Nikon D80 users --- how do I?

Question

I just got my Nikon D80 last night, and since I know practically nothing about working a camera off the automatic setting, I've effectively messed it all up within about 30 minutes of owning it. I had to call Niko tech support last night at 10pm to get my camera taking pictures again! I'm a total idiot when it comes to this, but after reading the owners manual and a D80 digital field guide both twice, I think I am starting to understand some things I wanted to learn --- but still have questions:

When shooting in SPORTS mode, can I increase the shutter speed? It is terribly slow when I press the shutter release, and every image I take is blurry.

In AUTO mode, can I increase the shutter speed? (I keep getting blurry pictures).

If I am SHUTTER PRIORITY mode, and I increase the shutter speed, I can do OK, but I am still getting blurry images. Notice a trend?!

What am I doing wrong.

My goal is to shoot horse show competition pictures (with no blur!)

Answer 1

first, try resetting it. click the magnify button and the info button for a few seconds until it shuts off and turns back on. in sports mode you CANNOT change the shutter speed, as well as auto. your pictures might come out blurry because the lighting is too dark and the shutter speed is slower, then you move when its in the middle of taking a picture. however, shutter priority allows you to change shutter speed! all you have to do is turn the scroll thing to the right. that might be a bad thing for you to do though, increasing the shutter speed may cause darker pictures in an area with poor lighting and even with your flash on. the shutter moves faster than the flash in that case. try those things. good luck.

feel free to email me. im not expert but i might be able to help.

--correction-

i dont know if you have the same reset buttons as me, try looking in the manual. also, if you cant get good pictures, take it back, just try it.