absolute beginner - tips + help please! (1 Viewer)

stevetb

Registered user

• Sep 1, 2006

• #1

hi there, ive just found my old pentax espio 200 camera http://www.ciao.co.uk/Pentax_Espio_200_Compact_Camera__2437 ( only link i could find as its so old.) i got it a couple christmas' back and never really got any decent photos. they either didn't focus, come out grainy or had a very dark background. i haven't a clue about photography so if someone could link to a beginners guide or explain all the different things to take into account and generally give advice and tips, that would be most helpful.
cheers! :king:

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Sep 1, 2006

• #2

It depends what you are taking shots of,eg,Landscapes,Portraits ,etc.I guess that for bird images,unless it has a decent zoom,may not be very practical.Have you a handbook/manual for the camera ? .That should give you some idea as to settings etc.

 

stevetb

Registered user

• Sep 1, 2006

• #3

it has a 200mm zoom which aint that good. i will get a better camera but first i want to get to grips with the basics. eg. whats shutter speed, ISO all that sorta stuff mean? - now you see what i mean by absolute beginner :'D

 

stevetb

Registered user

• Sep 1, 2006

• #4

to give you an idea of how bad i am heres my best pics

 

Last edited: Apr 21, 2008

stevetb

Registered user

• Sep 2, 2006

• #5

ok i got some books, and now im on the right track. any comments on pics?

 

hollis_f

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2006

• #6

AC/DC said:

it has a 200mm zoom which aint that good. i will get a better camera but first i want to get to grips with the basics. eg. whats shutter speed, ISO all that sorta stuff mean? - now you see what i mean by absolute beginner :'D

Click to expand...

Get a book called 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson. It'll explain all you need to know about the basics.

Then go out and play - try the same shot with different settings and see how they turn out. That's the magic of digital, you can make thousands of mistakes and it costs virtually nothing.

 

greypoint

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2006

• #7

No great problem with those pics considering the camera - and I assume short zoom on it. You just need to be closer or have more zoom to fill the frame a bit more.

 

hornet

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2006

• #8

You can get good bird shots with a 200mm zoom, but your fieldcraft will have to be pretty impressive!

You are really looking at getting within a few metres to get the most out of the camera.

Two options spring to mind. The first is to find generally tame birds - I often stop to take pictures of swans, mallards and coots at a local park when I'm out walking with my family.

The second is to make a hide in your garden. I have a garage with a window just a couple of metres from my birdtable. With a bit of camo netting I have managed to sit taking photos for an hour or more, and this would be well within 200mm zoom range.

And finally, having recently gone through the same learning process re iso, aperture and shutter speed, I can support the recommendations above - get some good books from the local library, study them carefully, and take hundreds of pictures. There's no better way.

 

JohnZ

Well-known member

• Sep 4, 2006

• #9

Nothing wrong with the pics as, at least, they all appear to be in focus which must be a good start.

 

stevetb

Registered user

• Sep 5, 2006

• #10

hollis_f said:

Get a book called 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson. It'll explain all you need to know about the basics.

Then go out and play - try the same shot with different settings and see how they turn out. That's the magic of digital, you can make thousands of mistakes and it costs virtually nothing.

Click to expand...

lol - my camera isn't digital. i might have a go with the hide idea. perhaps i could get a cheap tent and cut a slit in it.