With the announcement of the Nikon D3200 last week, you might be considering a new DSLR. You might be considering the D3200! With 24.2 megapixels, it certainly seems, on paper at least, like the ultimate beginners’ camera.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade or stick with what you got, we thought we would break down one of the key elements of your Nikon DSLR: its shutter speed scale.
Nikon DSLRs enable you to take much more creative photos. But this extra functionality does require you to spend a bit more time getting to know your camera settings. This can be frustrating if you’re keen to get shooting, but it’s the only way to ensure your Nikon camera’s set up properly for the best results.
To help you get started on your journey, here are the key things you should know about how to dial in the best camera settings for your Nikon DSLR.
One thing we consistently hear from people is confusion about aperture and just what exactly those numbers mean. Understanding aperture can take some time for a beginning photographer, but hopefully we can speed this process up for you! Inside is a handy f-stop chart we put together which you can drag and drop on to your desktop.
Print it out – print three out! – and stick it in your camera bag. The sooner you start understanding aperture and f-stops, the sooner you’ll start to get sharper, more creative pictures.
In the third part of our beginner’s guide, learn the meaning of the different camera settings that can affect your photos – we explain ISO, shutter speed, aperture and white balance in simple, easy to understand terms.
If you’re planning on heading out and about with your new DSLR to capture some great shots, it’s worth considering investing a little bit more in some decent kit to help you nail the perfect photo. Here’s what to look for in a camera, memory card, zoom lens and tripod.
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