First Day Fun

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James
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So, my first D-SLR arrived today. I haven't seen it yet, I'm away until Thursday, I just know it was delivered (400D with kit lens).

On Friday I'm at a mates wedding. I'll be the one at the front taking pictures of anything that moves and cursing at the results.

Getting some good photos would be great, but in reality this is going to be treated as a learning experience. That being the case, how would you guys approach the endeavour? Experiment all day long with different modes, or stick with one mode (aperture priority, say) and try to work around it in all situations, or something else entirely?

You can assume I am familiar with most terms and their effects on outcome (ie DoF as a function of aperture) but have precisely zero experience.

Note that I'm just a guest with a camera.
 
Thats great i was like a kid at christmas when i got my first d-slr playing and trying everything on it so may be have a good play around on thursday night to find a setting to use on the wedding even if it is just one of the pre set setting **** you will find top.
Dont know weater you are ment to be in any of the pic or not but if not if the photographer dosant mind just stand close and try and get the same shots at the end of the day its all practice and as you say id pic anything that moves:) and at a wedding once the drink starts flowing you will more than likly get some great pics. Good luck and shear some when you have done :)
 
If you know it has arrived, but can't get to it, ask someone to plug the battery in to charge for you now.
It will save you a couple of anxious hours when you finally do return home :)

Good luck!
I would recommend updating the firmware on the camera to 1.1.1, as I found on mine the noise was much reduced after this firmware. I found that a lot of the noise I had was red pixels, (but that might be because of the hot climates I have used it in).
I assume the kit lens you have is the 18-55 non-IS? The weddings I have shot (as guest), I have left the 400d in Av mode. I was using the 28-135 though, and I suspect that most of my shots were at around 40-80 on that. I would recommend not going above 800 ISO, or even 400 if you can avoid it. Also, try to stick to one notch (or better if you have the light, which I suspect you won't) above wide open for the lens you have, at it's zoom.

That said, if the light does start to fail, then, I personally, would prefer noisy shots to blurred shots, so I would change to Tv mode at that point, and ensure that my shutter speed was high enough to freeze the body movement.

If there is a disco in the evening, then keep the ISO relatively low, and use the flash. Most people don't mind being flashed whilst dancing, and that way you can capture the people, without having to worry about the noise that will be introduced at higher ISOs.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. You are correct about the lens, it is the 18-55 non IS. I figured I'd go for Av until the shutter speed dropped below 1/60 and then switch. Will have a look at the firmware update ASAP too.

Strangely I hadn't even considered the flash, everything I ever read says that the onboard flash is a waste of time, but I suppose all I'll be looking for are snap shots so it won't matter.

Will report back after the event, should be a good learning experience.
 
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