The official "I bought a DSLR, now what do I do with it" thread

In case you haven't seen this already:

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Quote from teetee1 : Of course you will have to learn how to take multiple photos of different explosure/balance with your new and expensive toy.

It's called bracketing. Often done even if you have no intentions of ever producing an HDR image. If I'm not sure my of my metering or just in an odd situation, I just take over and under exposed images for safety. It's digital, they're free.....

Most cameras including the D5100 have the bracketing feature. In the info/edit screen, It's the very bottom right selection on the screen labeled "BKT". You can select exposures in 1/3 steps up to 2 stops.

With it active, the first shot is as metered, 2nd shot I believe is minus the selected exposure and 3rd shot is plus the selected exposure (I might have the order wrong but you get the idea).
You can also select burst mode in addition to BKT. Hold the shutter release button and it will take 3 consecutive shots each with corresponding exposure (metered, -, +).

If you KNOW the camera, it's Easy as Pie.

Now about the lens cap debate. The lens cap that covers the front of your lens, put that in your pocket, in the bag, throw it on the ground in frustration because you missed a shot.... just blow it off when you put it back on the lens.

Now the caps that go on the body and the rear of the lens. KEEP THESE CLEAN! Dust on the body cap can get dislodged and fall into the sensor chamber. NO BUENO! similarly, if you have dust on the cap that covers the lens connection side, it can go into the lens from the cap and then into the sensor chamber when you put the lens on the body.

The sensor cover of the body and the lens cover of the connection side of lens Should screw together (or connect together) to form one piece that's easy to store.

I have a pair of SanDisk SD cards to choose from with the following characteristics:

16 gb Extreme, 30MB/s transfer rate
32 gb Ultra, 20MB/s transfer rate

Which do I use in my D5100 and which do I use in Canon Camcorder HFM40? It would be primary memory in D5100 and backup memory card in camcorder.

Quote from Ram|bunc|tious : I have a pair of SanDisk SD cards to choose from with the following characteristics: 16 gb Extreme, 30MB/s transfer rate 32 gb Ultra, 20MB/s transfer rate Which do I use in my D5100 and which do I use in Canon Camcorder HFM40? It would be primary memory in D5100 and backup memory card in camcorder.

Really doesn't matter. They both will probably exceed the write requirements for both cameras. You'll probably want the fast card in your camera because you'll probably use it more and have more data to transfer on a regular basis.

Quote from Ram|bunc|tious : I have a pair of SanDisk SD cards to choose from with the following characteristics: 16 gb Extreme, 30MB/s transfer rate 32 gb Ultra, 20MB/s transfer rate Which do I use in my D5100 and which do I use in Canon Camcorder HFM40? It would be primary memory in D5100 and backup memory card in camcorder.

Quote from kakomu : Really doesn't matter. They both will probably exceed the write requirements for both cameras. You'll probably want the fast card in your camera because you'll probably use it more and have more data to transfer on a regular basis.

I agree that as far as speed it doesnt really matter much. If you do end up switching the cards from device to device, I would recommend you format them each time in the device so the file systems are setup as each device likes.

Quote from kakomu : Really doesn't matter. They both will probably exceed the write requirements for both cameras. You'll probably want the fast card in your camera because you'll probably use it more and have more data to transfer on a regular basis.

Quote from LiquidRetro : I agree that as far as speed it doesnt really matter much. If you do end up switching the cards from device to device, I would recommend you format them each time in the device so the file systems are setup as each device likes.

Thanks

My D5100 only clicks twice when i have the HDR feature on. Is this a problem?

Quote from nickalew : My D5100 only clicks twice when i have the HDR feature on. Is this a problem?

what type of click?

for HDR it's taking multiple photos (3)

Quote from fyu : what type of click? for HDR it's taking multiple photos (3)

It clicks twice, as in it only takes two photos, not three as it should.

Quote from nickalew : It clicks twice, as in it only takes two photos, not three as it should.

well, how many pictures does it take? does 3 show up on the card?

Quote from fyu : well, how many pictures does it take? does 3 show up on the card?

It only takes one photo. My understanding is that HDR integrates three photos (at varying exposures). However, my 5100 only clicks twice. I'm getting confused because here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums...angemode=1
Says that it should only click twice. Anyone know the answer?

Quote from nickalew : It only takes one photo. My understanding is that HDR integrates three photos (at varying exposures). However, my 5100 only clicks twice. I'm getting confused because here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums...angemode=1 Says that it should only click twice. Anyone know the answer?

hmm... never used the auto HDR in the d5100. seems like it only uses two pics to make a single picture.

I'll have to check it later.

Quote from fyu : hmm... never used the auto HDR in the d5100. seems like it only uses two pics to make a single picture. I'll have to check it later.

thanks!

Quote from nickalew : It clicks twice, as in it only takes two photos, not three as it should.

Nikon's Auto-HDR takes two photographs. Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) takes three shots by default.

As an aside, HDR photographs can be made from 2 or more photographs to expand the dynamic range. You can actually do HDR from a single image without the exposure slider at different intervals.

Here's an HDR image that was constructed with a single RAW image: http://www.kakomu.com/gallery/ima...mageid=117