Newbie needs advice

[wodm]

First post so... Hello everybody.

I ahve recently invested in a canon 1000d and am bewildered by all the options (Point and shoot was multitasking in my book)
Anyway... i am going to watch some autograss racing and some demolision derby too at the weekend.
Any tips or advice on settings for best action shots? iso, f# etc...

It has the standard lens on it (not the "IS" one)

Cheers guys.

Mick.

[MattUK]

To be honest, I'd suggest leaving it all on auto while you're at the event, so you capture some good shots. When you have time to yourself, then play around with the settings and read up on Aperture, shutter speed and ISO

[wodm]

Thats what i was thinking.
I have been reading the photoplus canon mag which seems very good and is also how i found this site.
There is plenty in there but for lenses other than standard.

I get the feeling my new hobby wont be cheap lol

[DigiDiva]

Well hello and welcome. Im using a canon 1000d too, and I was where you were a year or so ago. Take a look at the weekly and the monthly competitions. The weekly gets you out and about experimenting and thinking, and the new monthly comp (we are only in month 2) where you get 3 weeks to larn and master a new technique. Great fun and very educational.

[wodm]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

Well hello and welcome. Im using a canon 1000d too, and I was where you were a year or so ago. Take a look at the weekly and the monthly competitions. The weekly gets you out and about experimenting and thinking, and the new monthly comp (we are only in month 2) where you get 3 weeks to larn and master a new technique. Great fun and very educational.

i will go have a looksie now. i work long nights so cant do much during the week but the weekends are mine

Thanks for the welcome

[jet_kit]

Hi and welcome.

Matt summed it up nicely. Stick everything on auto to begin with, it will give you acceptable results as long as your shots aren't too demanding. I would suggest that you sit down in a quiet spot with your camera in your left hand and instruction book in your right and start with Page 1. Every time you come up against something new, try it out, see what the result is.

One of the beauties of digital photography is that you can take hundreds of 'experimental' shots and see the results instantly. In the old days you could experiment just the same, but it cost a packet in film and developing costs, plus you had to wait 3 days to see what had happened.

You will never beat 'hands on' experience for a steep learning curve, but make sure you understand each step along the way. If you get lost, or the book doesn't explain something properly, that's why were here.

Obviously it's much easier for us to explain a particular feature than to try to emulate the whole instruction book.

Finally, if you were looking for a cheap hobby you've picked a wrong 'un here. Photography will happily soak up every bit of spare cash that you've got lying around, but it is a progressive game and you can still have fun and produce results while you save your pennies for that new lens, filter, tripod or even your next camera which will allow you to move on to the next level.

[wodm]

Thanks for the advice, appreciate it.

I have read the manual twice lol i never read manuals so this shocked me.
I think i have the gist of what the functions do but, using them in the real world will be a bit different methinks.

I will be there for a few hours so will have plenty of auto shots but will have plenty of time yo "fiddle" too.

[thefonz78]

Yeah set it to sport/action

[DigiDiva]

Even now, I still use sport setting when I just can't mess up a shot! But still do..lol

[wodm]

Thanks. Will use sports for some, auto for others and will meddle too.

Cheers guys n gals