Show Notes for Digital Photography Life #7: What to Do with Your New Digital Camera

So, you got a digital camera for the holidays? Now what?

On today's show Michael and I tell you everything you need to know about your new digital camera. Is it the right camera for you? If not, what should you do? How do you to learn to use it? What accessories do you need right now, and what can you hold off on? What are the least expensive software options to get you started and where should you go from there?

Michael and I answer these questions - and more! - in this Very Special Episode of Digital Photography Life.

Here are links to some of the products we discussed in the show:

Free or Inexpensive Software

• Photoshop Elements
• Paint Shop Photo X2
• GIMP
• Picassa
• Photoshop Express
• Paint.net

Great Books with which to Get Started

• Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book
• Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Digital Photography 2.0

Camera Bags

I thought ThinkTank Photo Would have a bag in the $30 range, but they start at $50

• This would be sufficient for just the camera: Digital Holster 10 - $45 through Adorama
• This gives you a little more room for accessories: Urban Disguise 10 - $69

The closest I could come to a reputable-looking $30 bag is this $39 one from Lowepro, a well-known and respected brand.

Memory Cards

• Lexar
• Sandisc
• Kingston

Memory Card Reader

Remember - you want one that can read multiple formats. I have this one from Sandisc, works great and reads just about everything but the phone book

Now, onto a personal note. At the end of the show, I spoke about Springs of Hope, the charity championed by Scott Kelby. I wrote about my feelings on Scott's site - here's the comment I left there: 

I’m so glad you posted about this again! I meant to contribute earlier, but forgot. Forgetting children in need! Such is the sometimes appalling busyness of our lives.

As an adoptive parent of two children from distressed backgrounds, I know what a difference you can make in the life of a disadvantaged child. I’ve seen first hand the plight of children in overseas orphanages as well as that of children in foster care right here in the richest country in the world.

My oldest son, Sasha, was born with a disability and languished in a third-world orphanage. When I adopted him at 16 months, he was the size of an American 9 month old, unable to walk or even stand. He didn’t babble, or smile, and he was so depressed that, when I brought him home, an American pediatrician diagnosed him as autistic.

Well, today he is a healthy and loving 8 year old, on grade level in all his academics. While he is still physically challenged, he is a happy and optimistic boy who brings joy to everyone he meets. When I tell people he was once labeled “autistic,” they suggest I sue the doctor.

My four-year old was the victim of neglect of abuse right here in the good old USA. He was such a terror that his first foster family turned him out. I have to admit, for the first month, I too was writing his social worker to say that I wasn’t sure it was going to work out - he was that troubled. It was like living with a hurricane in the house, only more destructive and not covered by my homeowner’s insurance.

But if you met him today you’d never imagine he was ever anything other than sweet, bright and loving. He’s the light of my life, and he shines on everyone he comes across.

If I had the money, I swear, I’d be like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, adopting every kid I could and healing the world one child at a time. Lacking those resources, I just wrote out a check to Springs of Hope, in the hope of helping those I could.

I know these are hard times economically, but in the words of Anne Frank, no one ever became poor by giving. I applaud all your readers who have given so much to Springs of Hope so far, and I encourage those who haven’t gotten around to it yet- like me! - to take a moment to write a check now while these children are on their minds and in their hearts.

I’m going to talk about this on the next Digital Photography Life; let’s hope everyone helps spread the word.

Bless you this holiday season for reminding us that the greatest joy comes in giving, not getting. And the most profound satisfaction can be found in giving to those who may never know your name or see your face, but whose bellies are full and whose homes are protected because of your loving kindness.

Sasha in the orphanage                  Sasha today

If you listened to the show, you know I kept my promise and mentioned Springs of Hope on Digital Photography Life. And, looking at the pictures above, you can see how I know just how far a child can come when he or she is given the chance to thrive.

Now, the ball is in your court. If you want to share some love this post-Holiday Season, please check out Scott K's information about Springs of Hope, and click here to contribute (you can do it RIGHT NOW through Paypal.

If you want to enter our photo contest, the information is in the previous show's notes. You  can see the entries here. 

Thanks to everyone for listening!

Scott

Comments

[Iain]

Scott,
I listen to your show in Scotland, having been a subscriber to the old DPS before it's demise. Great show with a lot of tips.

One thing I think was worth mentioning when you discussed the Canon/Nikon choice was the benefits of other systems and there ability to take older lenses. I originally shot on Canon, but the lenses, although there were a lot of them, were too expensive for the quality they returned. I switched to Sony so I could use old Minolta AF lenses, but that was limited by the availabilty of the old lenses.

I've finally settled for Pentax as it takes all my ld K Bayonet lenses with almost full functionality although they normally only manually focus. I believe there is something like 17million lenses out there with the K bayonet mount!

Some of the best glass ever made was in Pentax K Bayonet and I've collected some real gems, all very affordable. For example, I've got a Pentax 16mm f2.8 which I got for the equivalent of $200, or a 135mm f2.8 for $30.

All we need now is the Pentax full frame sensor!!!!

Thanks

Iain

[scrb]

It seems to me that if you're giving out basic information like why people should get digital card readers, then the argument for a DSLR over a PAS is less compelling

Or should people who can only afford the $200 PAS not bother with trying to improve their photography?

I just ordered a LX3. I considered a DSLR after using an LX1 for 3 years (also have Canon SLR which I haven't used in years).

For my purpose, which is to capture a lot of travel shots on the go, the compactness of a PAS was more preferable, because not only are DSLRs heavier to carry, they require associated gear (lenses, lights, etc.) and they almost require longer time to compose shots.

