Got my new camera :)

[neonplanet40]

Hey guys, got my new Panasonic TZ7 and I'm impressed so far. Only thing is I don't understand all the different functions etc and which ones i should be using for what type of picture etc. could anyone recommend a guide or something?

Also I've looked at some of the threads here and seen some great pictures. Does it mean because I didn't get a dslr that I won't be able to take pictures like this?

Thanks for your help and advice
Mark

[kalniel]

Hey guys, got my new Panasonic TZ7 and I'm impressed so far. Only thing is I don't understand all the different functions etc and which ones i should be using for what type of picture etc. could anyone recommend a guide or something?

Also I've looked at some of the threads here and seen some great pictures. Does it mean because I didn't get a dslr that I won't be able to take pictures like this?

Thanks for your help and advice
Mark

Loads of those photos were taking with point and shoots, so don't worry about that. The manual should describe the different functions - if there aren't manual controls then the main thing is just to use the right mode for the shot.. and it's fairly self explanatory - landscape mode for.. landscapes. Portrait mode for.. portraits

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Also I've looked at some of the threads here and seen some great pictures. Does it mean because I didn't get a dslr that I won't be able to take pictures like this?

No! The camera is only part of the equation which leads to a great picture. It is the photographer themselves who is the most important factor.

Great pictures have been taken for decades with cameras which from a technical standpoint were inferior to your camera.

You don't need a dSLR to take good pictures!

For example these pictures were taken with a 4MP Canon A80 compact camera:

http://photo.net/photodb/presentatio...tion_id=273356

http://photo.net/photodb/presentatio...tion_id=273209

These pictures were taken with a Canon G3 compact camera:

http://photo.net/photodb/presentatio...tion_id=276374

[HSK]

There might be some types of creative exposures, which will benefit from a DSLR due to that sensor being larger, fast lenses - like images with a really shallow depth of field etc (I might be wrong, but from my own experience this is what I've found).

but you know, photography and the images I guess are subjective. it's all about the photographer, and how you bring out your subject best with whatever tools you have...once you get used to how to work them ;-)

[neonplanet40]

thanks guys. I've been reading through the manual but it doesn't explain what a lot if things are or how they improves pictures (or doesn't improve them) but rather, it just shows you how to turn them on and off. for instance what is ISO? and how does increasing this number effect my pictures?

I've worked out macro is for up close. go me lol

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

thanks guys. I've been reading through the manual but it doesn't explain what a lot if things are or how they improves pictures (or doesn't improve them) but rather, it just shows you how to turn them on and off. for instance what is ISO? and how does increasing this number effect my pictures?

I've worked out macro is for up close. go me lol

To put it simply ISO is an indication of how sensitive the sensor in the camera is to light. The higher the ISO the more senstitive the camera will be to light. Hence in lower light a higher ISO is better. However with higher ISO comes the issue of noise( multi-coloured dots in the picture) which increase with higher ISO. Many cameras attempt to decrease this by filtering the picture but it comes at the expense of softer picture with less detail.

You can see this by taking the same picture at increasing higher ISO numbers and looking at the image quality.

[brammers]

The links here are fairly decent:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/

After you've got the basics (P/A/S/M & the ISO/aperture/SS triangle) then find some photos you like, post em up here and ask how they were taken. Learn how, go and copy them and eventually you'll be ready to take your own masterpieces

[neonplanet40]

Well it definetely makes flowers look nice But then again, I can be easy pleased lol





My dog isn't a fan of camera's though.... He always looks quite afraid when he see's one....

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You have got a very pretty doggy! What breed is he/she?

[neonplanet40]

He is a Siberian Husky, and his name is Shadow because when he was a pup he used to chase his around the fence

[brammers]

Not bad for first efforts. Couple of things to note - you've taken them both at wideangle, leading to weird perspective effects as you attempt to fill the frame. Read about perspective here:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glos...pective_01.htm

You've also not controlled your DoF very well leading to some weird blobs of OoF flower parts. Read about DoF here:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glos...f_Field_01.htm

The dog shot uses mixed light sources and is more complicated to suggest improvement on without knowing exactly how your camera uses flash.

Keep shooting