Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - Nikon D300 and 24-120 mm lens

Cmike2780 · 01-07-2011, 10:17 AM

Nice start & cute dogs.

For now, I would leave the flash off. Built-in flash tend wash out the image and leaves hard shadows. The only time it would really be useful is taking portraits outside in certain lighting conditions.

Do this instead:
-Set the camera to aperture priority
-Use available light in the room.
-First set the white balance. Hold down the white balance button (WB) and turn the command dial until it reads "PRE". Let go of the (WB) button and hold down again until it starts to blink. Take a "picture" of something "white" that shows the quality of light in the room. Note that this is just to set white balance, so your just capturing a reference for the camera. It will read "good" if you did it right. The Auto WB setting can do this... well automatically, but it doesn't always get it right and pictures can sometimes look different from shot to shot taken in the same area. Setting the WB to PRE will get you to the perfect shot with less trial and error.

-With the WB out of the way, you can now just play around with the aperture. Smaller number equals bigger aperture (lets in more light to the sensor and shorter depth of field) and larger number equals smaller aperture (lets in less light to the sensor and longer depth of field).

Get this inexpensive lens if you like doing portraits:

AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D (around $100) It takes really great images that will make you look like a pro. The larger aperture gives a nice bokeh effect. There are more expensive prime lenses out there, but this lens is good place to start and the results are will surprise you.

Hope this helps.

01-07-2011, 10:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 29	Nice start & cute dogs. For now, I would leave the flash off. Built-in flash tend wash out the image and leaves hard shadows. The only time it would really be useful is taking portraits outside in certain lighting conditions. Do this instead: -Set the camera to aperture priority -Use available light in the room. -First set the white balance. Hold down the white balance button (WB) and turn the command dial until it reads "PRE". Let go of the (WB) button and hold down again until it starts to blink. Take a "picture" of something "white" that shows the quality of light in the room. Note that this is just to set white balance, so your just capturing a reference for the camera. It will read "good" if you did it right. The Auto WB setting can do this... well automatically, but it doesn't always get it right and pictures can sometimes look different from shot to shot taken in the same area. Setting the WB to PRE will get you to the perfect shot with less trial and error. -With the WB out of the way, you can now just play around with the aperture. Smaller number equals bigger aperture (lets in more light to the sensor and shorter depth of field) and larger number equals smaller aperture (lets in less light to the sensor and longer depth of field). Get this inexpensive lens if you like doing portraits: AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D (around $100) It takes really great images that will make you look like a pro. The larger aperture gives a nice bokeh effect. There are more expensive prime lenses out there, but this lens is good place to start and the results are will surprise you. Hope this helps. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]