LEXi73 said:
got my new camera the other day!! not i got to go take some photos for the photo contest! i have to say im a little overwhelmed but willing to learn. Got get used to a new camera and starting learning how to take some great pics.
Try simplifying things by not using the M-manual mode. Its really not necessary at all unless you are working on long exposure or off-camera flash stuff.
Try using the A-aperture priority mode for subjects where depth of field is important. Be mindful of the shutter speed when hand-holding.
Try using the S-shutter priority mode when you need to freeze action with a faster shutter speed, or when you are hand-holding with a long lens.
A general rule of thumb about shutter speed is that you don't want to hand hold when the shutter speed is slower then the focal length. For example, handholding a 160mm (equivalent) lens at 1/200th of a second is okay. Same lens at 1/100 could be blurry.
Consider the auto-ISO option if you are shooting in varying light conditions without a tripod. This feature will adjust ISO when the shutter speed reaches a predetermined threshold, say 1/60. When the light is better it will adjust down the ISO as much as possible while maintaining the 1/60 shutter speed. The other benefit of using auto-ISO is that the camera will make much finer adjustments to the ISO then are available to you manually. You camera probably has 100-200-400-800-1600, but the camera can select 480 or 760 ISO in the auto setting. This means the ISO is only as fast as it needs to be to maintain the minimum shutter speed, but no higher. Plus Canon sensors are pretty good at higher ISOs.
Finally, consider under-exposing all shots by 0.3EV in order to maintain detail in the highlights. This kind of exposure compensation will be a universal change that the camera takes into consideration in all of the above described modes.
The camera will do most of the work...once you get past a few simple camera controls, the most important peice of equipment in good photography will be that thing between your ears.
