You have years of learning ahead of you if you want to make a living at being a wildlife photographer. But hey.....good luck with that.
As for the question of the Nikon being a better choice than the Canon? Yes......of course it is.

 

[kayatink]

Hi Fotojack,

 

[Joseph Bautsch]

"Getty confirms that they accept pictures from any dslr make of camera as long as they are very sharp and the images must be able to be reproduced at 52mb files. Can anyone explain what this means? Also the jpegs must be converted from uncompressed 47.4-52 MB Tiff files (flattened, with no layers, paths or channels - 24 bit RGB Color, 8 bits per channel (8 bit file). Also what does that mean? If there is anyone who uploads to stock websites can you give me some advice please? I hope to get on a photography course soon and have joined my local camera club. Also, is Nikon a good make of camera to get over Canon?"

First let me welcome you to the Nikonites Community. A very friendly with knowledgable people who can help you with your photo questions and posts. Join us often and enjoy.

What Getty Images is asking for with these requirements is for top quality, reproducible, full size jpeg photos that are fully workable in post processing to fit their needs. In stating the requirements as they have they are addressing highly experienced advanced amateurs and professionals who know what all this means. Your just getting started and have a long way to go just to understand what they are talking about much less having the shooting experience and ability they are looking for. Your heading in the right direction with taking photography courses and joining a club. Not only do I recommend this site but also that you join nature photographer blogs and sites as well. Your desire to become a professional nature photographer is admirable but be forewarned that it will take a lot of work and perseverance. My advice in uploading photos to Getty Images is to send them only first quality images that meet not only their image quality requirements but the style of photos they are looking for. To determine what they are looking for as to style open their site and browse through photos that have been uploaded by others, study them, emulate them and learn how to make captures just like those. As far as which is better, Nikon or Cannon, I would recommend you go to camera stores and pick up each camera model in your hands and talk to salesman about features of each. Get a feel for which one is right for you. One of them will turn you on. Most likely the Nikon but hey I'm prejudice. Good Luck.

 

[kayatink]

Hi Joseph,

 

[ohkphoto]

I've read the manual a few times over and found that it's just easier for me to take on and learn one section/feature at a time. Biggest challenge so far...focus.

Welcome to the forum, Obir. This is definitely the place to get support, info and help with your nikon. Your approach to learning is perfect . . .I still pick up my manual and review a feature at a time to make sure I've gotten it down pat. And yes, focus is a challenge even for those of us who have had our nikons for eons LOL

Looking forward to seeing your pics and congrats on your new camera!

Best Regards