Finding yourself in the position of buying a new camera can be really exciting. And if this is your first time in the world of photography, we can assure you that you are going to love it. However, if you don’t know where to start from, then this article will give you some excellent tips that you can follow after buying a new camera.
First Things to Do After Buying a New Camera
1. Read the User Manual
The first thing you should do after you buy a new camera is to read the manual. Some of you may find it ridiculous, but this is the way we have learned about photography. Because there’s a lot of helpful information like how ISO and Exposure work in the manual. Plus, every camera is built differently. So, even if you are an experienced shooter, the new camera you just bought might have some hidden features that you might not otherwise know about. These days usually manuals don’t come with the box, so search on the internet or manufacturer’s website to download the PDF.
2. Firmware Upgrade
Even though you bought a brand new camera, it might happen that your camera is not running on the latest firmware. So, again you can go to your manufacturer’s website and look if there’s any new update for your model. Often camera manufacturers push new features and solve problems for cameras with firmware updates. Take the Canon C70 as an example, which is about to get internal RAW support via a firmware upgrade. Hence, it’s always best to be on the latest firmware version.
3. Accessories
Next comes the accessories. And, it’s obvious that when you buy a new camera, you are too excited and wanna buy all the gadgets for it. But, we will recommend buying only the things you will most need, like the battery, SD card, and maybe a quick release plate if you are going to work a lot with a tripod.
When it comes to battery, buy at least two because a dead battery means no photos. Also, when buying a battery, always try to get it from the first party as things can go wrong anytime. But if you are a filmmaker and need extra juice, look for an external battery from a reputed brand. The same goes for the SD cards as well. Also, look for a higher read and write speed. Because a slower SD card can’t keep up when you are taking those burst shots and high-res slow-mo video footage. So, don’t cheap out with the SD cards.
4. Choosing the Perfect Lenses
Let’s talk about lenses too. As you are new to photography, we suggest you try the zoom lens first. Since it has a variable focal length, you will have more options, and you will also get an idea of what kind of focal length is ideal for you. Then if you want, you can get a prime lens with that fixed focal length. However, this doesn’t apply to the aperture, and we strongly suggest you look for a lens with a fixed aperture, not the variable ones.
5. Set your Diopter
If your new camera comes with a viewfinder, you will find a small dial near the eyepiece called the Diopter. It can affect the way you look through the viewfinder. So, make sure that it’s perfectly set for your eyes. If not, then things might not appear sharp and clear in the viewfinder. Even if you were shooting for a while and didn’t set your adapter, we highly recommend you to try it now. You will be surprised to see how clear things can appear in your viewfinder.
6. Customizing Buttons & Menus
There are certain menus and buttons that you want to access fast for efficient photography. Fortunately, you can customize it according to your needs, as most cameras allow you to do that. Therefore, it’s always a great idea to assign features and settings you use the most to your camera’s physical button and menu screen. However, don’t go overboard while customizing the buttons and menus, as there will always be that moment when you have to hand over the camera to someone else to take a photo or video for you.
7. Tutorial Videos
Another thing you can do is to watch some tutorial videos and read articles on the internet about your specific camera. Because users online might give you some insights about the challenges and answers to those quirks during their testing periods, this will save you from a lot of hassles to figure out those problems and solutions by yourself.
Final Say
Finally, go and shoot a lot with your new camera and see which settings work best for you. Of course, you have to consider what other users and manufacturers recommend, but you have to figure out which ISO and Exposure settings are acceptable for you. Find out how your camera’s Autofocus and Stabilization works and when you need to go manual or use the gimbal. Try to memorize all the buttons and menus in your camera. Make as many mistakes as you can before shooting an actual client. So, these were all about the things you can do after you buy a new camera.
