What I have seen is people have a tendency to try to do “too much” with the camera and often the pictures will come out slightly over- or under-exposed, despite looking okay on the preview screen. My recommendation is to let the camera do the work 95% of the time - i.e., use automatic mode. If you’re trying to do something tricky - in particular, those things that you normally wouldn’t be able to do with a regular point and shoot - those are the times to go experimenting. The most common reason is to take photos in low-light or at night. These can be quite tricky and, since I am not the owner of a DSLR, I don’t have a magical trick to recommend.

A tripod is recommended for low-light or full telephoto work, although the stabilization tech will help you there. Be aware that the stabilization feature uses quite a bit of power, so use it infrequently or consider having an extra battery on hand.

Good luck, have a safe flight, and have a great time in Paris!