The other thing is, I have absolutely no desire to do any post-processing. I tried doing minor edits but sorting through hundreds of pictures after a long day of being on the go just doesn't work.

I'm more interested in saving details about the shots while the sights captured are fresh in my mind.

And I experimented with RAW on the LX1 and didn't see enough benefits to justify the larger file sizes and then the requisite conversion to JPEG later for permanent storage. Maybe the LX3 RAW will be more compelling.

Not enough info. is presented in reviews about the out-of-the-box performance of cameras. Everyone assumes, for higher-priced PAS and DSLRs, that everyone will tweak in post-processing.

Camera manufacturers should try to be more like Apple, strive for the best OOTB experience.

[Cooper Strange]

I am glad you mention GIMP and Picasa. Not that Picasa is anything compared to Lightroom, but I feel like it is the poor man's Lightroom: quick and easy editing and organizing (though I have not figured out if Picasa's tagging system follows a standard method...readable by all).

And as for GIMP, I love it. Honestly, for the vast majority of the people out there who have dropped hundreds on Photoshop, the free GIMP image editing software will do everything they ever actually use in Photoshop! It is so powerful, I can still barely believe it is free. Plus, if you want some free tutorials about how to use GIMP, I have found the "Meet the GIMP" video podcast very useful.

[Laurel]

Me Bad!!!! Here it is January 8th and I'm finally getting a chance to listen to this show. Thanks for the shout out!!! It's HOWsden not Hoosden...you silly man! Thanks Michael for correcting Scott. You know I"m smiling while writing this...

O.K..my two cents. I actually have the Sigma 1.4 for Nikon and LOVE it. It is actually mentioned in this month Photography Magazine. I use it mostly for portraits - especially situations that I am inside a home and need the space...and light. My favorite lens is the Nikon 50 1.8 - The best $109 bucks I've spent so far on my equipment. Pop Photo's Feb issue has a article devoted to the 50 1.4 (all brands) it's very interesting..but the mention the Sigma 30 1.4 and said "While there's a whole nation of current and discontinued full-frame 50mm f/1.4s out there, lens makers are only just beginning to produce high speed normal primes for DSLRs that have smaller sensors. So far,there are just two: the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and Panosonic Lecia D Summilux 25mm 1.4 AF"

The 50 1.8 and 30 1.4 are the two lenses that I shoot with professional - they are just that sweet...but I'm shooting running children and babys mostly in natural light so I need very fast glass.

The first thing I did when I purchased my first DSLR ( a Nikon D70s) was download the pdf version online (it's scaled at 8.5 x 11) and sent it over to Kinkos to get printed and bound. It's much bigger and easier to read then the little manual that comes with the camera. It can be overwelming to think about reading a manual...but you don't have to read the whole thing at one time...just the basics. And as you get more comfortable with your camera - you will be amazed at how much more you will understand when you reread parts of the manual. When I got the D300 - with all it's custom settings..I thought I would never get it...and I didn't in the beginning...but after using thet camera for almost a year...when I go back to parts of the manual...I have much more of an undertanding of those settings and find that I am actually using them more after reading the manual.

If you are better at learning visually..then check out the video tutorials over at www.kelbytraining.com - Laurie Excell offers a D300 movie and Moose Peterson does a D3 movie...Rick Sammon has some awesome movies..he is the best.

and lastly...I saved all the shows from your previous network and go back and listen to those guests...that never go out of style.

Happy Holidays to you both and to all the listeners. I can't wait to help out with the contest. I sent over a little love over at Springs of Hope...and pray for a peaceful solution for all those effected by this terrible war over in Gaza!

Cheers,
Laurel Housden
Queen of the Photo Contest

[Cooper Strange]

There is a big correction needed about Picasa. Michael was talking about the online photo albums that Google has. Their photo editing and organizing program, Picasa, makes it very easy to upload to that service, but you do not need to use the service. You can just use the software.

It is great for organizing (tagging) photos on the computer and doing quick and simple editing. It is no power tool, but it is fast and takes care of the quick and easy editing needs.

[Alex]

I'll have to make a plug for tripods. Here are three cases/types of shooting where a tripod is essential and make the difference in a bad blurry and something worthy of hanging on a wall:

1. Shooting landscapes with waterfalls or streams. By using a tripod the photographer can stop down the f-stop to get a good depth of field and use a long exposure to get that nice silky look of the moving water.
2. Taking macro shots. While I am not much into macro I do know other people who have gotten into photographer primarily to do macro. They need rock solid stability and the tripod is a great tool.
3. Night photography. I was in DC this past summer and was able to get some nice nighttime shots of the Jefferson Monument because I had packed a tripod...not my heavy Bogen, but one of those flexible bendy leg compact models (like a gorilla pod). I wrapped the legs of the tripod around one of the guard rails and played with exposure times until I was getting attractive results. I don't remember the shutter times but I've had it open as long as 20 seconds for nightime building shots.

I'd like to add a book recommendation for new photographers. It is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It is inexpensive, easy to follow, and really helps new photos understand exposure.

Great show. Keep up the good work.

[Katie]

Holly Schlaack's wrote a book like a novel, even if at times the stories are heartbreaking and we want to turn away our eyes. Her experience comes all from her own firsthand, on the ground experience involvement with abused children although their circumstances are wrenching, she works to create avenues out of their suffering. The book reveals the gaps in the foster care system as well as the successes. Any professional or private citizen will find Invisible Kids inspiring and challenging. (www.InvisibleKidsTheBook.com)

[Darrell]

What happened to the show??

[Gina]

Miss you guys. Do you have any idea when you'll be back?