New Camera Piccies

[Emma & Kay]

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a happy end of 2011 and good start to 2012. I haven't been around much due to my new and improved busy schedule. On Wednesday, I picked up my long awaited camera. It's a Nikon D3100...Sadly, just one lens. I'm not knocking it, though. There were only 2 D3100's for sale in the UK. The quakes and carnage in Japan meant they couldn't produce the Nikon D3100 as frequently, and the cameras they did get were sent to more successful stores, which the UK seems to lack. Mum convinced somebody 20 miles away to sell me their Display model, so it's all good. I feel priviledged to be the first person in the UK to buy a Nikon D3100 in 2012. I can't deny that I was keen to get both lenses with the camera, but England is currently out of the second lens. Oh well.

Despite the little disappointment over not being able to get the second lens, which had a better zoom, I'm in love with this camera. The pictures are much more detailed, and clear. Still working out the kinks, but here are the first few photos I snapped...










I'm proud to be a Nikon user.

[kian]

Welcome to the Nikon family, there are a few of us here and some Cannon users. So welcome to the world of SLR!! Nice Camera, you might want to check B&H Photo and Amazon for lenses.

Wonderful first photos, no surprise that the dogs should be the first....it's normal!

[Emma & Kay]

Thanks for welcoming me to the club, kian. I'm having huge problems resizing with photobucket. Sorry about that. Some of the photos are showing up cut-off for me. I'll wait a few hours to see if they'll go back to their right size before trying again.

Sadly, I'll have to "love it and leave it" because on Friday evening I'm going away on a Drill & Turnout weekend. I'll take the manual with me, and make sure to get loads of photos tomorrow, to make up for the 3 days I'll be away.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Emma, your photos are all just lovely! I can see the detail, and I am most thrilled with all of the tongue shots.

Kian told me with Photobucket to select the size one down from the largest. It works as the largest size is cut off due to the avatars. The second largest size includes the entire picture as large as it can be. You might wish to give that a whirl. It worked for me.

Rather than lament the lack of a second lens just yet, this is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know your camera well with the one lens first. It takes amazing photos, and in time, you'll be able to acquire the second one. What a lovely gift and how lucky are you to be perhaps one of only two people in the UK to even have this camera. Your Mum deserves huge props for acquiring the display model. I'm sure that took quite a bit of effort.

Enjoy, and keep on shooting!

[Emma & Kay]

Deb, I think I resize that way already (640 x 480) but apparently it was just my computer. I logged back on today and the photos were as they should be.

I tested some settings today and realised, I love the "sport" setting. Not many photos, because I had to come in and help mother dearest put the shopping away.


Happy to report, Kay still has her demented Donkey run.

[Phyrie]

About re-sizing: I find re-sizing right on my computer BEFORE upload is the easiest. That way, I can load them to any site I like. If I only have one or two to share on DP, for example, I will load them directly to the DP, without bothering with Photobucket first. I downloaded a re-sizer that can't be easier to use. You just select your pic(s), right click, and choose "re-size" on the context menu that pops up. Best of all, it's free!

http://imageresizer.codeplex.com/releases/view/30247

[RubyJeansMom]

Great shots, Emma! Congrats on the new camera

I thought I would like the sport setting on my camera, but all my pics come out grainy.
Guess it's time to read up on it, after all I've only had it for a year and a half.

[Sadie G]

Congrats on the new camera Emma! Those are great photos. I really like the clarity on the first one in the second set. Good job!!

[pawsforthought]

RJM why don't you copy the settings your camera has when in sports mode into the manual mode and then lower the ISO and make the shutter speed a bit slower? Or the aperture lower?

Congrats on the awesome camera, Emma. So glad you went for the same camera I have we can share tips haha. It's a great camera isn't it? One of the highest rated starter DSLRs the pictures are looking good!!

[Emma & Kay]

Thanks for the tip Phyrie. I'll have to check out the website later on. My computer keeps telling me I'll get a virus if I go on it. No worries, the anti-virus system I have is just very sensitive.

The weekend was pretty good, because I met someone else who was really bummed out that she wasn't able to get the D3100. Instant friendship, LOL. Bed at 11pm, Breakfast at 6am. I think I got about an hour and a half of sleep the first night, because we were talking quietly about cameras for hours. I took the manual with me this weekend, so I know more about "Nick the Nikon". I'll be getting out tomorrow with Nick. Hopefully there'll be some worthwhile pictures, heh. You can guarantee I'll take 200 photos, and only find 2 worth keeping.

Gaby, Do you have multiple lenses for yours? I keep looking at Monty and Woody's photos and wondering if we actually have the same camera, LOL.

[purdyandi]

I love those two little tongue pics! Wonderful camera!
I have never had a good camera even though I come from a camera-crazy family! My first was one I got for subscribing to Time Magazine {{shudder}} Some day I'll get a good one...

But, good cameras are just part of a good picture. The photographer is pretty important, too! And, Emma, you are a great photographer!

[pawsforthought]

I have a 70-300mm and an 18-55mm lens. They're sort of the recommended two for wildlife photography, which is what I do for my canon I have 24-105 and 70-300 (yes, again xD)

If you're doing dog photography those are the kind of lenses you want really, a wide angle lens and a zoom lens. Trust me, I asked Phil from the camera shop. Phil knows these things. (actually he's a semi-pro so he kinda does)

His name may actually have been Nigel. Hmm.

I message you a while back about cameras can't remember if I recommended my one or a different one. :/

[Emma & Kay]

Thanks Janis. I'm the lucky one in the family who was blessed with the interest in photography. My uncle is a semi-professional photographer of aeroplanes. We don't live close by, but I became interested nonetheless.

Gaby, I'll definitely look into the 70-300mm lens. I was hoping to get the second lens (55-200mm) but like I said, I was just happy to have the camera! People kept suggesting I request 20% off, because teh camera was a display model. I think I'll just hand over the money and leave before they can change their mind about giving me their camera.

You recommended the D3100. I was actually going to keep saving for the D5100, but noticed the lack of SLR Nikons and decided I'd rather have a decent camera while I can and buy lenses to make it better later, than attempt to save up an extra £200 for a camera that might not be available by that time.

I love my D3100. I doubt I'll be getting a different camera for a few years now - just upgrading the lenses. While Canons are usually a better quality than Nikon when used properly, I've heard that you need quite a lot of different lenses for Canons, whereas the Nikon only, really, needs one lens and it'll work moderately well for every subject of photography.

Not entirely sure. I saw the price of a Canon SLR and immediately decided on a Nikon, LOL.

[pawsforthought]

I don't think canon take better photos than Nikon, I think they take DIFFERENT photos and it's down to personal preference which you prefer I like them both equally, but I prefer the feel of the canon camera body, even though nikons are described as being better made xD

I dunno what you mean about the lenses. Needing more for canons I mean. Do you mean the ranges of each lens are too restricted so you need more lenses? I have to say though the only thing that miffed me was I found a 10-24mm lens for Nikon which is REALLY wide and appealed to me because I like landscape photography. And canon don't appear to go down to 10, the silly buggers. Ah well. Might just get one for my Nikon anyway :F

[Phyrie]

A wide angle zoom Canon lens:
http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/products?m=gp&pid=2298