I stepped kneedeep into photography.

[mcoleman80]

For Christmas I decided it was time I had a nice camera. So instead of buying the $100 slim point-and-shoot cameras that I've had in the past, I bought the Sony Cyber-Shot H9 for $400 or so.

I live in Chicago, so I went for a walk one day to snap some shots and see what I could learn on the fly. The pictures sucked. Apparently I'm either not as quick a learner as I thought I was or the camera is much more involved than I'd expected. I have to believe the latter is the case.

As unintentional as it is, I'm a novice in this situation. I have no idea how to operate this camera to get good shots. I'm sure that directions to operate the camera is too much to ask for in a forum like this, but does anyone know of a good guide or video or something online that can help me through some of the basics?

I have no idea what OEV means or how I should set all of these different settings on the camera.

I'm lost! Help?

-M

[walls]

perhaps a free and illuminating read would be the manual?

There are then numerous books, websites which are willing to teach you no end of things. This one I find useful

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/

and there are many tutorials on here too

[Slipper-one]

Welcome, As Walls manual first. Can you post 1 or 2 images?
Bit like learning to drive, so many thing to remember without taking eyes off the road.