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Congrats! on your purchase.

You can learn basics of DSLR from Nikon India Youtube channel. You can learn from step by step video tutorials and this help a lot in understanding the features of DSLR.

http://youtube.com/user/nikonind

You can also attend DSLR workshops which Nikon School conducts, you can check www.nikonschool.in for details. I have attended the Basis class followed by next level and I can say it helps a lot.

Once you are fimiliar with your DSLR then there is nothing better than clicking and learning.

P.S.: I am not associated with Nikon in any way, just a happy customer and sharing my personal experience.

Thanks for the link. By far the best DSLR website I have come across.

I have joined the DSLR class, I have never been this excited by something other than automobiles.

- First get your posture/camera holding stance correct
- Second Get the basics correct in theory (Exposure-ISO-Aperture)
- Third Get the layout of your camera correct and get to know whereabouts of all the buttons
- Finally learn to associate second and third

And in addition to the above,

- Set-up your post processing data flow. (Data Input, Storage, back-up options, Choice of S/W for PP etc)
- Check on compositions. There is always some thing to learn from each photo.
- And last but not least: PRACTICE. Camera should never be idle! :)

Thanks. I am currently figuring out the controls. Should I shoot in JPEG or RAW? I read that RAW need post processing and I am lazy at that.

One major advantage of a DSLR is the large dynamic range and the ability to recover a lot of detail which may not be visible to the eye.
If you go JPEG you lose all that.
So.. its a choice

It is a good lens. I have used it extensively. Slight purple fringing, but it is optically very good for the price. Sample image attached (Nikon D90 + Tokina 100mm f/2.8)

The other options you have in the price range are the Tamron 90mm. I currently use a Tamron 180mm, after selling the Tokina. But I did find the Tokina more versatile as it is light and can easily be handheld. It is also a very good portrait lens.

I am going do my first ever wedding photography project next week. I am going to carry the 50mm 1.8G and also got the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR 2 lens on rent just for the event.

Whatever I have read or heard, 70-200 VR 2 rocks, especially for wedding portraits. The only downside is that its a pretty heavy lens (1.5 KG weight), so it could be tiring to hold it for 3-4 hours at a stretch. Also, I have heard that even though this is lens is meant for FX bodies ideally, it works wonders on DX bodies too.

Experts, please suggest if I should be doing or not doing anything in particular. The event is going to be indoor 90% of the time.

Thanks.
That is a wonderful and crisp shot. Do you have to use any additional lights with these lenses for macro shots?

You are welcome. No you do not need additional lights with 'these' lenses. Unless you want to. :) Flashes in the case of macro photography are a deeper subject area. Almost all my macros have been shot hand held and in broad daylight.

I did not see you mentioning the following:

1. The number of bodies you will be carrying
2. The flashes you will be using

Ideally, you should have a back up photographer; I learnt this the hard way. As you are going solo, please make sure that you get to know before hand the timings of the critical moments. There will be a period when the bride and bride groom will disappear. That is the time you have to get the crowd snaps. And, don't miss photographing the food. Carry water and some snacks along with you.

No expert, but one suggestion - can you carry two bodies - one for each lens ?

Instead of 50mm, why not the 24-70 2.8 on rent? That would make it lethal along with 70-200 2.8.

Thanks once again.

Nikkon 300 mm F4 AF-S + Nikon TC 14EII or Tamron 150-600 for wildlife/birding?

The former is a quality prime glass and the 14E doesn’t seem to degrade the IQ. The combo costs close to 1 lakh.No VR and a maximum reach of 420 mm on FX. A f5.6 lens @ 420mm.

There are many positive reviews on Tamron 150-600. Convenience of a zoom + reach up to 600mm. It is about 10-15k cheaper I guess, not a deal breaker though. Are there any quality issue with this lens on the Nikon bodies reported?

Get familiar with 70-200 F2.8 well in advance. its not an easy lens to work with. I would suggest get it on rent for a day before the wedding and use it for couple of hours for a outdoor people shoot. Get a side strap to ease out your hands in between.

50mm may not be the right lens to cover all the wedding. What all events are you covering?

for indoor, Instead of 70-200 F2.8, I would suggest get 24-70 F2.8, you can shoot whole wedding just with this lens, though its not much lighter than 70-200.

Plan your positions for the events and checkout the lighting of the stage and setup.

get friendly with the videographer and traditional photographer or your life will be hell with those halogen lights.

get few speedlights handy, just to bounce from the walls or roofs.

I would recommend that you start with JPEG and try to get things right in the camera. Then move to RAW later.

Shooting RAW from the beginning would add another layer of learning (post processing, more complex workflow) given that you are just starting out.

Thanks a lot everyone for the valuable suggestions. Love this community!

I prefer the 70-200mm instead of the 24-70, mainly because of the VR-2. It works amazingly well. So I should hopefully get sharper photos with less effort, just hopefully.

I am carrying a single body unfortunately. I could not get hold of another body. As far as I think, I can cover the event with just 70-200. This lens gives tremendous DOF and I can get super bokeh in most of the shots, including rings, jewellery and even portraits.

The event is just a 4 hour event and the crowd size is pretty small compared to standard Indian wedding crowd size. :D

I am excited!