Looks like you just need a quick lesson on apertures and shutter speed..

Here's the 30 second review. I suggest picking up a photography book or searching the web for tutorials to get more details..

Most non-auto photographers will use apreture priority most of the time. You adjust the apreture based on how much you want in focus. Wider apertures (smaller f-numbers) gives you a shallower depth of field (background blurs out faster). Smaller apertures (bigger f-number) will get more in focus. Depending on the amount of light available, you might need to adjust the ISO or use a wider apreture (smaller f-number) to get a reasonable shutter speed..

Shutter priority mode is used when you either want to stop action without motion blur, or make sure yo uget some motion blur. You set the shutter speed and the camera will adjsut the aperture for you. Again, depending on the amount of light, you may need to adjust ISO..

Full manual. Most people only touch this mode when they are using an external flash..

Joe.

My craptacular photos: http://www.pbase.com/pyogenes/favorites.

Any perceived rudeness, condescending tone, or insults are not intended, but rather the result of my inability to properly express myself with the written word...

AnnK wrote:.

I want a camera thatI can grow into, and would eventually like to learn how to adjustsettings to take better photos (rather than relying on auto modeto do it for me). I would like to purchase the camera that is mostintuitive to me for adjusting these settings but again, am notsure what settings I should be adjusting..

Ann, Either of the cameras you are looking at will enable you to "grow into it". They both allow for the same sort of settings..

Different SLR users use different settings. I recently posted a thread on this topic, - but it will be tedious reading for you. Some points for you however:.

A) There is nothing wrong at all with AUTO, letting the camera choose the best settings. You will take cracking good photos like that..

B) Once you move onto another setting, it will probably be Av (= Aperture value) whihc means that you will be adjusting the aperture only. The camera will select the appropriate shutter speed for that aperture. I think most of us use Av. I have XTi and find it very easy to select Av or Tv or Auto. Just a turn of the dial..

C) It is highly unlilely that you will change this setting very often. Once you get used to using Av you will not change. So the ease with which each camera changes these settings is not that important..

I chose Canon becase I knew I wnated to photogprah birds and Canon has a signifcantly wider choice of super tele lenses. Other than that I do not think it makes much difference which one you choose. Both will provide you with huge pleasure and the ability to learn about photogprahy..

Good luck...

The reason for the upgrade: I'vemissed out on too many of my baby's smiles because of the slowstart up time and shutter lag inherent in P&S cameras..

Ann - this isn't an issue if you pre-focus (keeping the shutter button half way down) then shoot at the right time. The term 'shutter lag' is often inaccurately used to mean 'the time between pushing the button and taking the picture' - most of which is really 'autofocus lag'..

On most P&S cameras you can pre-focus by getting the subject (e.g. your child's face) in the centre of the viewfinder, then pressing the button half way down to activate the autofocus and 'lock on'. Then you just sit there, getting cramp in your shutter finger, until the right moment comes.... and then pressing the button gives an essentially instant response because the focussing is already done. I've got so used to this I do it all the time, even having moved up to a DSLR. I spent 5 years taking nice pictures (in my opinion, anyway) of my growing kids with an Olympus compact using precisely this technique..

Give it a try before you spend a lot of money...MikeMike..

There is very little advantage to getting the D40x as opposed to the D40. The additional megapixels are going to mean nothing but larger image files for the shooting you describe. The D40 is much cheaper and a fine value. The absolute best value in a DSLR right now, though, is the Pentax K100D. It uses the same sensor as the Nikon but with a little greater detail, has in body image stabilization, and gives you access to a much greater range of lense for even less money than the Nikon. I have both the Pentax and the Canon Rebel XTi and have used the D40 and think the Pentax is the best of the three by a fair margin.Dave Lewis..

I have an better Idd.

Canon and nikon are one of the best camera's..

The diference are small,Look in the store and hold the camera's in your hand,The kit lens on bouts camera's are not overwelming good.not bad,but not fantastic.If I was you my concern would be wat lens do I like to use on thad fine camera..

Be awhere if you start with nikon or canon it will cost you more money,when you later dicided to jump to another brand.becouse you will have lences,.

Long lences like 18-300 mm are always an compromi ,better is to use an 18-40 or somtinge like thad,or an fixed lens,I know it will cost another $400 or somtinge like thad,but after some time.using the kitlens you wish,you have buyed the 18-40 instead..

I have to say the kit lens from the D70s 18-70 is an verry good lens for wat you pay for it.the canon kit lens have alot of fall of in the corners even at F/8Afcours this kit lens cost almost nothing,and you can buy another lens..

