Newbie photog...

johnspack · 02-23-2012, 02:56 AM

Been using an old 2mp camera for years, didn't really think too much of it. Realized it might be fun, but only if I had a half decent camera. On my fixed income, I can't really afford anything decent. Well, a cheapie camera finally went on sale, a Casio Exilim 12.1mp, 4x optical zoom, optical image stabilization ect... yes, I know it's still a cheap camera. But it's a step up for me... I added an 8gb sdhc card to it (class 10) to hopefully try some video.
Are there any taking photos for dummies sites out there? I'm sure this camera will be a lot different than my old one, and I want to learn. I also want to learn how to manipulate photos in photoshop ect.... which I can do sort of now, but with 2mp images....

johnspack · 02-23-2012, 10:42 AM

Oi, no advice for an old Estonian? Never had anything close to a real camera before. Should have it on Friday I hope... Should I use full 12.1mp setting, or lower it to 8 ect for starter pics. I have no idea.....

twilyth · 02-23-2012, 10:57 AM

Always go with the highest resolution the camera is capable of. The only exception is if the camera has a RAW mode. This will generate the largest files (much larger than the 12MP) but gives you the most flexibility in post processing. Use raw mode for pix where you can wait a few seconds between shots since it will take at least that long for all of the data to be transfered to your sd card - depending on what speed class it is.

My guess however is that 12MP fine mode will be the best resolution mode you will have since even fairly high end point and shoot cameras tend not to support RAW mode.

Aside from that, read the manual carefully and become completely familar with its manual settings. This is how you will get some of the more familiar artistic shots. For example, to have a subject in perfect focus but foreground and background softly out of focus, you want to use as wide an aperture as possible (low f-stop) and adjust the shutter speed to get the correct exposure.

Most cameras will let you choose aperture or shutter priority. So this is the sort of thing that you manual will most likely cover.

Hate_Camel · 02-23-2012, 05:25 PM

You might get better low light performance with less noise if you set it to 6 or 8mp, which is all you really need unless you're doing heavy cropping in which case won't look very good anyway.

twilyth · 02-23-2012, 05:27 PM

Can't you normally set the ISO level separately?

Hate_Camel · 02-23-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twilyth

Can't you normally set the ISO level separately?

Yes but they are still using the same size sensors as they were a few years ago so when you see 10mp+ it's usually a gimmick to get people to buy new cameras that they really don't need.
In his case it would be fine though.

twilyth · 02-23-2012, 05:36 PM

You mean the sensors have the same number of pixels but they just use a different interpolation scheme? Bummer.

Hate_Camel · 02-23-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twilyth

You mean the sensors have the same number of pixels but they just use a different interpolation scheme? Bummer.

No they have MORE pixels and are still the same size. Generally speaking.

Chevalr1c · 02-23-2012, 09:11 PM

I think that Odameyer means that with entry/mid-level CCDs, high pixel rates may lower the light-sensitivity per pixel too much, or something like that. I may be wrong though.

TheMailMan · 02-23-2012, 10:21 PM

I dunno why people who have a camera think they are fucking artist. I mean If I take 12,000 pictures of a damn flower and put them all black and white one of them is bound to seem fucking artistic.

If you have a god damn camera it doesnt mean you are a fucking artist. Its just means you have a pay check.

Hate_Camel · 02-23-2012, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMailMan

I dunno why people who have a camera think they are fucking artist. I mean If I take 12,000 pictures of a damn flower and put them all black and white one of them is bound to seem fucking artistic.

If you have a god damn camera it doesnt mean you are a fucking artist. Its just means you have a pay check.

What is art?
EDIT: yeah, sorry can't help but get into philosophical arguments with myself all the time.

Jaydenz · 03-17-2012, 08:36 AM

I have a 12.1 MP Sony cyber shot and it looks a lot like a Casio Exilim but I read the manual and I didnt see anything about apartures or shutters. Maybe I read it wrong dunno.
I joined thephotoforum.com but I haven't learned much yet. If you find a really cool forum lmk.

