After purchasing your camera, I’m sure you would be most eager to take some photography basics pictures immediately. If there is some residual power in the battery even though it was pack brand new from the manufacturer, you could probably snap one or two. It would be better to fully charge the battery before exploring and learning the capability of your digital SLR camera.
Once fully charge, you could photograph quite a number of pictures. In my case, I’m using a Canon EOS 30D, a fully charge battery can snap about 500 photos! If you have not done so already, insert the battery into the battery slot. If the lens has not been attached, removed the cover from digital SLR lens mount. Remove the protective cover also from the lens where it will attach to the DSLR body. Align the white dot or red dot of the lens with the DSLR body. Check and make sure the focus mode is set to AF for auto-focus. Slide open the CF Card or SD Card cover, and insert the appropriate memory card. It is advisable the power is switch off while inserting or removing the memory card to avoid data corruption.
If it is a brand new card, it is advisable to format the card using the camera (do not format from the desktop PC! That format is not compatible with the camera!). Before formatting, make sure the data that is about to be erased is not important or has already been transferred elsewhere.
Power up the camera, set the mode dial to Full Auto. Look for an interesting subject like your girlfriend, wife, children or pet. Ask the victim to smile, as you look through the viewfinder and compose your shot, gently squeeze the shutter button to take the picture.
Review the photo by pressing the review button. You may zoom in by pressing the enlarge button for a better view of the picture.
There you go, your first photograph!
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