What do I need to appear like i know what I'm doing?

goodguy · May 8, 2016

TheLibrarian said:
smoke665 said:

Not being ugly here but if you have no experience, and no equipment why are you hiring models??

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Not sure if that's a real question but you must be a woman. I've had shoots with gf's and friends before and buying a D3300 on the spot means little to me. I could probably get away with using a cell phone. I have no attractive young women who will bat their eyes at me at the moment or maybe I do and don't need a model. I'm trying. Testing the waters to see how difficult it is to find people on my own before buying something.

Leaning towards the 5300, for only $100 more you get internal wifi and swivel screen in case she wants to look at herself and I can transfer pics and see the monitor on my phone. Can get $50 off at Best Buy if I buy a lense too. People seem to think the 50/ 1.8g is worth it in reviews.

The 50mm/ 1.8g has no zoom? Can I get a bird at medium distance with stock lense or what is that one good for if I have the 50? Noob question but I also couldn't find any zoom button on most versions and what I did find only seemed to have 3 or 4 set distances on the floor model. Do injust not know how to zoom or is it only these set distances? My p&s had s full range of zooming.

Nikon D5300 is a great camera, as much as I love the D3300 I would take the D5300 over it if money wasn't an issue.

Nikon 50mm 1.8G is a prime lens, it doesn't zoom.
The advantage of the 50mm 1.8G is in low light situation when it brings a whole lot more light on the sensor then cheap kit zoom lenses.
It also is a preffered portrait lens because its sharper then kit lenses and lets you blur the background much better then any cheap zoom lens.
For birding I would not use the 50mm, its not a lens for that.
For birding (considering you on a tight budget) I would recommend the Nikon 55-200mm VR or Nikon 55-300mm VR or even the Nikon 70-300mm VR

Designer · May 8, 2016

TheLibrarian said:
The 50mm/ 1.8g has no zoom? Can I get a bird at medium distance with stock lense or what is that one good for if I have the 50? Noob question but I also couldn't find any zoom button on most versions and what I did find only seemed to have 3 or 4 set distances on the floor model. Do injust not know how to zoom or is it only these set distances? My p&s had s full range of zooming.

A digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera does not zoom by internal movement, but the lenses do that. So yes, you are correct; the 50mm is fixed at that focal length, and will not zoom. A zoom lens is limited by its design focal range, or 55mm to 200mm for one of the entry-level lenses for instance.

Your P&S camera zoomed by an internal motor that made focal length adjustments by moving the lens parts relative to the sensor which does not move.

The 50mm focal length might not give the results you had hoped for in shooting birds at some distance. For that you will need to get a lens with a longer focal length. This brings me to one major advantage of the DSLR over a compact point and shoot camera. You can change lenses and get the focal length you desire.

table1349 · May 8, 2016

"What do I need to appear like i know what I'm doing"

A through education in photography.

vintagesnaps · May 8, 2016

To appear like you know what you're doing, you need to actually know what you're doing. Well, maybe if you were dragging around a bunch of equipment some people may think you look like an experienced photographer, but I don't think that'll accomplish much.

But if you're trying to figure out what you might want to do in photography eventually, then you probably need to get a used DSLR and a couple of lenses to start, and get out and take pictures and figure out what you like. Big difference between shooting nature and models and sports etc., there are a lot of skills to learn and some different equipment needed. Why not see if there's an established photographer in your area that may let you come and observe a session? or look into taking classes.

Seems like you're trying to do it all at once, but it's going to take some time to really know what you're doing and get good at it. If it's something you like well enough to spend time learning and practicing, then it could become something you may want to do professionally as a business (I don't think there is anything such as a paid amateur, if you're paid and handling money that puts you into business even if it's part time). If you get to that point, try American Society of Media Photographers or PPA for business resources for photographers to learn what you'd need to do.

smoke665 · May 8, 2016

TheLibrarian said:
Not sure if that's a real question but you must be a woman. I've had shoots with gf's and friends before and buying a D3300 on the spot means little to me. I could probably get away with using a cell phone. I have no attractive young women who will bat their eyes at me at the moment or maybe I do and don't need a model. I'm trying. Testing the waters to see how difficult it is to find people on my own before buying something.

Nothing gender related in my comment and obviously you haven't read my profile any more closely then the advice being given to you by those far more qualified than myself. By your own comments throughout you've seemed overly concerned with appearance. I know it's a cliche, but the equipment does not make the photographer. There are several threads on this forum suggesting the use of artist models, and heads with wigs to practice lighting techniques, as well as numerous links to explain everything else photography related. Until you sit down and actually learn a little about what goes into a shot, then you'll be no different than a friend of mine who spent over $5k on equipment and still makes point & shoot pictures (that look terrible), because he has no desire to learn anything.

limr · May 8, 2016

TheLibrarian said:
smoke665 said:

Not being ugly here but if you have no experience, and no equipment why are you hiring models??

Click to expand...

Not sure if that's a real question but you must be a woman.

????

gckless · May 9, 2016

I do believe we're being taken for a ride.

TheLibrarian · May 9, 2016

Seems there may be more to it than it seems. So I have to focus and zoom on the lense itself even in this day and age. Whatever I was flicking in the store narrowed the field of view but wasn't magnifying and not in focus. I thought the screen looked like garbage but it probably wasn't anywhere near focused.

How important is another light source for portraits in daylight. Now I'm like oh I need this. And is the introductory 50mm a better choice than some side flash? Is constant light different from a flash?

See I learned something but only have more questions. Then what exactly do I need to be changing for how bright it is out? I guess I need to figure out this Isi, a/f and at 2 other acronyms I don't understand.

The next question which I don't like is, is a schmancy Sony or Olympus with the fixed larger lense attached permanently better for an idiot to use? I was watching Jem the other night and the girl had one like this that seemed like a fancy gadget and maybe more digital. Not sure what the Best Buy Sony one was I dismissed it at first. I think 800$ maybe 1200 but there were 2 smaller versions of this kind.

chuasam · May 9, 2016

Yeah, forget about the technicals and just work on your ability to see an image or tell a story visually.

petrochemist · May 9, 2016

To look like you know what you're doing you have to know what your doing, new hardware is not the answer.

Take a trip to your library and read some of the books on photography. (You can skip sections purely on film, but don't rule out books just because they're old most of the knowledge is still relevant).

Once you have the skills, a 10 year old DSLR (& very limited extras) will be enough for people to see you know how to use it.
If you've 'all the gear but no idea' you won't fool anyone who knows anything about photography.

table1349 · May 9, 2016

Photo Basics #1: Introduction and Exposure - Improve Photography

Parker219 · May 9, 2016

Lol at the people saying to go to the library.

Its called "the Internet", more specifically....youtube.com.

limr · May 9, 2016

That's right - be sure to bypass a place that holds both printed and electronic material on just about any subject you'd like to know about, and where they ALSO employ people trained specifically in information management and who could help you find what you're looking for much more easily.

Please, ignore a system that has worked for millennia and just watch some random videos. Since when has the Internet steered anyone wrong or wasted anyone's time?