1st shots with the D5100

[gigabyte]

OK I am just getting back into taking pics with a DSLR so these are the trial run from my recent week off. Nothing special just some scenery, and no post processing except to compress the RAW images to jpg so I could upload then here. Any pointers are appreciated, these were all shot RAW apature preferred, no other tweaking yet.

70040700437004170042

[alastairmonk]

Nothing wrong with any of those !

As you're shooting RAW you may like to explore the range of the two "dark images" and see if you're loosing anything in the deep shadows, but neither actually needs improvement.

Alastair

[Panther_99FS]

http://www.nikondigitutor.com/eng/d5100/index.html

[gigabyte]

http://www.nikondigitutor.com/eng/d5100/index.html

Thanks P. I was rather disappointed in the documentation that came with the camera even the addition pdf on the CD did not cover very much. I have been looking around the Canadian Nikon site and not come across anything like this. Now I know what I will be doing before I head out for the next road trip on Sat...lol

[Cazzie]

Thanks P., that explains a lot, especially the Effects modes. I still prefer using Bracketing to shoot three HDR images to the HDR in-camera function. RAW images in Bracketeing can only be done in the AE setting for Bracketing, any only and you can only shoot JPEG.

Great shots gigabyte. I am finding also that by far Manual focus is best for micro-photography, along with a tripod, which I generally use anyhow.

Caz

[Panther_99FS]

One of my more "famous" D5100 shots here...:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6161/6180209193_6ee6e5b8cc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32299138@N08/6180209193/)
Corpus Christi Mermaid Halfback/Linebacker Tanya Ramirez Lines Up (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32299138@N08/6180209193/) by RedTail_Panther (http://www.flickr.com/people/32299138@N08/), on Flickr

[gigabyte]

One of my more "famous" D5100 shots here...:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6161/6180209193_6ee6e5b8cc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32299138@N08/6180209193/)
Corpus Christi Mermaid Halfback/Linebacker Tanya Ramirez Lines Up (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32299138@N08/6180209193/) by RedTail_Panther (http://www.flickr.com/people/32299138@N08/), on Flickr

OMG I want one, PLEASE!

So much better thank anything I have ever shot... droollliiinnnggg......

[Cazzie]

Should we expect less from our Panther? :icon_lol:

She does look better than most of the masculine females he posts. :icon_lol::icon_lol:

[jmig]

Should we expect less from our Panther? :icon_lol:

She does look better than most of the masculine females he posts. :icon_lol::icon_lol:

Ain't that the truth!
:icon_lol:

[jmig]

You will enjoy the D5100, Mike. It is a nice camera. If you haven't already found them, two sites that can provide a lot of answers to questions are Nikonians.org and Nikon Cafe. I am a member of Nikonians (jmiguez) and Mr P. hangs out at Nikon Cafe.

One point on the camera. Many people feel Nikons tend to under expose a bit and so they crank in 1/3-2/3 positive E.V. compensation. A couple of your pictures looked to me to be slightly under exposed. (I use the histogram a lot in my exposures. I am an "expose to the right" believer in most shots. So I just up the exposure until I am almost bumping up against the right side of the histogram scale.)

Nice shots. I want to get back up the NS again. I loved it.

P.S. If you haven't done so, you might want to check out fellow Nova Scotian Peter Spense. He does beautiful work. (He should, he shoots Nikon :) )

[AussieMan]

Have signed up with both but not really keen on Nikonians. Don't believe in having to pay money or having to make a certain number of posts in ordeer to belong to the forum. Nikon Cafe looks good though.

[jmig]

P and I have talked about those two sites. I first went to Nikonians when I had my D40. I didn't want to pay the $25 bucks a year, so I went to Nikon Cafe. I later came back to Nikonians. I consider the $25 to be the cheapest investment in photography I have spent, and one of the best.

They are both good places to ask and learn.

[Panther_99FS]

Nikon Cafe looks good though.

It is...:mixedsmi:

[Cazzie]

I'm on at Nikon Cafe also, great place Panther. A black & white shot of my baby kitty, Fancy, two years old. "P" (Priority setting) on D5100, standard 18-55-mm lens, set at 35-mm. Hand held, 800 ISO (Nikon has the least noise at high ISOs, than any camera I have used). JPEG Fine, Manual focus. Initially processed single shot HDR in Photomatix Pro, then post processed in Photoshop.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/cazmodel/fancy_2_black_white-1.jpg

[Panther_99FS]

Nice one there Cazz!

[jmig]

Well done! Excellent sharpness and unfocussed background.

[gigabyte]

You will enjoy the D5100, Mike. It is a nice camera. If you haven't already found them, two sites that can provide a lot of answers to questions are Nikonians.org and Nikon Cafe. I am a member of Nikonians (jmiguez) and Mr P. hangs out at Nikon Cafe.

One point on the camera. Many people feel Nikons tend to under expose a bit and so they crank in 1/3-2/3 positive E.V. compensation. A couple of your pictures looked to me to be slightly under exposed. (I use the histogram a lot in my exposures. I am an "expose to the right" believer in most shots. So I just up the exposure until I am almost bumping up against the right side of the histogram scale.)

Nice shots. I want to get back up the NS again. I loved it.

P.S. If you haven't done so, you might want to check out fellow Nova Scotian Peter Spense. He does beautiful work. (He should, he shoots Nikon :) )

Thanks jmig I will be checking those sites for sure. I am still playing with the settings to see what to expect, those first shots were all aperture preferred and I did not push the exposure at all, I was going for a little darker image on some shots. I played with shutter preferred this week and I think the next step will be what you suggest. I want to get comfortable with the box before the air show on the 25th so I have been burning up the battery learning how this rig handles - I am very pleased so far.

I also want to dig into Photoshop some more, I really like some of the things I have seen done to enhance a good pic.

Thanks also for the tip on Peter Spence, I love his stuff, it is very cool to see so many of the scenes I visit and have or will soon shoot, done by a real pro. I love the scenery shots of the light houses and the fishing shacks, I especially love the ones from Quiddy Viddly NL - the shack built hanging on the rocks, that is such a cool place.

[Panther_99FS]

You guys need to try out the selective color feature for videos & images....:mixedsmi:

[gigabyte]

You guys need to try out the selective color feature for videos & images....:mixedsmi:

That is very high on my list of things to learn, the weather was for crap this weekend so I did not get out but I am planning some pic sessions at a local beach inn the evenings this week.