Exactly. I think you should learn how to use manual mode first. Light and speed are varied/controled through the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Once you know how these things work together in manual mode, then find the auto mode you want to use. It’s like learning how to fly an airplane before using the autopilot.

Oh, well then I’m slowly creeping up on that guy then…

I think the use of Tim Ryan in this study may have skewed the results…

Speaking of CO, I am taking my gf and her daughter on the Royal Gorge train tour this weekend. Anyone know about it?

I think I’m the only person I know, family or friends alike, that *hasn’t* done it, but it is supposed to be rad. On my list of things to do around here that I never seem to get at.

Just to make sure I understand the meme: it’s when somebody goes on a long-winded explanation, providing more details than necessary?

Pretty much. It really nails it if the post’s previous last comment was hours before.

that may happen at first until you get used to how the ISO, Shutter and Aperture adjustments can be anticipated in certain conditions/settings.

This.

Speed and light. It’s all about speed and light.

Last time I drove through CO, I got off the highway to gas up in Grand Junction. This is where I saw a group of skinheads after some offroading, with Nazi symbols and racial epithets drawn on their truck through the erasure of mud

Grand Junction is a special place. I lived on the Western Slope for a while. Lotta TBL’s fellow preppers out there.

My respect and love for Simmons took a huuuuge hit when his intern accused me of ripping him off several years back.

I’m just worried that setting up the picture in manual mode will take me so long the moment (usually involving kids) will be lost.

that may happen at first until you get used to how the ISO, Shutter and Aperture adjustments can be anticipated in certain conditions/settings.

i like reading this blog from time to time, helped me out when i wanted to learn a little more about how to take a photo

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

it’s also worth looking around for classes in your area. i took a couple that were very basic in terms of what does what on a camera and some that were more advanced, like, composition.

Just to make sure I understand the meme: it’s when somebody goes on a long-winded explanation, providing more details than necessary?

See, this is what I want to learn. I’m just worried that setting up the picture in manual mode will take me so long the moment (usually involving kids) will be lost.

It’ll take time but you’ll get the hang of it. Aperture priority is usually a good secondary mode and one I used a lot at first. The hang up with letting the camera decide is that the light meter reads a whole scene and tries to guess on the right exposure, when the subject you want to shoot may need a different exposure (if you’ve ever gotten a well exposed background and a dark subject, that’s basically what I’m talking about). The good thing with the web now is that there are a ton of resources to learn good exposure techniques, it’ll quickly become second nature to know that, for example, a given room in your house may need an ISO of 3200, an aperture of 2.8 and a shutter speed of 1/50th sec or something like that.

See, this is what I want to learn. I’m just worried that setting up the picture in manual mode will take me so long the moment (usually involving kids) will be lost.

There is literally always “the next moment”. You will develop some “go to” settings that most likely won’t change every picture. A good lens is key. Go 2.8 if you can swing it on at least one of your lenses. And just keep shooting. You will learn just as much from the “bad” pictures as the good ones. And just keep shooting.

in case you haven’t seen these and dig space pics

great link.

I’ll probably start with the 18-55mm EF-S IS II Lens. I’m a little worried that the DSLR will be so advanced that I’ll never learn to use it or take advantage of its features. Thoughts on this?

you’re overthinking it. the same basic ideas apply to having an entry level DSLR camera as a point and shoot camera that you are already using: just take pictures. don’t worry about mastering the features, just yet, anyway.

you’ll see a marked improvement in your photos just by making the switch with a good lens for a few reasons: 1.) the DSLR has better low light picture capabilities 2.) the camera will be faster 3.) and the high frame rate will be more forgiving if you want to take action shots than a P&S

some people use only auto settings, and that’s fine, others find they want more manual control over shutter speeds, ISO, or aperture and that’s fine, too. DSLR give you the option how you want to take your pictures.

did you chastise them?

I didn’t. A hero I am not

Ha! People call it Spun Junction bc of all the meth

Not surprising, typical middle-of-nowhere western outpost. Reminds me of some central valley and inland towns in CA

please please please learn to use manual mode

See, this is what I want to learn. I’m just worried that setting up the picture in manual mode will take me so long the moment (usually involving kids) will be lost.