Here some lences you can look for in the store.Tamron.Sigma.and afcours nikon and canon.hope this help you abit:).

Demarren.Website :.

Http://www.flickr.com/photos/73737307@N00/sets/ Nikon D70s Kodak P880 Canon S3 IS Canon G7 Sony A100..

Mike703 wrote:.

The reason for the upgrade: I'vemissed out on too many of my baby's smiles because of the slowstart up time and shutter lag inherent in P&S cameras..

Ann - this isn't an issue if you pre-focus (keeping the shutterbutton half way down) then shoot at the right time. The term'shutter lag' is often inaccurately used to mean 'the time betweenpushing the button and taking the picture' - most of which isreally 'autofocus lag'..

Hi Mike,.

Thanks for the advice. I usually do the pre-focus w/ my P&S, but if I miss the shot and need to take another right away...there is that delay while the camera re-focuses. Question - will I still have this refocusing delay with a DSLR? Will the 9-point autofocus on Canon mean faster focusing times than the 3-point AF on the Nikon - or does the number of AF points have nothing to do with how quickly the camera can focus?Thanks,Ann..

Most non-auto photographers will use apreture priority most of thetime. You adjust the apreture based on how much you want in focus.Wider apertures (smaller f-numbers) gives you a shallower depth offield (background blurs out faster). Smaller apertures (biggerf-number) will get more in focus. Depending on the amount of lightavailable, you might need to adjust the ISO or use a wider apreture(smaller f-number) to get a reasonable shutter speed.Joe.

Hi Joe - thanks for the 30 second review, very helpful (and I will check out a photography book). Regarding the f-number....how do you know how small or how large to set the f-number for certain results? Can you preview the results in the lens before taking the shot? Or is it just through experience? I have alot to learn obviously - thanks for taking the time to answer my questions....Ann..

Demarren123456 wrote:.

Be awhere if you start with nikon or canon it will cost you moremoney,when you later dicided to jump to another brand.becouse youwill have lences,Long lences like 18-300 mm are always an compromi ,better is to usean 18-40 or somtinge like thad,or an fixed lens,.

Can you recommend a source (book or online) where a complete novice like myself can learn about lenses, and what lenses are appropriate for different situations? For example - a good lens for indoor portrait shots? a good lens for long range indoor shots w/ low lighting (ie in a church)? a good lens for sports shooting (outdoor and indoor)?.

Thanks,Ann..

AnnK wrote:.

Hi Joe - thanks for the 30 second review, very helpful (and I willcheck out a photography book). Regarding the f-number....how do youknow how small or how large to set the f-number for certainresults?.

Usually no single 'right' answer, outside of edge cases ex. extreme macros are often stopped down very, very much because DOF is minimal, while low-light action begs for wide-open simply to minimize underexposure. Experience will help you figure out your tastes..

Can you preview the results in the lens before taking theshot? Or is it just through experience? I have alot to learnobviously - thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.....

DOF preview button. You normally are looking through the lens wide-open, but triggering DOF preview stops it down to your chosen aperture...

Not sure about the canon but focus speed on the Nikon with AF-s lenses is very good..

Maybe a good combo for you would be a D70s or a D50 with the AF-s 18-70mm kit lens and a SB-600 flash unit..

The D70s has 5 point af with good sized sensors the work quite well down in low light..

The D50 has a very good JPEG engine on it to produce nice snaps straight out of the camera..

The SB-600 is a good flash and you can achieve some nice lighting effects with it. Another bonus is that you can use the popup flash on the D70s to use it as a remote to extend your lighting options. Not sure if you can do the same with a D50.

I use a SB-600 as a spare/remote flash and sometimes even as an on camera flash. I also bought a 18-70mm again as it really is a useful lens..

D70s: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d70s.asp (Read the D70 review, pretty much the same)D50: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d50.asp..

A very much crippled D80 for not that much less. The Xti has the best compromise of image detail and noise reduction of all the 10mp cameras out- see the latest comparison in the E410 review..

The D40X can only use AF-S lenses, meaning no 50/1.8 or 1.4 or 85/1.8 or 1.4 lenses. No 3rd party lenses like the Sigma 18-200 with OS that will be less than half the price of Nikon's 18-200vr..

The Xti uses the same auto focus system from the 30D, which means it's fast and accurate..

The Xti can use all of Canon's lenses plus all of the 3rd party lenses..

If you want to go Nikon, skip the D40X and get the D80..

Gene..

AnnK wrote:.

Regarding the f-number....how do youknow how small or how large to set the f-number for certainresults? Can you preview the results in the lens before taking theshot? Or is it just through experience? I have alot to learnobviously - thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.....

