is canon 350D easy to use for a first time DSLR user?

Question

i want to buy an slr camera and wanted to buy the canon 350d ..ive seen some of the pic quality and impressed with it but is it easy to use? im a first time SLR user..

Answer 1

When you get your new camera, take time to read through the manual. Resist the temptation to immediately start using it. Study it.

It might be worthwhile to google Magic Lantern and order their Guide for your camera. Guides such as theirs are usually better illustrated with step by step instructions and can be quite helpful.

You might want to consider buying from a local camera shop in your area. While you might pay more, you'll have access to a real live person who can readily answer questions and offer advice. Its much easier to describe a problem face to face than over the phone. Ask a question at your local discount house and most likely the clerk will give you a blank stare.

An investment like this deserves protection. Go to cameraarmor.com and bonicadive.com and choose a protective cover for your camera. After reading the horror stories in here - "I got my camera wet" or "I got sand in my camera" - it seems prudent to spend a few extra $$$.

Next, buy either a HAZE/UV filter* or a Skylight 1A ***(uncoated) or 1B*** (coated) filter* or both for your lens. The HAZE/UV filter "cuts through" the atmospheric haze seen in scenics. The Skylight filter removes the bluish tint seen in shaded mountains or snow or in photos taken in open shade. More importantly, they protect the front element of your lens. No lens should face the world naked (except the 16mm fisheye with its 180 degree angle of view, making a filter impracticable) - it should always wear a filter. One scratch or acidic fingerprint or smudge turns an expensive lens into an expensive paperweight. Plus, you'll seldom (if ever) have to clean the front element.

Add a circular polarizer* ** to your list. The polarizer can be used to darken a blue sky so white puffy clouds really "pop" or just for the visual effect. It removes glare/reflections from glass, water, sand, snow and painted metal - but not from polished metal.

Buy the appropriate lens hood for every lens you own if one doesn't come with the lens. The lens hood helps prevent extraneous light - such as the sun or other strong light source from the side - from adversely affecting your photos.

You'll also want a good lens (filter) cleaning cloth like the ones offered by Pentax and PhotoSilk and others. Add a bulb type blower brush for removing dust specks before cleaning.

When you decide to add a flash, buy the one Canon offers for your camera. Buy the top of the line - its better to have a feature and never need it than to need it and not have it. The top of the line will offer bounce flash capability and be TTL compatible. While there are innumerable after-market flash units available that are compatible with your camera, the Canon flash was designed by Canon for your camera. If Canon offers a bracket for off-camera flash use buy it.

A good tripod - Slik, Bogen, Manfrotto, Velbon - is an invaluable addition to your photographic arsenal. Just make sure it has a tilt/pan head and a quick release. You may as well buy a good cable release while you're buying the tripod.

If your camera comes with a skinny little neck strap buy a nice comfortable wide one. You can even get one with CANON printed on it. Your camera should always either be in your camera bag or hanging around your neck. In 36 years I've yet to drop a camera. I shudder when I see people carrying their camera like a loaf of bread.

Invest in a good quality camera bag that will hold all your equipment. The Aug. 2007 issue of Shutterbug magazine has a Buyer's Guide for camera backpacks. You should be able to find it at shutterbug.com.

If you plan on doing a lot of indoor available light photography with mixed lighting you should go to shutterbug.com and Search for their review of the ExpoDisc. (This is a WB aid.) It was in the May 2007 issue. You can also go to expodisc.com and check it out.

* I've had excellent service from TIFFEN, B+W and HOYA filters.

** There are 2 types of polarizing filters - linear and circular. The linear is NOT compatible with through lens metering or AF. Make sure you get the circular type. Also, to save money and reduce clutter in your camera bag, you can buy a polarizer for your largest lens - say one using a 72mm diameter filter - and then buy step-up rings so you can use it on a lens with a 55mm, 58mm or 62mm filter diameter.

*** I usually have both of these. I like to experiment by applying a thin coating of vaseline or chapstick to the 1A for special effects. Since its uncoated its okay to use a little warm water and mild soap to remove the greasy coating. The 1B, with its coating, can reduce glare under some lighting conditions.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Yes, it's easy. You won't be able to take advantage of all of the wonderful features of this camera or any other digital SLR in the beginning. But once you get a hang of the basics, start reading up on all the features and you'll be even more impressed with the quality of pictures you can take with dSLRs.

Answer 4

canon 350d easy time dslr user

Answer 5

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Answer 6

start reading about SLR'S right away
start with cnet.com