New camera, excited and scared

Hi! I have been using a 16 megapixel Nikon bridge camera for 6 years and have taken some (in my opinion) beautiful pictures. I have always wanted to upgrade so I finally did. I read many reviews and compared many products and went with the Nikon D3500. I am so excited to have it. I have a lot to learn and I’m willing to put in the work. I unfortunately do not have a lot of money to pour into it though. I’m worried I may have made the wrong choice, what if I can’t learn it or what if I don’t like it like I thought I would. I’m hoping I can learn and my new camera is capable of what I’m expecting.

Here’s where I need you all... Taking a picture close up of someone’s face is awesome. It’s clear and the quality is great. Taking pictures of someone far away is what has me concerned. I am learning about manual mode but since I don’t have it all figured out, I am shooting some in auto just to see what it’s capable of. So far, I’m not impressed. My old camera does a better job (how can a cheaper, not as fancy camera be better?!). The images are not sharp, especially when zoomed in. I am going to attach 2 pictures for examples. The little guy with the superhero shirt on is indoors in a well lit room. I’m about 8 feet away and my lens is on 55 mm. I also cropped this picture so it would be easier to show you what I want. It is too fuzzy for my liking. I was sitting down when I took this.
The bigger guy in the black shirt & orange shorts is outside in the evening. He was playing but pretty much still at this moment. He is very blurry zoomed in. I was leaned against a car taking this.
Both pictures are in auto mode and I’m using a Nikkor 18-55 mm VR lens. 

My new camera also came with the Nikkor 70-300 mm lens. (Not used in either picture.)

Is this something that is going to improve with time and a lot of practice? I like to take pictures of my family’s adventures, the kids playing sports, landscape pictures and wildlife. I love printing my pictures and even blowing some up for large prints/canvases. 

I will add 7 other pictures that I took with my bridge camera. (Note, the stadium picture shows how far away I am from the stage, the stage picture is from my seat but zoomed in)

Thank you so much if you read all of this. I know it’s long and it may be the same thing you hear from every newbie but I know I can get the advice I need from you all. 
Please, someone tell me I didn’t make a huge mistake by buying this camera.


 

I can't be certain, but perhaps you were not holding the camera perfectly still, thus you got some blur in that first shot.  

I like your pictures BTW.  The boy with the balloon is precious 

I'm sure you did not buy the wrong camera and will learn to use it well as you keep shooting with it.  There are Nikon guys here who know a ton load of stuff about them, so don't go away  

The excitement will get you making images and making images will develop the experience necessary to make even better images.  I would say you have made a good start.  The camera is immaterial.  They all work.  Keep shooting.

Thank you so much!

G'day mate

As our colleague fmw alludes to ... the camera is merely a recording device ~ you are the seeing device.

You will also have noted that the weight & ergonomics of the dSLR + a big 70-300 lens the size of a soft-drink bottle & the weight of a house brick is uncomfortable to hold at times, thus leading to many of us using a 'solid' monopod to minimise camera vibration that occurs simply as you breathe (funny that!)

Maybe you could investigate monopods and see if one works for you when using the heavy, combined system

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/