d3100 tips please

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davidr

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david
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Last week i bought a Nikon d3100 with Sigma 18-200mm hsm,i have not been able to practice alot with it and not read all the manual.I have found that in manual mode it seems very slow to focus more so indoors?i understand with dslr cameras you should use all the spacial settings but i expected the standard auto to work well,im going on holiday in a few days time and was hoping to take lots of nice photos.I understand that this is a budget model but its still alot of money in my book and thought i it would be better than my panasonic pocket camera that takes great pictures with no effort!
Am i missing something?are there some quick simple tips i can read in 15mins not hours(manual)bit dissapointed please can you guys point me right?
Many thanks
 
I have the D3100 as well and have taken some really good photos with it mainly in Aperture mode. The secret of anything is to practise, practise and practise. I got it in April and have taken over 2000 photos with it!
 
If its slow to focus, its a light issue, not a camera settings issue.
A camera needs a lot of light and decent contrast to focus. If its doesnt have these things, it will either hunt around looking, or just not focus at all.

A D3100 in auto in good light will focus just as fast as a higher end camera in good light.
If you are trying to focus on something dark, in a dark room, you;ll have trouble.
The other issue is the camera focuses with the lens aperture wide open. Not sure on the exact specs of that lens, but its going to be around the f/4 mark I'd imagine at 18mm and probably f/5.6 or higher at 200mm.

So at 18mm, when you focus, the lens aperture is at its widest and allows more light in, when you focus at 200mm, the lens will be at a smaller aperture, so less light will be let in an slow the focus down.
To solve this, either get more light, or buy a wider aperture lens.

There are sevral D3100 videos on my photoix website you might want to look at, but there are more about generic setings.
 
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Stick with it, ive had a D3100 for two months now and whilst I initially found only small improvement from my point and shoot days, you soon get the hang of it and produce better shots.

It's all about practice.
 
TCR4x4 i have just watched all 3 of your videos for the d3100. EXCELLENT! is what they are.As a newbie who knows nothing i thought they were very easy to follow,your presentation was excellent clear to hear and understand,im hoping you might make some more films about the camera.Thankyou very much! im going back to the website to watch them again and see what other great tips you have.Keep up the good work!
 
davidr said:
TCR4x4 i have just watched all 3 of your videos for the d3100. EXCELLENT! is what they are.As a newbie who knows nothing i thought they were very easy to follow,your presentation was excellent clear to hear and understand,im hoping you might make some more films about the camera.Thankyou very much! im going back to the website to watch them again and see what other great tips you have.Keep up the good work!
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Thanks very much!

I'll make more if people want more. Anything in particular you want to know about or how to do?
 
TCR4x4 said:
Thanks very much!

I'll make more if people want more. Anything in particular you want to know about or how to do?
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Tom,

I too enjoyed your videos immensley. I stayed on at work to watch them now receiving favourable comments about all the extra hours I'm putting in.:)

Would love to see more, how about something on back button focusing (both how to and why you'd want to).

Keep em coming.

Regards
Neil.
 
ManVan said:
Tom,

I too enjoyed your videos immensley. I stayed on at work to watch them now receiving favourable comments about all the extra hours I'm putting in.:)

Would love to see more, how about something on back button focusing (both how to and why you'd want to).

Keep em coming.

Regards
Neil.
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Thanks! Glad I can score some overtime for someone! :thumbs:

Ok, Ill do a vid on BBF. Might take a week or so cos I stupidly sold my camcorder today so need to buy another!
 
TCR4x4 said:
Thanks! Glad I can score some overtime for someone! :thumbs:

Ok, Ill do a vid on BBF. Might take a week or so cos I stupidly sold my camcorder today so need to buy another!
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That would be excellent Tom. Looking forward to it.

Regards
Neil. (in overtime again)
 
how about something on back button focusing (both how to and why you'd want to).

I look forward to this,i have no idea what your talking about! keep em coming Tom.
 
davidr said:
how about something on back button focusing (both how to and why you'd want to).

I look forward to this,i have no idea what your talking about! keep em coming Tom.
Click to expand...

Will do!
 
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