Hi from Scotland

Hi, I am Doug! I bought a K-30 for my holidays and to capture those timeless moments of my kids that we all only get to do once.

Hello to everyone.

I am looking to get some info on a basic kit; i.e. Tripod, first additional lens, etc ... Can you all please assist? I am looking to do some macro and some telephoto shots as well as those birthday parties and xmases for my kids.

Thanks,
Doug.

Hello Doug welcome to the forum.
You will find no end of help and advice here.

Welcome Doug

Welcome to the forum, I hope you're enjoying your new DSLR.

As a first additional lens many go for a fast prime, like the DAL 35mm f/2.4. If you're interested in macro then you might be interested in the DA 35mm f/2.8 limited macro. It's a fantastic general use lens with amazing image quality and will do 1:1 macro too.

Welcome Doug...I'l be expecting some fabulous landscapes...lol

Thanks for your replies guys. I'd be interested in your comments for improving this one. Please be as critical as you like, I am relying on your experience and knowledge.

We have a section 'your photos' where you can get comments so if that is what you want then you'll get a better response if you re-post it there

Hello and Welcome

Thanks Guys. Am I right in saying that I cannot upload photos until I have been a member for 30 days?

Upload away, let's see some of your images!

Hello and welcome from me too!

You can upload 1 image per day to the Gallery I think, even if you are not a 'paid up' member.

Regarding your first image posted above, it's nice and sharp (as it should be) and the colours are well saturated but not too bright. There are a few simple things you could have done to improve it:

- The foreground is blocking the view to what is beyond, consequently there is nothing to lead the eye into the shot. Try to avoid taking landscape shots that have no 'lead-in' for the eye.

- There is too much featureless sky - if it had been filled with dramatic clouds it would be different, but for this one it doesn't warrant so much space

- I think it would have been better to go close to the fence so you could see above it and choose a view point that excluded this feature and had a vista into the distance. It's a good idea to include foreground detail, especially with a wide angle lens, but not if it is obscuring potentially more appealing things in the middle and far distance

Hope these comments are not too harsh for your first post, but you did ask!

Regards
David

Good evening and welcome to a fellow K-30 user

Thanks guys. David, many thanks for your comments, this is exactly the kind of feedback i am looking for. I know it doesn't quite look right, I just don't know why and I take your comments as useful advice. Thanks so much for this.

I will need to upload one tomorrow and get your comments again, it's all about learning and the best way to do that is ask those like minded people who have the experience.

Ta,
D.

Okay, I have uploaded my first pic to my gallery. It could have filled the frame better and I am thinking I should have used macro mode but not bad for my first ever pic on a DSLR ... I hope

It's a good start. Maybe the composition could be improved by making it vertical and including all three flower heads, but time enough yet for experimentation.

Well done, you're on the path!