DSLR learning curve

[nightshade]

Having taken the plunge to DSLR I wonder if I have not made a mistake
I have had various nikon, minolta, pentax, slrs and loved the flexibility my rewards are thousands of slides and photos
DSLR ,study the handbook,then learn a software package,the flexibility is far greater than the SLR but detracts from the pleasure which surely should be the aim
Did the regular users on the site find it such a steep learning curve or is it just a generation thing
Subject camera;Nikon D70S, I liked the Canons very much but they were too small in my hands I also looked at the Nikon 50D, very good,and the Minolta (taken over by Sony)Minolta always made excellent lenses

[digi]

There are plenty of people on here that can help, just post a question in the forum or you can pm me and I will do my best to assist.

[nightshade]

Thankyou digi it is as much knowing what to ask I am afraid,The instruction book is rather dry and the book of the camera is little more than a repeat of
the handbook I will ask around as it seems I will need a coach!
Do not suggest camera clubs the eleteism bores me!

[digi]

Well it costs nothing to take a Digital Photo so just start taking images a learn that way.

[nightshade]

Hi digi I have 2 minolta digitals an x30,and a Z1 these are fine cameras as far as they go and easy to use but I will persevere

[Helen]

The best way is to get out there and take zillions of photos. Take a photo using various settings. That's the way I've done it. After a while, you get a feel for what works and what doesn't.

Yesterday I took over 50 bird photos, the result being 4 or 5 decent ones. I suspect that's not unusual either when taking pics of birds.

[nightshade]

I think I will just have to persevere,The camera itself is beautifully built and
the controls exactly where I want them, I would certainly recommend it
and having just had someone around to show off their Canon they are in exactly the same boat
As you say use it, use it, use it,thank you all for your input and advice

[carlj]

One other thing Shade, (can I call you that ), when you look at the shots you've taken, look at the exif data, file->information depending on software. This shows you the settings used, and will allow you to build up a picture of why shot a works and shot b doesn't.

Carl

[Oy]

Early days with your first DSLR can be very dissappointing. I've seen several people go through this - myself included. It took me about 3 months with my first DSLR (A D70) before I was getting better results than I was with my previous camera (Fuji S7000.)

What I've come to understand is that many non DSLR digitals seem to be configured to give you the best they can right out of the camera. This is not as good as the best a DSLR can get AFTER processing - but is often as good or better than straight off the DSLR. For example the D70 tends to shoot underexposed and a little soft. The idea being to preserve the highlights and not over sharpen - both things which are pretty hard to bring back later.

In retrospect I don't regret my move to DSLR, very often, maybe sometimes when I'm lugging my 20kg backpack around full of lenses LOL!

[nightshade]

Carlj, No! but thankyou for your advice