New to Photography and got questions....

[goldenbeagle]

As the title says, I am new to photography and I got so many questions running around in my head.

First off, I purchased a Nikon D3000 about a year ago. I understand this is not a top notch professional camera, but I honestly just wanted to have a starting point and not overload myself. I figured once I learned the basics I would start spending the money and upgrading equipment.

So getting to the point here.

One of my most current questions I got deals with JPEG and RAW photos. There is a setting on my camera where it saves the photo’s I take as a JPEG and a Raw. But when I download my photo’s, I only have JPEG images. I can’t figure out why I am not able to gain access to RAW images. Any idea what I am doing wrong?

My second question is reference photo editing software. I do not have the money to afford Photoshop right now so I have been using Picasa photo editor. Can anyone suggest a better photo editing software that has a little more to it, but yet something I can afford?

Just a few of my questions. Thanks in advance folks for any help you provide.

 

[Pathfinder]

You did not mention what specific versions of software and operating system you are using to edit your images.

Not all operating systems can see and read RAW files, or they may need a small piece of software to allow them to see the RAW files. The operating system will see and read jpgs as they are a universal image file format, while RAW files are proprietary.

You should have received software with your D3000 that CAN read Nikon NEF files. If you did not, then you should contact Nikon and obtain an updated version that does allow you to see your Nikon RAW files - which I think are NEF files. I photograph in an alternate universe with CR2 RAW files ( eg: Canon ) but we have the same issues.

The up to date versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, and Photoshop Elements should all see and read D3000 RAW files without difficulty. I do not know if Picasa can natively see and read NEF files, as I use Lightroom3 for the majority of my editing. You might contact Picasa and see if it supports Nikon Raw files. If not, you can edit Nikon RAW files with your Nikon software to tif files, and then edit the tifs in Picasa.

Lightroom3 WILL see and edit D300 RAW files, of that I am certain. THere have been sales this winter for LR3 for less than list price. If you have never used editing software, or taken a class in Photoshop, learning Photoshop on your own can be rather daunting. Many folks find that Elements is all they want or need. But Lightroom3 offers incredible power and ease of use for a global editor.

 

[goldenbeagle]

Great info....thanks.

I do not have the disk for my D3000. I will contact Nikon and get my hands on it.

This honestly explained a lot. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[GeoScum]

I don't think it is necessary for your camera to save both jpeg and RAW files. RAW is very slow, and you are at least doubling the amount of time and space needed to store the photographs on both the camera and the computer.

I would only save jpeg, on a "middling" plus setting, like fine.

 

[MatthewThompson]

There's not a thing wrong with the D3000. Don't get occupied with planning gear upgrades or getting to the next big thing, that's a different hobby from taking photos. As far as software and editing, same thing. Find a simple editor to weed out what you don't want and stick with it. Try to aim for getting your image in camera, not in post processing.

Read some books, get acquainted with what you have, love it for what it is, and it will reward you with years of service and lovely images.

edit: on the raw vs jpg front, consider your intended output. For prints, RAW is king, allowing upsizing, sharpening and much more. I advise shooting RAW at every opportunity. It means more storage, transfer and processing time, but it will make you think a little more about which shots you take (much like having 12 exposures on a roll of film). You'll find you have more keepers per outing with shutter discipline and forethought to how much time you;d like to spend post-processing.

 

[goldenbeagle]

There's not a thing wrong with the D3000. Don't get occupied with planning gear upgrades or getting to the next big thing, that's a different hobby from taking photos. As far as software and editing, same thing. Find a simple editor to weed out what you don't want and stick with it. Try to aim for getting your image in camera, not in post processing.

Read some books, get acquainted with what you have, love it for what it is, and it will reward you with years of service and lovely images.

edit: on the raw vs jpg front, consider your intended output. For prints, RAW is king, allowing upsizing, sharpening and much more. I advise shooting RAW at every opportunity. It means more storage, transfer and processing time, but it will make you think a little more about which shots you take (much like having 12 exposures on a roll of film). You'll find you have more keepers per outing with shutter discipline and forethought to how much time you;d like to spend post-processing.

Thanks! This is some great advice. exactly what I needed to hear.

Since you seem familiar with the Nikon camera, I have another quick question. I recently purchased a telephoto lens (Nikon). The lens was a great deal, but it is not a VR. Anything I should be aware of with a lens that does not have vibration reduction? Common sense just tells me that I need to rely on a tripod more with this lens?

Sorry for the stupid questions...this is all very new to me. Gonna head out to the book store today and pick up a few books. I feel your advice on reading a little more has got to be top of the list.

 

[Michael Slade]

Read this.

 

[MatthewThompson]

Thanks! This is some great advice. exactly what I needed to hear.

Since you seem familiar with the Nikon camera, I have another quick question. I recently purchased a telephoto lens (Nikon). The lens was a great deal, but it is not a VR. Anything I should be aware of with a lens that does not have vibration reduction? Common sense just tells me that I need to rely on a tripod more with this lens?

Sorry for the stupid questions...this is all very new to me. Gonna head out to the book store today and pick up a few books. I feel your advice on reading a little more has got to be top of the list.

My pleasure. I've been shooting professionally for a decade, and it's easy to get into the trap of needing the next big thing. that's not what taking photos is about.

It's not so much being familiar with Nikon, but a camera is a camera. They all do the same thing at their core. It's when you get fancy with matrix metering and multiple AF modes that the brand differences appear.

When it comes to telephotos, a good rule is to have your shutter speed match the focal length. For example if you have a 200MM lens, try to keep the shutter speed at 1/200 or faster. If the light is failing, up the ISO.

re: books, any photography book from the 70's will tell you all you need to know about shooting with any SLR camera, digital or otherwise. Put it on Manual with center-weighted metering, use your head and get out there! You'll learn quickly and without depending on the camera to think about exposures for you.

 

[goldenbeagle]

Take a look at www.nikoncafe.com for a ton of great advice on your camera/lenses/software.

Will do ..thanks for the link.