New Nikon D50 Question

[camerajill]

Hi all, I'm a newbie to the digital SLR world. I just purchased a Nikon D50 and took a bunch of inside shots today on automatic mode. I just uploaded them to my computer and was disapointed. The image quality (sharpness and color tint) doesn't look any better than the digital p&s I was using previously and wasn't happy with.

Are these results typical with the automatic settings? If so, I'm starting to wonder if I should have just invested in a top-of-the-line p&s and saved myself some $$$.

Thanks.

[Jason25]

I can't say how the auto setting performs as I've never used that mode, but you can get much better results with the camera with a bit of research. The kit lens really isn't the lens to judge the camera's capability by. Try the 50mm f1.8 lens (under $100).

It's quite a bit of a learning curve moving to a DSLR, but the results are well worth it if you have the patience. Don't give up! :)

[timmciglobal]

As far as "Sharpness" goes any P&S will be "Sharper" then a dSLR before you process it.

As far as color, try setting white balance correctly and shoot again or use flash.

Tim

[cdifoto]

Hi all, I'm a newbie to the digital SLR world. I just purchased a Nikon D50 and took a bunch of inside shots today on automatic mode. I just uploaded them to my computer and was disapointed. The image quality (sharpness and color tint) doesn't look any better than the digital p&s I was using previously and wasn't happy with.

Are these results typical with the automatic settings? If so, I'm starting to wonder if I should have just invested in a top-of-the-line p&s and saved myself some $$$.

Thanks.

In Auto mode, any dSLR with the basic lens will produce no better results than any high end P&S. They're essentially the same thing at that point. You need to get out of Auto to make the dSLR really shine. Try Av and Tv at first, then eventually you can work yourself up to full Manual. Read your camera's manual (as in handbook) to learn which mode is which. Stay away from the "portrait" and "auto" and "scene" modes...or whatever Nikon calls them. Av, Tv, and M are really the only dSLR-advantageous modes to work in, although P mode is decent with flash, at least on my Canons.


I also want to add that what you regard as "not sharp" may actually be camera shake or subject movement. If the Nikons are anything like the Canons in P or Auto mode, they choose an aperture of perhaps f/3.5 or f/4 and a shutter of around 1/60th. That shutter speed is nowhere near enough to stop any normal subject movement (ie people walking, talking, waving, etc) without flash. They also tend to put the ISO setting around 400, adding noise to your image that you may also think is softness. The lens you got with your camera is NOT an indoor lens. It's for general snapshooting. Take it outdoors in daylight in the same Auto and I bet you'll see some crisper shots as you'd expect. A little soft because they do need post-processing to bring out the best, but much better than what you got inside. Faster lenses (smaller f numbers) are required for that indoor shooting...and you do NOT want to use Auto because it WILL choose the wrong settings to get you what you need. You'll need to learn to set your aperture and shutter speed and ISO to get what you need...rather than letting the camera decide for you. Outdoors it's not such a big deal since there is plenty of light---assuming you aren't too concerned with having subjects isolated with blurred backgrounds and such.

[nwpoland]

Greetings,
I bought my d50/sb-600 flash/sigma 18-200 lens combo back in august of last year. I must have spent about a week reading everything I could about the camera, other peoples' tips on usage, articles about exposure settings, articles about composition, etc.....basically everything I could get my hands on. So when the camera arrived I felt ready to hit the ground running.

I'm not sure if I'm right or not but it seems like taking some time to really acquaint yourself with the camera will seriously make all the difference in the world. Turning it on...snapping some shoots in Auto mode (inside and probably with the on-board flash)...and then not doing anything to process those pictures will likely end up in some not-so-good results.

For your auto mode I'd suggest using "P" (or program-mode) instead. Make sure your white balance is set correctly and get outside like was already suggested. You actually can even adjust the sharpness setting in the camera if you want sharper pictures directly from the camera (without processing).

Give it a little more time. It's really an incredible camera for the low price (well as compared to its "big brothers"). And with a little more knowledge/experience you'll be thrilled with your results.

Happy Easter :D

[aparmley]

I'm not sure if I'm right or not but it seems like taking some time to really acquaint yourself with the camera will seriously make all the difference in the world.

I must reiterate this very good point.

I also must echo the request you pick up a 50 1.8.

Then for better indoor color photos, I recommend you learn how to set your cameras Custom White Balance. That will take care of the "Tint" problem of yours.

Learn how to shoot in AV, TV, or M mode. That way you control everything and can as a result get the photos you want.

[EdBoy]

I just purchased a Nikon D50 and took a bunch of inside shots today on automatic mode

I guess you should take time out to acquaint yourself with the user manual and all of the functions of the camera. If you're shooting only in Automatic mode then you might as well be using a P&S camera because, in essence that is all you're doing. Automatic mode is the mode what I would recommend you left your camera camera in whilst on "walk-around" just in case you see something to shoot that you don't have time to set the camera up for (to point and shoot), but if you have time to compose the shot then you need to be a little more creative with the exposure.

If you're shooting indoors in low light I'd recommend you get a faster lens and a dedicated flash, The built in flash can be a little harsh when all you need is a little "fill-in" light.