Noob Just bought a Canon 500D (1st dslr)

chiffs

chiffs

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Sean
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Happy now as have just bought a 500D (well the misses did for me) with the kit 18-55 lens.

So far have installed the canon disc with Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility, Picture Style Editor and ZoomBrowser EX and registered on the Canon website for my warranty and Canon Image Gateway.

Have a copy of Photoshop CS5 Extended installed on my laptop too (although dont know how to do anything on it yet).

Dont know if i needed to install all of the above but they can always be removed at a later date i guess after some advise from your good selves.

Batterys chargered, now looking through various menus on the camera although have not got a clue what some do lol.



Going to have a little play with it and see what happens:eek::eek:


Anything i should be doing like calibrating or firmware updates (if there is any or its possible).

Welcome any advise please :help::thumbs:

Thanks Chiffs
 
If you want to use the Canon software, id certainly try an update from thier website, as the disk software is most likely out of date.
If you use Adobe Bridge and Adobe RAW, you will probably need to update that too to recognise your camera's files. (If you start shooting in RAW that is).

The great thing with Digital is you can shoot and shoot and it doesnt cost you anything. Play with the settings, read the manual and online resources and shoot some more!
 
Dont care what software i use really so what ever is best will do me

RAW is best is it not?

Just checked adobe bridge and that works fine and finds camera model ok so thats good. Can load RAW images in PS too. Slowly getting things working i think.


Few nooby questions, please forgive my complete ignorance and lack of knowledge.

1.Whats the Peripheral illimin correct setting on the camera that can be enabled or disabled? Currently disabled.

2.What is better for the histogram, Brightness or RGB?

3. Worth saving pics as RAW and JPEG?

4. How do i convert from RAW pics to JPEG after finishing playing/editing

Thanks Chiffs
 
chiffs said:
Dont care what software i use really so what ever is best will do me

RAW is best is it not?

Just checked adobe bridge and that works fine and finds camera model ok so thats good. Can load RAW images in PS too. Slowly getting things working i think.


Few nooby questions, please forgive my complete ignorance and lack of knowledge.

1.Whats the Peripheral illimin correct setting on the camera that can be enabled or disabled? Currently disabled.

Its for lenses that Vignette, set to disable unless you have problems.

2.What is better for the histogram, Brightness or RGB?

Personal preference really. I set to Brightness as you can see if you have blown the highlights etc

3. Worth saving pics as RAW and JPEG?
Depends if you want your pics available instantly to show people and then work on the RAW afterwards. This option will eat card space

4. How do i convert from RAW pics to JPEG after finishing playing/editing

Depends on the program, but usually just Save As and then JPG. Some may say Export to... also

Thanks Chiffs
Click to expand...
 
i'd certainly hone your skills with photoshop. digital photo professional is a competent enough program for basic raw conversions, but it's far from ideal and is quite clunky.

you're probably much better off giving lightroom a whirl to organise your pictures. if you decide to shoot raw, this is a great tool.

as far as any tips, just get outside whilst the weather is nice and post some pics of those autumn colours... and when you're done stick them on the forum... i look forward to seeing them :-)

i had a 500d as my first dslr. great camera and it's capable of great things.
 
cuthbert said:
i'd certainly hone your skills with photoshop. digital photo professional is a competent enough program for basic raw conversions, but it's far from ideal and is quite clunky.

you're probably much better off giving lightroom a whirl to organise your pictures. if you decide to shoot raw, this is a great tool.

as far as any tips, just get outside whilst the weather is nice and post some pics of those autumn colours... and when you're done stick them on the forum... i look forward to seeing them :-)

i had a 500d as my first dslr. great camera and it's capable of great things.
Click to expand...

Bold for importance. Lightroom is a much more enjoyable tool for raw processing then photoshop - added bonus it organises your images.

Grab a trial from adobe and see what you think.
 
chiffs said:
Few nooby questions, please forgive my complete ignorance and lack of knowledge.

1.Whats the Peripheral illimin correct setting on the camera that can be enabled or disabled? Currently disabled.

This can be done in DPP afterwards - assuming that your version is reasonably current. Note that many EF-S lenses vignette so it is useful - but easier to do later.

2.What is better for the histogram, Brightness or RGB?
RGB - that way you can tell if any single colour is overstaurated rather than just the average. For example, if you shoot a blue sky, the blue may be overexposed while green/red show very little. The average brightness will think it is only average exposure.

3. Worth saving pics as RAW and JPEG?
No - if you are shooting and processing RAW, then there is no point going for JPEG. However, if you prefer to process JPEG, then holding RAW allows you the ability to fall back to the better image for certain changes - for example white balance is easier to correct RAW.

4. How do i convert from RAW pics to JPEG after finishing playing/editing

In DPP, convert and save.

Thanks Chiffs
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the reply but i dont understand ' EF-S lenses vignette so it is useful - but easier to do later'

Could you explain that in noob/simple terms! lol

Everything else makes sense, changing to RGB, Only using RAW and converting i have kind of figured out i think.

Thanks Chiffs
 
A lot of lenses with an EF-S mount (eg the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) have an issue where lightin the corners is reduced especially at the wide angle end of the zoom. It looks a little like tunnel vision.

In this case, Peripheral Illumination will brighten the corners according to the known relationship between the Canon lens, body, focal length and aperture - so that the illumination looks even across the whole frame.

To check the effect - shoot at 18mm with a wide open aperture and then compare the image with and without PI - whether using DPP or in camera (needs two shots then).

The issues with in-camera effects are:
- you cannot see them at the time - and if shooting JPEG are irreversible
- it can slow the write speed to the card so that burst rate goes down when shooting continuously.
So, it is often easier to only apply the effect to the shot in post-processing if you like the shot enough to bother.
 
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I wouldnt get too bogged down in all the settings to start, you need to learn how to use your camera before processing...

Just stick it on Jpeg and get out and play with the camera....

Get a good book on Shutter speed,aperture, iso etc...

Play around with Auto settings making note of Shutter and Aperture in different light conditions...have a play with AV and TV....eventually manual...

Then you can look at processing techniques...

:thumbs:
 
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