I still rock a D1X. It's becoming an artifact I think.

Heh, on that note, my camera is a 35mm Elan IIe. Look where you want to focus, it's awesome. I want a full frame digital camera already.

Technology has ruined photography. At least the part where your camera body retains it's value. ;) I'm still rockin' my 1Dmk2 and get that burning feeling in my pocket every time one of these prosumer models comes out.

You speak the truth...I'm addicted already. Another money pit I suppose, but I could be spending money on worse things.

That's the same film camera I bought years ago. Great camera. Wish I had the same thing in digital now but too cheap to buy one. I hate the pictures I get from the little pocket digital I have but it's tough to want to haul around a big SLR again.

Where do you guys suggest taking a class that can familiarize a person with their DSLR? I noticed my community college has one... I have the old D1X that I bought from my dad with some nice glass on it but have never learned enough about photography to know how to do much more than point and shoot. I'd like to develop some actual photography skill and be able to take some nice photos...
-Ryan

No class necessary....do a little research and do some trial and error. Its amazing how fast you can pick up things. You'll always be learning though, thats for sure. What I've been doing is taking a pic, make an adjustment, compare, take a pic, make an adjustment, compare, rinse and repeat. You'll start to notice what settings do what, I did.

I just made a bounce diffuser out of a piece of paper for my nikon sb400.

This shot was taken in a dark shed with no other lighting at about 7:45pm this evening.

http://gallery.y8s.com/d/22891-2/DSC_2121.JPG

Heres another good example of how well the flash diffuser works....Everything was the same in these pictures except the diffuser.

WITH
Attachment 197454

WITHOUT
Attachment 197455

Yeah, a paper diffuser works also but for the low price and the "don't have to fuck with it every time you go to use it" factor I couldn't pass the puffin up.

Doing is the best way to learn. You can improve with specific instruction, but to really get going, you can take a more informal approach. I used to point a lot of people at "Tips from the Top Floor", a podcast designed to teach you 101 type tips, and force you into experimentation and practice habits. It's suitable for people with a point and shoot with some manual controls, and is ideally suited for DSLR owners. You may consider starting from the beginning, but as I recall, Chris's show was always pretty "jump right in" friendly.

http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/