So much to learn..

Repost from transferring blogs to this account:

I have spent the last month after my new purchase of the 400D just trying to learn the camera and I feel I have so much more to learn. I haven't had a lot of time to actually take pictures and have done a lot of research on lenses of which my conclusion is that 'it all depends.' So, I have decided to get a relatively cheap lens, the Sigma 28 -300, to start and hope to decide on a Macro lens if this doesn't fit the bill. Living in Taiwan the prices are not great but acceptable.

I need some time to learn through taking pictures so I hope I can take off a few hours a day to test things after I get the new lens. You really can't learn enough from reading as I should well know but I wanted to have and idea of everything. I am still struggling through terminology and the whys and wherefores but it is coalescing into some plans for testing.


Want to test nature/wildlife settings with the new lens and Macro as well, the kit lens I feel is okay but not as 'fun' for the types of things I 'think' I want to do. Really like the podcasts dedicated to Digital Photgraphy, they are really helpful. Next time I will be prepared and name a few.

It is interesting how the reviews are changing about the 400D, they are more positive and useful. I think if you have the money you might be tempted to buy the Nikon which has a better kit lens, but I felt the size and feel of the 400D was better suited for a first DSLR considering weight and comfort, we'll see after awhile i am used to the G1 and 800 IS Ixus and the 400D is a big step up. The 800 IS Ixus is still the tote around for quicky snapshots and day trips, but I hope as my lads grow(2 yr old and 4 month) I can take along the 400D as well, the 800 is great for my wife, even if she is a tad slow....

That is another issue just trying to get shots of what you want the digital is so great, I can take hundreds of shots and not worry about expense. I have a Pentex P3 SLR, but rarely used it because of the learning curve and developing cost for bad pictures. When I get my feet wet and feel comfortable I think I will buy some film and try it out again.

I also want to get my G1 fixed so my son can use it later. I hope I can interest my sons to many things and let them decide what they like. As a father I hope they like some of the things I do and will want to learn from me first till they surpass me. So far unlike the pics here my sons are the subject of most of my pics, literally thousands.