Forum Moderators: not2easy
I am from the 'old school' of photography and have not spent too much time with digital cameras, save the pocket sony I use to snap web images. I have grasped the basics of lighting, shutter speed and apperture, but not how they translate to digital and if there is any major differences I should be aware of.
So does anyone know or know of any good books/resources that would introduce Digital SLR photography and explain the limitations, differences and advantages over traditional film.
I want to go from the basics right through to more complex skills and techniques, as it appears I will now be doing all the photography work here.
Also, the camera has the option to store the images as RAW files. How are these converted to images I can use for web/print? and what is the benefit of using these over the highest res setting for jpeg's?
Ta, Limbo
Take photographs with a digital SLR isn't that different than with the old fashioned cameras. I can recommend a good free online photography course:
morguefile classroom [morguefile.com]
The advance of the RAW format is that you get the picture without any post editing. Usually the camera tries to sharpen the image, reduce noise etc. And even 100% JPEGS loose quality.
The software package that came with the camera should handle the RAW format. Also PhotoShop CS can handle those RAW files (using some plugin I think).
Best regards
NN
Using RAW gives you a huge amount of control over the exposure, which is handy when you are shooting in low or inconsistent lighting situations.
The aspect that I suspect is most daunting to you right now is doing something with the photos you take. Before digital, that was a simple matter of removing the film, dropping it off at a photolab and picking up the finished prints or slides when they were ready.
Digital photography moves these steps on to your computer, eg. the "digital darkroom" you may have read about if you've done any "digital photography" searches. Read the camera owner's manual and/or some of the excellent online discussion forums -- most have dedicated forums for different brands of digital camera, if not for each model as well. I highly recommend dpreview.com for really getting to know your camera -- what quirks, if any, does it have? What's it especially good at, etc. You'll find this type of information there.
Like traditional photography's decisions on what type of film to use, and what film speed, there will be different recommendations made to you on settings to use in your digital camera. It all depends on the type of subjects you're shooting, the desired effect(s) you want to achieve, and how you'll be using the photographs. A photographer shooting landscapes for print publication in a glossy magazine will have different needs than a photographer shooting product images against a static background for a website.
Browse the computer aisles of your bookstore and see what catches your eye related to photography. Scott Kelby and others have some excellent books on various aspects of digital photography and digital printing. Kelby's "Photoshop CS for Digital Photographers" is a staple on my desk or my husband's -- it never seems to float back up to the shelves like our other resource books do, so it must be fairly useful.
I could blather on for too long on this topic, but I hope I've provided some useful guidance. Enjoy!
Namenick - The Morguefile Classroom was excellent. I have read all her classes now, and found even when she talked on subjects I knew already, it was still interesting and not in the slightest bit condescending. I will be taking quite alot of catalogue and portrait shots so the tips on lighting are going to be very handy.
Kreives -
Once you make adjustment to RAW image, you can convert it to another format. I use a tiff (there is no compression) if I'm going to print.That's good to know. I am seeing loss at high resolution print for even best quality Jpegs it offers.
Shannon - I had hoped you might offer you advice (had seen you site in profile ;)). Do you think the book you talk of would be relevant to a PS7 user? It sounds like that is might be one to look into but only if the rules will apply cross version. Dpreview has incredibly comprehensive review and clearly we have chosen a good camera for this price! Never thought there would be a forum dedicated to it.
I could blather on for too long on this topic
I am happy to listen, and please, to me info like this is definitely not 'blather', closer to gold dust ;)
For us, we'd reached our present level of Photoshop knowledge by a whole lot of "What does this do? Wait, that's not quite what I wanted!" trial and error. We were reasonably comfortable with what we needed to do in Photoshop, but seemed to have learned the hardest/most convoluted way of doing things that Kelby simplifies into memorable and easily reproducible steps (though admittedly, apparently not easily enough that it gets put back on the shelf! It's still Photoshop, after all!)
My Photoshop Analogy -- Like handing someone an M16 with orders to "eliminate the fire ant mounds in the backyard". The firepower can be dangerous even in skilled hands. ;)
(fire ants = ants with a painful bite, common in Texas)
After I get some sleep, I'll pop back in and see if there's anything else of value I can add.
I've got to learn to spread out my WW participation so I'm not on it for 12 hours a couple times a month and 0 minutes the rest of the time!
all
The software that come with the camera is basic to say the least. How do I convert RAW files to TIFF's. the File extension is .nef and none of the graphics pacakges (PS, FW) I have seem to recognise this format.
Is there some good freeware converters out there? GraphicConverter4.4 (free with MAC) doesn't seem to recognise the file type.
(unless you call converting to a pixelated grey mess recognition)
The software that come with the camera is basic to say the least. How do I convert RAW files to TIFF's. the File extension is .nef and none of the graphics pacakges (PS, FW) I have seem to recognise this format.
We're Canon shooters, so I'm not directly familiar with the Nikon digital workflow. It looks like you've already checked out the included Nikon NEF plug-in (equivalent of Canon's RAW plug-in, now native in Photoshop CS).
A little surfing moments ago turned up a recommendation to buy Nikon Capture 4 -- shareware with a 30 day trial. Also check Adobe -- I would think their Camera Raw plug-in would support the D70 by now.
Here's some (Google) links related to Nikon D70 workflow [google.com]
DPReview's probably the place to commiserate with fellow Nikon shooters on the pros/cons of the various conversion tools. We own several Canon converters, ourselves, since our digital archive includes Canon EOS D30, D60, 10D and now EOS 1D Mark II files -- all of which use a different variation of Canon's RAW format. Our primary cameras now are the Mark II; everything else has either been sold or is in the process of same.
Nothing against Nikon, by the way, we're just invested to the gills in Canon lenses and have been very happy with Canon cameras even prior to our switch to digital. We still have a Canon film camera or two around for good measure.
Took a lot of convincing but it has definitely been worth it - for the RAW file coinversion alone. Thanks for the advice Shannon. Now All I need to do is learn to take advantage of it ;)
Ta, Limbo
We have upgraded to CS <insert cheer here>
Excellent news, limbo! I'm thrilled for whatever small part my posts played in inching you into upgrade territory!
#1 Rule of Becoming a Better Photographer (... actually, a better anything):
Do It Often (Take lots of photos), and when you think you're done, do it some more!
Enjoy!
