Knowing the D80 better

run_Forrest_run

Hi,
Maybe it's just me but I want to learn more about my D80 and the manual seems to skim over things. The manual may tell me how to do something but sometimes I like to know 'why' would I want to do something or under what conditions should I use certain features. I know a lot of this will come with time and the more I use the camera but I would like to do some reading in the meantime.

Has anyone had any experience with the Magic Lantern book series?
Looking at something like these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Lantern-Guides-Nikon-Guide/dp/1600591124/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/202-4565202-5907822?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181721643&sr=8-2

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D80-Digital-Field-Guide/dp/0470120517/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/202-4565202-5907822?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181721643&sr=8-3

City-Exile

I was looking at something like that for myself.
By all accounts, they're quite good.
You can usually get DVD's on eBay.

run_Forrest_run

yeah saw a few DVDs alright but I wonder would a book be handier for quick reference no matter where U are. suppose the dvds would speed up the learning process.

City-Exile

It depends on your preferred method of learning.

Oriel

run_Forrest_run wrote:

I like to know 'why' would I want to do something or under what conditions should I use certain features.

That's nothing to do with the D80.
What you mean is, you'd like to learn more about photography?

run_Forrest_run

Oriel wrote:

That's nothing to do with the D80.
What you mean is, you'd like to learn more about photography?

agreed but I would like to learn more about photography and in context with my D80. But I would like to learn it from a book about the D80 to get most out of my D80.

5uspect

But there's nothing about the D80 that you wouldn't find in pretty much any other dSLR. Maybe the buttons/menus are different and there may be slight differences with a Nikon compared to a Canon but ultimately any decent book that can explain the practicalities and technicalities of digital photography should be enough.

Having every type of shot or setup explained to you for your particular hardware is almost like photography by numbers.

This is a tutorial on the basics for Canon Cameras but you can easily apply this to any dSLR (even to film).

run_Forrest_run

5uspect wrote:

But there's nothing about the D80 that you wouldn't find in pretty much any other dSLR. Maybe the buttons/menus are different and there may be slight differences with a Nikon compared to a Canon but ultimately any decent book that can explain the practicalities and technicalities of digital photography should be enough.

Having every type of shot or setup explained to you for your particular hardware is almost like photography by numbers.

This is a tutorial on the basics for Canon Cameras but you can easily apply this to any dSLR (even to film).

yes I know that the principles of photography apply, no matter what the camera. Is there something wrong with wanting to understand some of the principles in conjunction with my camera??

5uspect

You can do what you want!:p
Sorry if I came across a bit aggressive but I just don't see how there's anything particular to the D80 that isn't in the manual. As long as you know that this button changes this fundamental photography setting then thats all there is to know specific to the D80.

Unless you're talking about specific custom functions hidden away in menus (second curtain sync for example) then I can see your point. But usually these are generally nothing special. Anyway pretty much every feature of a camera is generally done to death in any lengthy review.

For example:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/

mathias

I shall once more shamelessly pimp this book ,

Easily the best 14 euros I ever spent and applies to all photographers , film or digital , Canon or Nikon , or for that matter any Slr.

It is all about understanding the settings on your camera and getting the best from them.
Its a magazine type book , with about 160 pages , a very quick read , and you'll never have your camera on Auto again , guaranteed.
It explains aperture , shutter speed , and the light meter , and the relationship between them and the different style of photos you get with each range of settings.
It has exercises for you to try out yourself.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_sim_b_3_img/103-4972688-8575003

elven

It's quite easy to forget about when we were starting out, and even if we understood logically and intellectually what the buttons on the camera do, it's an extra step learning how to know which settings to use in which situations. Learning that is definitely a fundamental thing in photography and as the guys are saying, any book about basic photography will explain why to use which settings - the difference with the magic lantern books is that they point out the exact buttons on your camera.

The thing is, whilst a lot of people like Nikons because they have a button somehwere on the body to do absolutely everything, to start off with that's mostly just going to add confusion. There's a big misconception as well that to do 'proper' photography you must use manual mode - which is a pile of mince. The main things you need to worry about are using aperture priority, shutter priority, and exposure compensation. When you've got them sussed, the only other stuff is the real finnicky settings like the rear curtain flash sync blah blah blah which, well, is mostly for geeks.

If you get a book on basic photography which teaches you about aperture and shutter speed control, and learn how to set these things on your camera in aperture priority and shutter priority mode, and when to use which, you're good to go. That's where you make the connection between the manual and taking pictures in the real world....

eas

5uspect wrote:

But there's nothing about the D80 that you wouldn't find in pretty much any other dSLR. Maybe the buttons/menus are different and there may be slight differences with a Nikon compared to a Canon but ultimately any decent book that can explain the practicalities and technicalities of digital photography should be enough.

I think what the OP is looking for is something that explains the intricacies of his hardware. There is much more to this then where buttons are or how or why to adjust ISO. The D80, like the 400D or any other DSLR are complicated machines. If you think a D80 takes a photo the same way a 400D does, you'd be in for a big surprise. The focus systems, the metering systems, the flash systems all very different. Knowing these nuances can make a big difference when it comes down to it.