Http://www.stegmann.dk/mikkel/barnack/.

Get this and work to understand what it tells you..

Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1CATS #25PAS Scribe @ http://www.here-ugo.com/PAS_List.htmHomePage: http://www.1derful.info'I brake for pixels...'..

AnnK wrote:.

I usually do the pre-focus w/ my P&S, but ifI miss the shot and need to take another right away...there is thatdelay while the camera re-focuses. Question - will I still havethis refocusing delay with a DSLR? Will the 9-point autofocus onCanon mean faster focusing times than the 3-point AF on the Nikon -or does the number of AF points have nothing to do with how quicklythe camera can focus?.

I'm glad that you have learned to 1/2-press the shutter. many people never learn this. It's important, even with a dSLR!.

Draw two circles, with some overlap. Label one "P&S" and the other "dSLR". This is the real world of digital cameras. The two basic types are different, but also share some common traits. There are fast and slow examples of both types. In general, recent, high-end small-sensor cameras are slower to focus but faster to capture a shot.

As such, an entry-level dSLR is the prefect beginners camera..

The AF speed of a dSLR is due to the phase detection that it uses. It doesn't depend on the number of phase sensors. Other, more subtle things, like the processor speed and the AF algorithm used, DO affect the AF speed. Also, cameras with a faster AF motor focus faster. Note that fast focusing uses more power, so it affects battery life..

Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1CATS #25PAS Scribe @ http://www.here-ugo.com/PAS_List.htmHomePage: http://www.1derful.info'I brake for pixels...'..

Ann, There is a HUGE amount of information on the Net. People on this thread have already referred you to some sites explaining about aperure and shutter..

You need to do some work yourself now, and spend time doing searches on key words, eg "lenses", "photography", "wide angle"...you know how to search the net, don't you? There is an overwhelming amount of info and you will find articles that explain everything with some patience and reading..

It is up to you now..

AnnK wrote:.

Demarren123456 wrote:.

Be awhere if you start with nikon or canon it will cost you moremoney,when you later dicided to jump to another brand.becouse youwill have lences,Long lences like 18-300 mm are always an compromi ,better is to usean 18-40 or somtinge like thad,or an fixed lens,.

Can you recommend a source (book or online) where a complete novicelike myself can learn about lenses, and what lenses are appropriatefor different situations? For example - a good lens for indoorportrait shots? a good lens for long range indoor shots w/ lowlighting (ie in a church)? a good lens for sports shooting (outdoorand indoor)?.

Thanks,Ann..

What you sohuld be able to set:.

- aperture- shutter speed- iso- select a focus point- whitebalanceDon't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

AnnK wrote:.

Demarren123456 wrote:.

Be awhere if you start with nikon or canon it will cost you moremoney,when you later dicided to jump to another brand.becouse youwill have lences,Long lences like 18-300 mm are always an compromi ,better is to usean 18-40 or somtinge like thad,or an fixed lens,.

Can you recommend a source (book or online) where a complete novicelike myself can learn about lenses, and what lenses are appropriatefor different situations? For example - a good lens for indoorportrait shots?.

30mm 1.4 sigma hsm.

A good lens for long range indoor shots w/ lowlighting (ie in a church)?.

55-200 VR.

A good lens for sports shooting (outdoorand indoor)?.

55-200 VR.

Thanks,Ann.

Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Chuxter wrote:- > http://www.stegmann.dk/mikkel/barnack/.

Thanks Charlie, this is a great little program. It also contains some links in the help file to other very useful articles about depth of field - thanks again!Ann..

For indoors I usually try to avoid flash. Since I'm not going to use a tripod this means that I need to let a lot of light into the sensor, and quickly. This means I want a sensor that yields a nice picture with a high ISO, and a lens that lets a lot of light in. So this means some sort of non-zoom with a wide aperture-f2.0, f1.8, f1.4. I'm already committed to canon and have a 20d (similar to the xti in high iso I believe). So I'll use a 50 1.8 (inexpensive and fast) with good results indoors.

This means that the depth of field is very shallow, but I like that. By not using a flash I get a lot of the ambient mood of a room when I take a picture. The opposite is the sort of picture where the subject is well lit but the background is black. I don't like those..

-Bruce..

A big thank you to everyone for taking the time to answer my many questions, you have been very helpful.Ann..

My expirence tells me to buy the very best that I can afford.As you can see, I bought the Nikon. I love it, and it is so simlpe to operate.My wife can pick it up, and use it very easily...T GelgenD5018-55 ED70-300 VR..