Welcome to the wonderful, technical world of film photography! =D
1. 1600 - 0 are -- at least on my Pentax K1000 -- is shutter speeds. You are right, it is how long the negative is exposed to light. 1 means 1 minute, where as 1600 is .1600 of a second, so it's really fast.
General rule: Fast shutter speed (60x and above) usually has these effects:
+Ability to freeze motion, so it is really sharp. An example is a waterfall, the water would be harsh, and frozen in time.
+But since it is really fast, little light enters, so you need a fast film (High iso, 400 and above is generally used with fast film)
A slow shutter speed (60 and below, B is for bulb, in which the shutter remains open as long as you want it) is very fascinating .
+ The motion, if captured, is blurry. Again, with the waterfall, the water would be soft and floaty.
+ More light enters, so you want a slower film (20-200) (Slower film means it is not as sensitive to light, unlike the high iso films). You can use 400 iso film, though, but use a smaller aperture.
+ You know those pictures of cars , or cities with streaks of light? It's done with a slow shutter speed. since the shutter is open for a long time, you will want to steady the camera -- a tripod, or flat surface will suffice. 1/60 you can still hold the camera.
You also need to understand the aperture. The aperture is the widening or closing of the lens, which you can control. (It is on the lens and has numbers on it like 22, 16,11,8,5.6,4). A small aperture (22-8) allows for little light to come in, but everything is in sharp depth of field (Where everything is in focus). Ansel Adams is a good example, his pictures are a good example for sharp depth of field. 5.6 and above is a bigger opening and has a shallow depth of field (Some parts are in focus, others are not), but allows for more light to come in.
So, now for lighting situations! ( A picture in a dark place with no flash and so on).
What you really want is a light meter. Your camera should have one, inside. It's through the lens, and a little line with a plus and negative. you need a batter (My camera is like that) and the line will move up or down, according to your lighting situation. but here's what i have learned:
1. Sunny place: You will want a higher shutter speed, with film around 400 iso. If too much light comes in, the picture is over explosed. However, there are other comboniations:
- Small aperture (say.. f/8), 60 shutter speed, 400 iso
- Medium aperture, 400 iso and shutter speed at 60.
- Use slow film, so that it won't be over exposed (Around 200 iso. that's the ideal for a sunny setting).
2. Dark areas: You can open up the aperture (5.6 and above) , for more light to come in.
Other possibilities:
-Have a slow shutter speed (60 and below), but that will require a tripod or something to steady the camera with.
-Have a really high speed film (400-3200). Film of 800 iso is used in concerts, or was...
However, if you are using a wide aperture and a slow shutter speed, stick with 400 iso. I've done it before. I took a picture of the full moon, and had the shutter open for half a second ( I think) with an aperture of 5.6 and the film's iso was 400. The picture came out properly exposed and such. Never underestimate 400 iso. I did that once, kept the shutter open for 15th of a second, in a low lighting situation, the pictures were horribly over exposed.
Yet you can save yourself a lot of guessing and trouble by buying yourself a light meter. My camera has one in, and that's as modern as I'll go with my personal photography. Don't let it fully control you, though, and after a while and you become used to lighting, you will be able to choose and know your results. What I do is first try to adjust the camera's settings on my own, and then see what the light meter says.
More tips:
+ Never get it in the sand! Never! Don't even think, "oh, i'll set it here for a while...it's a little bit of sand". That will harm the camera.
+ Don't get it wet
+ Try to avoid extreme weather conditions.
+ If you are going to get wet, try to buy a housing unit first.
+ Have a good, strong strap for your camera.
+ don't drop it.
Using it:
Selecting the iso: Usually, the iso can be selected on the same knob where you select the shutter speed. There should be ridges on it, and just lift and the little number should move when you twist it. Ask your dad.
Good luck and enjoy your shooting!
Just keep in mind, you will ruin a lot of film -- I have. I'm just starting to get the hang of it, and I've been shooting for two years now. Don't give up, and develope an eye for composition. Learn the rule of 3rds, it is invaluable.
Have fun! And good luck,
Samantha
Contact me any time if you need help.