I ordered a Nikon D5300. Now what?

[balloonshark]

Thanks. I'm not getting a flash yet but I guess it would make sense to get a better flash. That way I could use it if I stick with Nikon and eventually get a better camera.

The good news. My has camera shipped. The bad news. It shipped via Fedex . Estimated delivery says today but it didn't leave Jersey until at 2AM. There's no way it gets here today because it still hasn't reached WV. Edit: I should be here tomorrow.

I did watch a few long D5300 tutorials on youtube as well as a couple on the basics of the exposure triangle. Interesting stuff and it really doesn't seem as intimidating as I thought it would be. I still have much to learn though.

 

[radhak]

The primary reason I went with SB-700 vs 400 is that the 400 can't do bounce flash in portrait mode equally well as if you bounce it off the ceiling.

Balloon look up youtube video's on bounce flash and you'll see what I mean. You can't do that with the cheap SB-400 or the built in flash.

Actually, while the SB700 definitely has many more features, the SB400 does allow bounce flash - because its head can be rotated. That's actually the first point on the 'good' list on Ken's page.

 

[CuriousMike]

SB400 does allow bounce flash - because its head can be rotated.

Its head can be rotated in landscape.
Indus made the correct point that it can't be rotated in portrait mode.

 

[radhak]

Its head can be rotated in landscape.
Indus made the correct point that it can't be rotated in portrait mode.

True - I missed that, thanks.

 

[balloonshark]

Good news. The camera arrived today!

The kit didn't come with a software disk. What Nikon software should I install? https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/61#Anchor-1

The only other editors I have is Corel Paint Shop Pro X5 and FastStone Image Viewer. Will they work for the time being?

 

[radhak]

I tried using the Nikon software in the early days, found it kludgy, and stopped using it. Paint Shop Pro is a very good piece of software and should work for you. To capture, store and organize pictures, I used Picasa.

How about sharing your first pictures - of the camera, with the camera?

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks. I'm trying to find out how many pics have been taken with this refurb camera. I see a number in paintshop pro that says 210 but it's not labeled. I may have to use the Nikon software to find that number.

Here are a couple of really bad shots. I used autocolor settings in FastStone. Keep in mind I'm new to dslr's and I don't know what I'm doing with editors. The 2nd pic is pretty bad. On the first one I zoomed in and manually focused with the lowest aperture.

Edit: Someone had a used Gary Fong diffuser for $15 shipped so I grabbed it. It should help with my close up pics.

 

[radhak]

Good point . I think the software in that included CD is the Nikon ViewNX 2.

Your pictures show all the promise one expects of a DSLR. That first picture is not fully focused but it should make for a great exercise in learning to focus manually . But is there any other reason you were trying manual focus?

The second pic is bad only in being very flat, a problem of taking pictures right from top. Nothing too bad with that.

 

[balloonshark]

I couldn't figure out why it didn't completely focus. I kind of like the effect but the ugly part was in focus lol. I did because I was watching the Tony Northrup D5300 tutorial and was playing along. It was the part about "precise focusing".

You're right about the 2nd pic being flat. It's mounted on the wall and I took a straight on pic.

In the video he suggested setting the ISO sensitivity to auto and maxing out the maximum allowable H1. I understood why he set the maximum but is setting the ISO sensitivity to auto a good idea?

Also, This site says my shutter count is 85. I guess that isn't too bad. I also forgot to mention my camera strap reeks of cologne.

 

[CuriousMike]

It also look like you're using flash to take those photos - that creates flat lighting.
While you're in the deep end, challenge yourself to not use flash.

As a starter, I highly recommend using auto-ISO.
This will make it so you can take a photo in a dim room without flash.
*The photos will look grainier ( higher iso ), but more natural.

Focus: I also strongly suggest you get that camera out of auto-area, and learn to use single point. "Auto area", the camera decides what to focus on.
"Single point" is YOU decide what the camera focuses on (by ensuring the lit up focus point is on the part of the object you want in focus.)

*They will only look grainier in situations where the camera needs to boost the ISO - i.e., in dim areas. If you're outdoor, auto-ISO will use the lowest possible ISO (which should be the lowest in bright light) - which will be the cleanest photos.
Auto-ISO on DSLR's should be enabled by default.

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks Mike. I have setup the camera per your suggestions and I won't use the flash.

Do you use or suggest using any of the Nikon software?

Also, why do the RAW files look strange in Paint Shop Pro X5? There is a "haze" on all the NEF files. I may have edited the one of the bottom left trying to remove the issue. That's why it looks lighter. Edit: My version is older so I checked raw support and release notes and the closest thing to my camera with support is the D5200 and D7100. I see not mention of the D5300.

 

[CuriousMike]

Thanks Mike. I have setup the camera per your suggestions and I won't use the flash.

Do you use or suggest using any of the Nikon software?

Also, why do the RAW files look strange in Paint Shop Pro X5?

1. There's definitely a time and place to use the flash - don't abandon it. But I'd try ( at least for awhile ) to not use it. You can also modify the flash power to use it more as a "fill light."

2 and 3. I use Lightroom - so I've never used the Nikon software. Lots of people have good success with the Nikon software - I'd recommend that you give the Nikon software a chance.
Your photos look funny in PSP because it's not fully supporting your camera. So, go back to Nikon.
Be aware that the RAW files will look "flat" color-wise compared to what you're used to with JPG processed files. (The "flat" look is ultimately part of what gives you all the latitude to process the files. )

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks again Mike. I'm going to try one more thing before I abandon PaintShop. While searching a site said that it may be possible to change the EXIF data for the camera's name to a supported camera and it may work. I'll try editing my camera name from D5300 to D7100 because it's supported and has the same sensor without the filter. If that doesn't work then I'll consider the Nikon software and other free options.

 

[balloonshark]

Tripod and Gary Fong diffuser showed up today. I used the flash and diffuser in the 2nd pic. I tried a bit of an angle so it wouldn't look quite as flat as the last version. Both were edited using ViewNx 2.

 

[balloonshark]

Adorama has the Domke Pro V-1 Jr. Video Bag in black on sale for $19.95 so I grabbed it. It's also available on ebay. I eventually want a backpack but this should hold me for a while.

I submitted a pic to the shot of the day topic but I wasn't happy with it. This is a better version but it's a little over processed/soft. The power line was too distracting so I removed it. If you look carefully you can see 2 windmills and a star above the skinny pointy tree with no leaves. The pic is now my desktop background. I messed with the colors some and I'm a bit colorblind so if something is off please let me know.

 

[CuriousMike]

Nice sunset photo - colors look colorful.