Explanation of Camera Lenses and lighting?
I recently purchased a Nikon D3300 and only have the lens it comes with, a 18-55mm. I'm able to take some good pics but I feel like I really need something to focus on. I really want to get something as small as the texture and detail on a rock or moss "hairs." Lower mm to higher mm is for range/distance so do I just need a lower mm or a special lens altogether?
I only use manual mode and plan to go to school for photography so I wanted some info on how lights should be used and what lights I should get/use. Outside lighting is fine now no matter how dark the day is so far but in an incandescent room I just can't get anything to show up even after playing around any tips other than using flash?
I'm open to any other info and advice I'm signing up in a few months and trying to get a head start. I really appreciate the help and time you took to read all this.
You need a micro/macro lens to get details on small things. The focal length has little to do with it. Nikkor macro lenses vary from 40mm to 200mm.
http://www.nikonusa.com/...index.page
For indoor shots, start by opening the aperture to its max (f/3.5?). Do not zoom. Then starting about 1/30 shutter speed, take a pic. If it is too dark, slow the shutter speed; try 1/15. You will eventually get something. You can always cheat. Put it in Aperture priority, set it to f/3.5 and let the camera choose the shutter speed. BTW, you can also vary the ISO, but for this test set it at ISO 100.
To give yourself a head start on the classes, try these online courses.
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/...orials.htm
http://creativelive.com/courses/
- I recommend the "Fundamentals of Digital Photography"
http://www.geofflawrence.com/photography_tutorials.htm
You need a macro lens for the close-up.
I've used a Tamron 90mm f2.8 for several years.
Lighting indoors? Noise will be a factor and so will contrast issues unless you supply light. You already have a camera with an ideal sensor for that so if upping the ISO and selecting the correct white balance don't get the result then you HAVE to add more ambient light.
Nikon calls them Micro lenses, everybody else calls them Macro, if you buy a third-party one, make sure it's motorised, or you'll lose autofocus, they can also be expensive.
An alternative is a set of extension tubes, but you'll need one that allows full control between body and lens. This set from Kenko don't allow autofocus, but you may be lucky if you do your own search;
Try them out to see how the lenses are.
You are cheating yourself if you only use Manual mode. You are wasting the capabilities of the camera to automatically set the optimum exposure (shutter speed + aperture) for a good picture. If you want some control to help you learn photography, use either A (aperture) or S (shutter) mode. With Manual mode, you're shooting in the dark (pun intended), just guessing at optimum exposure, and probably getting it wrong 90% of the time.
I suggest taking some photography classes, or at least buy a couple of "how-to" books on photography. There are also many good tutorials online.
For close-up photography, your kit 18-55mm lens won't do it. You need a "macro" lens. But even with such a lens, there's still much to know. You need to understand depth-of-field and its relationship to aperture setting, and sharpness of image and its relationship to shutter speed.
Photography is not something you conquer in a few days. It's an ongoing learning process that will take time, study, practice, and more practice.
To avoid camera shake indoors you need a good tripod with tilting or reversible column.
Or you could use external flash. Or both.
A macro ring flash could be ideal for macro, but a standard flash can be used as bounce flash. The latter can serve you for macro and for many non-macro shots that the ring flash won't help you with.
It is normal not to get good results with ordinary household lighting. Photography after all is the act of recording light. The better the quality of light you use, the better you can make the pictures appear.