Aperture settings

[terri]

No apologies needed, @Rob one! It's terrific at any age to come across a hobby that really grabs us and makes us want to learn more. You were probably too pressed with other obligations while still working - so better late than never, right?

Don't blame your learning curve on your age - there is a lot to learn and study, and it's easy to become drawn in to just the technical side of things. You're on the right track to get the basics down, but also just keep getting out there and shooting - you'll get there.

Keep posting here as often as you need - enjoy the journey!

 

[KJ_North]

Lets not get lost in the fact that more noise (Higher ISO Values) certainly affects the image detail. Shooting at ISO's 3000-5000 for example are going to lose some detail regardless of what noise reduction software you use. Now having said that shooting a landscape scene etc might not require fine detail and therefore it doesn't maybe concern you as much as often a smoother look benefits the image. But shooting wildlife like birds where you are after detail on the feathers etc noise certainly comes into play.

 

[smoke665]

there's a lot to take in and learn, and at 72yrs young, probably taking me a little longer than mo

Ive got a few years on you, but the advantage I have is I started my journey in the 60's. I took a little break and came back to digital. That was hard enough, but at least I had knowledge of photography. Hang in there it'll click eventually!

 

[Don Fischer]

I'm not new either. Started about 1966 in Germany with a Voigtlander fixed lens camera. Think today they call it a bridge camera. Never had anyone around that was all that experienced so stumbled along on my own. My goal was simply, take photo's I like! If your not getting that, something is wrong. But don't get me wrong, I admire those that have the patience to really learn how to take fine photo's! The good part is I'm fine with what I get most the time, credit to the camera's I don't really know how to use!

Biggest problem I have with camera's today is the manufacturer's today treat the camera toter's like very smart college grad's when writing manuals! I have a terrible time getting anything out of them. Next problem is they pretty much ignore the entry level people and it's either learn by the camera company's rules or using the real inexpensive point and shoot's. I learned digital, sort of, with my first camera a Nikon D 70. Compared to todays camera's there's a lot of difference but bottom line is a decent photographer can still take good photo's with something like a D 70. In fact a decent photographer can shoot good photo's with pretty much any half way decent point and shoot. I wonder how Ansel Adams cameras stacked up to the high dollar digitals of today? And who's the guy in Florida? Goes in in advance and shoot stuff with an inexpensive SLR to see if there's anything he'd like to blow up and if there is ho goes back with his 4x5 camera and a tripod. I admire those guy's, they took what was out there at the time and made themselves famous with it. I think the biggest difference between their 4x5 camera's and the best we have today is they actually had to learn photography, we simply seem to just buy the right camera! I found my old Nikom FM much easier to use than most any digital I have or have had. The crunch for me was getting a Nikon F5. Figured I had it made, the F5 had everything you could want. I never took a good photo with it but still have it today! Paid to much for it and today it ain't worth squat!

I think I really should try different shooting modes, just haven't got around to it yet! I do fool with "A" mode some but have no idea what's going on in it! Does alright but problem is I ain't comfortable with it. Think I'll try it again next time out just to see where I am.