What do you do after getting your DSLR?

F

Foster Kane

Well-known member
Some friends of mine are looking to get DSLRS. All of them are first time shooters which is why they are choosing the T3I.

Once they get it should they just start shooting?
Is there ways to test it out to see if everything is working right?
What should they expect?
What are things they should look for if it is not working properly?
 
Start shooting right away, and try out all the features that you know you are going to use. Expect a large learning curve if you are ambitious.
 
1. They may have to unbox it and charge the batteries first, but otherwise, yes.

2. See #1

3. They should expect their first results to look like those of first-time camera users. They should expect their shots to have limited duration and poor audio quality. They should expect to possibly become seasick while watching their first videos. They should expect to get honest feedback and advice from those with more experience and gradually refine their skills until they achieve increasingly better results.

4. The URL of a helpful T3i web community and/or the number for Canon warranty services.
 
Shoot a lot. throw the footage into your favourite NLE and check it out. Grade it, slow it down, speed it up, play with the footage and see how far you can push it before it looks like crap.

I always try to learn the limitations of a piece of gear before i get it on a gig. That way i know how to shoot within those limits as best as possible.
 
Thanks for advice. I will pass it along.
How do you know if something is wrong with the DSLR?
Are there are any issues that that one should be aware of with a DSLR?
 
The most common issue with new DSLR's espescially for video, is user error. The best way to avoid this is to read the manual.

A few things they should do straight away; all these things can be done quite easily if they read the manual and follow the instructions there properly:

1. Set the video region to PAL if they want to shoot 25/50p or to NTSC if they want to shoot 30p/60p. 24p is available in both modes. Doing this will ensure they don't go complaining that their camera is faulty and 'doesn't have all the advertised frame rates'.

2. Turn the video control to manual. This will prevent complaints about their camera being broken and unable to adjust exposure.

3. Turn off 'Highlight tone priority' and 'auto lighting optimizer'. Doing so will prevent unneccesary complaints about their camera being broken and giving excessive noise or not exposing how they want.

4. Use good quality SDHC cards, minimum speed class 6. This will prevent complaints about their camera being broken and unable to record for more than a few seconds.

If everybody followed these steps when buying a new Canon DSLR for video, there would be far less complaints online about 'faulty cameras'.
 
I would say they should all smoke weed and get drunk to the point that they pass out...then, two days later when the hangover wears off, review the captured footage for a SURPRISE!
 
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