New member needs help

[lurechunker]

I am new to the forum and asking for help. Our granddaughter plays basketball and I would like to photograph her. I kayak and would like to photograph birds. Is the EOS 760D the camera for me? Other? What lens or lenses? How can I protect my equipment form damage from saltwater? Thank you.

[John_SD]

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@lurechunker wrote:
I have DPP downloaded and want to crop an image. May I have step by step procedure? Thanks.

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How much hand-holding do you really require? 

Download the manual and figure it out.

[Stephen]

Hey now, @John_SD! Hand-holding keeps me in a job!

@lurechunker - We actually have a pretty awesome YouTube channel you might want to peruse: http://YouTube.com/CanonUSA

We have a specific video that walks you through editing photos in DPP4. Since there have been revisions to DPP since this video was made, it might be slightly different, so if you need further handholding, feel free to call our US-based team at 1-800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666) and they're happy to literally walk you through the process live, over the phone. They're in the office during the week from 8am to Midnight (ET) and on Saturdays from 10am to 8pm (ET)

Here's the video.

We hope this helps!

[jrhoffman75]

http://community.usa.canon.com/t5/Software/Canon-DPP-Tutorials/m-p/201518#U201518

[lurechunker]

Thank you for your patience. I am old and dumb. Abe and I did our homework together using a slate and a piece of coal. Photographed a bunting just now....my first. Love the 100-400 and my new hobby.

[ebiggs1]

"I am old and dumb. Abe and I did our homework together ..."

Show off !   Me and George W. had to use a bird feather and parchment which we had to make.  Anyway might I suggest you look into Lightroom by Adobe.  It is similar to the free DPP4 but is well worth the cost. If you are seriously delving into this new hobby you will want a more robust post editor.  Great photos are made in post, not in the camera.

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"I am old and dumb. Abe and I did our homework together ..."

Show off !   Me and George W. had to use a bird feather and parchment which we had to make.  Anyway might I suggest you look into Lightroom by Adobe.  It is similar to the free DPP4 but is well worth the cost. If you are seriously delving into this new hobby you will want a more robust post editor.  Great photos are made in post, not in the camera.

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He's right..

But, I would suggest cutting your teeth on DPP first, until you can get acclimated with post processing.  Lightroom is far more complicated than DPP.  When you feel more comfortable with the techniques, and if decide to buy LR, you can always go back process your old files.  

You may also want to look into image editing software, too.  Photoshop Elements is available, if you don't want a subscription. There are also freeware applications, too, like GIMP.  PaintDotNet is more sophisticated than MS Pain, but nowhere near as complex as GIMP.

[lurechunker]

Just got eight shots of a male cardinal. May need a longer lens. I'll write to Santa. LOL

[ebiggs1]

One word, the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens for Canon.  Well maybe it is more than just one word.

Reality.  Birds are small. You need extreme focal length or you can get closer.  One or both.  There is an old photographer's saying, "The more focal length, the better."

[RobertTheFat]

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@lurechunker wrote:
Just got eight shots of a male cardinal. May need a longer lens. I'll write to Santa. LOL

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He may not mind posing for you closely enough for your current lens. Cardinals aren't as fazed by humans as some birds are. My daughter once had a cardinal couple build a nest in a bush right outside her kitchen window (in a fairly densely settled suburb of Philadelphia).

[lurechunker]

Maybe a 1.4 X lll extender?