I still belong to the "it's not the camera, it's the photographer" frame of thinking. I still think the skills of the photographer outweigh the capability of the hardware to produce nice images, but you should not ignore the importance of understanding how and why you're camera does what it does.

My D200 has over a dozen (not sure how many really) ways to configure the way it focuses, and those settings have sub settings. While this may seem overkill , I guarantee every one of those settings have a time and place to be used.

Call me a tech geek, but I love knowing EVERYTHING about my camera.

Anyhow, to the OP - I've read a couple Magic Lantern Guides, and think they are usefull and maybe a good place to start, but for what I think you're looking for, try this - http://www.bythom.com/d80guide.htm

The downside to them is that they're delivered on CD in PDF format. Means you'll be stuck beside the printer for awhile if you're looking for something to read on the train or whatever. The byThom books I've read explain every detail of the subject, sometimes in extreme detail. 650 pages of camera nerd goodness. ( I haven't read this one in particular)

latchiko

mathias wrote:

I shall once more shamelessly pimp this book ....

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_sim_b_3_img/103-4972688-8575003

I second that...

5uspect

eas wrote:

The focus systems, the metering systems, the flash systems all very different. Knowing these differences and nuances can make a big difference when it comes down to it.

I see where you're coming from, tho I'd imagine the way the particular focusing or metering system works is explained in the manual albeit not in great depth.

I guess I'm one of those tech heads that doesn't like things explained in too much detail. Just Enough Essential Points!

BostonB

mathias wrote:

I shall once more shamelessly pimp this book ,

Easily the best 14 euros I ever spent and applies to all photographers , film or digital , Canon or Nikon , or for that matter any Slr.

It is all about understanding the settings on your camera and getting the best from them.
Its a magazine type book , with about 160 pages , a very quick read , and you'll never have your camera on Auto again , guaranteed.
It explains aperture , shutter speed , and the light meter , and the relationship between them and the different style of photos you get with each range of settings.
It has exercises for you to try out yourself.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_sim_b_3_img/103-4972688-8575003

Thanks just what I was looking for...

eas

5uspect wrote:

I see where you're coming from, tho I'd imagine the way the particular focusing or metering system works is explained in the manual albeit not in great depth.

I think that's the point. They're not really. I find Nikon manuals are useless for the most part.

run_Forrest_run

mathias wrote:

I shall once more shamelessly pimp this book ,

Easily the best 14 euros I ever spent and applies to all photographers , film or digital , Canon or Nikon , or for that matter any Slr.

It is all about understanding the settings on your camera and getting the best from them.
Its a magazine type book , with about 160 pages , a very quick read , and you'll never have your camera on Auto again , guaranteed.
It explains aperture , shutter speed , and the light meter , and the relationship between them and the different style of photos you get with each range of settings.
It has exercises for you to try out yourself.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_sim_b_3_img/103-4972688-8575003

I have this book already and yes it is very good. I read it the first time straight thru just to get an idea for the stuff but it is good to have as a reference to keep coming back to now and again.

One little thing about the book (again this may be just me!): When the author describes how he composed a shot (for example the shot may be of a tree in a field of golden hay or something) he may say something like, "I pointed the camera to the sky and took a reading from there and then re-composed my shot..". I have often wondered why does he take the meter reading from the light from the sky to take a picture of a tree in a field? I'm probably showing my lack of knowledge and technique here

run_Forrest_run

eas wrote:

Anyhow, to the OP - I've read a couple Magic Lantern Guides, and think they are usefull and maybe a good place to start, but for what I think you're looking for, try this - http://www.bythom.com/d80guide.htm

Thanks eas, I will check it out and sure a few extra hours at the printer here in work won't harm me

mathias

I have often wondered why does he take the meter reading from the light from the sky to take a picture of a tree in a field?

To avoid overexposure , the sky in daylight shots is the best point to take a reading from , ( the blue part , not near the sun of course ) , that way you avoid blow outs and underexposure is easy to fix! ( marquee tool in photoshop )

But in all honesty , if you expose for the blue sky in most sunny day shots , no fixing is necessary.

Calina

eas wrote:

If you think a D80 takes a photo the same way a 400D does, you'd be in for a big surprise. The focus systems, the metering systems, the flash systems all very different. Knowing these nuances can make a big difference when it comes down to it.

this is a key point and was the biggest learning curve for me when I switched from Olympus to Canon last year.

Unfortunately, I think the only way you can get a handle on them is by doing and making mistakes. Experimentation in other words. I don't think you can get it from a book.

run_Forrest_run

mathias wrote:

To avoid overexposure , the sky in daylight shots is the best point to take a reading from , ( the blue part , not near the sun of course ) , that way you avoid blow outs and underexposure is easy to fix! ( marquee tool in photoshop )

But in all honesty , if you expose for the blue sky in most sunny day shots , no fixing is necessary.

makes sense I suppose, thanks mathias.