Nikon D80

[JJUK]

Hi All,
Well i have a Nikon D80 and had it for a year. I have no knowledge of DSLR's so does anyone have any tips / tricks on how to use it. i have had it for a year and all i know how to do is Press the button to take the pictures and change different modes.

I have seen people take some smashing pictures in the dark. But when i try to take them in the dark they come out in like an orange colour.

I also take pictures of fun fairs.

My Equipment

- Tripod
- AF-S Nikon 18-135 MM Lense
- Sigma 70-300 MM Lense

 

[curly42]

A far better book than the instruction manual that comes with the camera is The Nikon D80 - Digital Field Guide by David D. Busch,published by Wiley Publishing ( ISBN No. 978-0-470-12051-4).This explains in far better detail all that the camera is capable of.It also offers tips on how to take various photos in different circumstances.
Another good source for help is the internet - try typing Nikon D80 Tutorials into a search engine.

 

[JJUK]

Thank you very much Curly42

 

[507 001]

the first step would be to get the manual previously recomended and then take the camera out of auto and into program. Still pretty much fully auto, just gives you a little more creative control.

as for the colour cast it depends on how the subject or view is being lit, different temperatures of light require a different white balance, now your camera while in auto will be set to "auto WB" but its never particularily effective. try playing round with the White balance, WB, until the colours look right to you

happy playing!

 

[JJUK]

Thanks 507 001,
I took your advice and put the D80 into program mode and taken different shots. Unfortunately my battery then went flat so i will charge it and try again tomorrow.

How do you change the white balance?

Thanks once again.

JJ

 

[507 001]

' not that familiar with the D80 so i may be wrong but there is a button on the back plate of your camera with a question mark and a key on it, i would imagine if you press that while about to take a photograph then you will be able to access the WB menu.

if not, it will be somewhere in the cameras main menus.

but tbh i quite like the red tint on that image, its warm

 

[JJUK]

Yes, that's correct.
OK thank you. i will have another go tomorrow and see how it works out. Thank you very much. Much Appreciated

 

[curly42]

Lots of useful advice here -
www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/users-guide/index.htm - 30k -

 

[JJUK]

Thanks Curly42,
That also has come in useful.

 

[Richmond]

Street lights give a orange light, your WB should be set to tungsten for that shot to preserve the natural colour of the surroundings, however if you shot in raw this can be done when you process the image on a pc.

 

[EE Type 3]

Street lights give a orange light, your WB should be set to tungsten for that shot to preserve the natural colour of the surroundings, however if you shot in raw this can be done when you process the image on a pc.

I find shooting in RAW alot better for that sort of thing. Keep WB set to auto, and just change it at home when processing

 

[507 001]

yes but remember, not everybody has the tools for opening and converting RAWS, and they can be difficult for a beginner to do.

 

[Richmond]

yes but remember, not everybody has the tools for opening and converting RAWS, and they can be difficult for a beginner to do.

Anyone who bought a camera that shoots in RAW has the conversion tools included with the software that came with the camera, better versions are available to upgrade to but the basic camera software will allow for some alteration.

 

[JJUK]

... i have left the CD's that came with the camera at my dads so i better leave it until i go back to my dads as i will be unable to convert them.

but thanks guys

 

[507 001]

my D40 has the codecs for it but no program to use it with. I can open them with picture project but i dont think i can convert them because i use photoshop cs

 

[mbonwick]

Did your D40 not come with Nikon Transfer and ViewNX? Open the .NEF in ViewNX then choose File->Convert Format

 

[507 001]

nope, it doesnt really matter though.

 

[rmt]

my D40 has the codecs for it but no program to use it with. I can open them with picture project but i dont think i can convert them because i use photoshop cs

Update AdobeCameraRaw

 

[Mike McCormac]

The advice above about shooting in RAW is very good advice.

The problem in doing so with a Nikon is that they're a pretty mean organisation in that to get the full benefit of a Nikon .nef file (the RAW file) you need to go and buy Nikon Capture NX. And I say that as a confirmed and loyal Nikon shooter.

The other best option in my view is to use Adobe Camera Raw - part of Photoshop (I don't know about Elements).

After spending a fortune on a D3 it pi**ed me off Nikon wanted another £100+ for Capture NX so I use ACR. Its very good.

There are also a bunch free downloads you can get off the web to 'process' Nikon RAW files.

Hope this helps