02-23-2012, 02:56 AM	#1
johnspack Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 35 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Dislikes: 0 Disliked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Newbie photog... Been using an old 2mp camera for years, didn't really think too much of it. Realized it might be fun, but only if I had a half decent camera. On my fixed income, I can't really afford anything decent. Well, a cheapie camera finally went on sale, a Casio Exilim 12.1mp, 4x optical zoom, optical image stabilization ect... yes, I know it's still a cheap camera. But it's a step up for me... I added an 8gb sdhc card to it (class 10) to hopefully try some video. Are there any taking photos for dummies sites out there? I'm sure this camera will be a lot different than my old one, and I want to learn. I also want to learn how to manipulate photos in photoshop ect.... which I can do sort of now, but with 2mp images....

02-23-2012, 09:11 PM	#9
Chevalr1c Another GN moderator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands Posts: 1,531 Thanks: 8,240 Thanked 706 Times in 463 Posts Dislikes: 134 Disliked 28 Times in 22 Posts	I think that Odameyer means that with entry/mid-level CCDs, high pixel rates may lower the light-sensitivity per pixel too much, or something like that. I may be wrong though. __________________ You only buy a truck that big if your got something big to move or your dick is microscopic. - FordGT90Concept The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected. - G.K. Chesterton

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02-23-2012, 10:42 AM	#2
johnspack Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 35 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Dislikes: 0 Disliked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Oi, no advice for an old Estonian? Never had anything close to a real camera before. Should have it on Friday I hope... Should I use full 12.1mp setting, or lower it to 8 ect for starter pics. I have no idea.....

02-23-2012, 10:57 AM	#3
twilyth Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,280 Thanks: 7,402 Thanked 5,579 Times in 3,287 Posts Dislikes: 165 Disliked 124 Times in 107 Posts	Always go with the highest resolution the camera is capable of. The only exception is if the camera has a RAW mode. This will generate the largest files (much larger than the 12MP) but gives you the most flexibility in post processing. Use raw mode for pix where you can wait a few seconds between shots since it will take at least that long for all of the data to be transfered to your sd card - depending on what speed class it is. My guess however is that 12MP fine mode will be the best resolution mode you will have since even fairly high end point and shoot cameras tend not to support RAW mode. Aside from that, read the manual carefully and become completely familar with its manual settings. This is how you will get some of the more familiar artistic shots. For example, to have a subject in perfect focus but foreground and background softly out of focus, you want to use as wide an aperture as possible (low f-stop) and adjust the shutter speed to get the correct exposure. Most cameras will let you choose aperture or shutter priority. So this is the sort of thing that you manual will most likely cover.

02-23-2012, 05:25 PM	#4
Hate_Camel Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Terrizona Posts: 3,923 Thanks: 2,195 Thanked 2,902 Times in 1,732 Posts Dislikes: 129 Disliked 115 Times in 101 Posts	You might get better low light performance with less noise if you set it to 6 or 8mp, which is all you really need unless you're doing heavy cropping in which case won't look very good anyway.

02-23-2012, 05:27 PM	#5
twilyth Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,280 Thanks: 7,402 Thanked 5,579 Times in 3,287 Posts Dislikes: 165 Disliked 124 Times in 107 Posts	Can't you normally set the ISO level separately?

02-23-2012, 05:36 PM	#7
twilyth Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,280 Thanks: 7,402 Thanked 5,579 Times in 3,287 Posts Dislikes: 165 Disliked 124 Times in 107 Posts	You mean the sensors have the same number of pixels but they just use a different interpolation scheme? Bummer.

02-23-2012, 10:21 PM	#10
TheMailMan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Miami FL. Posts: 2,820 Thanks: 305 Thanked 1,602 Times in 876 Posts Dislikes: 11 Disliked 25 Times in 23 Posts	I dunno why people who have a camera think they are fucking artist. I mean If I take 12,000 pictures of a damn flower and put them all black and white one of them is bound to seem fucking artistic. If you have a god damn camera it doesnt mean you are a fucking artist. Its just means you have a pay check.

03-17-2012, 08:36 AM	#12
Jaydenz Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia, Colorado Kentucky Posts: 1,412 Thanks: 4,606 Thanked 823 Times in 536 Posts Dislikes: 3 Disliked 20 Times in 17 Posts	I have a 12.1 MP Sony cyber shot and it looks a lot like a Casio Exilim but I read the manual and I didnt see anything about apartures or shutters. Maybe I read it wrong dunno. I joined thephotoforum.com but I haven't learned much yet. If you find a really cool forum lmk.

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