Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[DueyDooDah]

Unless you need to shoot fast, burst mode photos, such as for sports, I think you'll be happy with the XSi. You will certainly save a bundle on the body.

BTW: The 40D is listed on the Canon site as $1099. If you go this route, I'd check prices first.

 

[lovetheprincesses]

Thanks for the heads up. Also, what is the best small point and shoot camera? My daughter's open house is tomorrow, and I may buy something to get by with first, before completely deciding and shucking out the money for a new DSLR. I need a new good small camera anyway. Thanks for any advice!

 

[MontanaZoo]

I (cause apparently I'm an idiot) just volunteered to spend some time at our zoo's MargaritaZOOvile (hey, I didn't come up with the name) taking pictures to be printed right there and then for people to buy. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this...I was suggesting printing a 4x6 and letting them get the full sized photo off of our website so they can continue to print it multiple times and at whatever size they want. The director wants 8x10's printed right then and there with a MargaritaZOOville logo on the bottom of the pic.

Sigh. I'm thinking the easiest way I can do this is to be tethered to a laptop and have an assistant print the photo. The other option I'm thinking of is to use a compact flash card reader and just switch cards every photo and have the assistant download the last photo off the card and print it.

Any suggestions? Anyone do tethers?

I do have a remote, I could tripod my camera if it's tethered and take the picture with the remote and prepare and print it myself.

I'm questioning my sanity in volunteering at this point. At least I did say set times and not all day long.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

You could try a copy of DSLR Remote Pro. I used a trial copy for my most recent portrait workshop and it worked reasonably well.

 

[WindyLea]

Hi everybody! I absolutely love this board, and I have taken sooo many notes...LOL!
I got this awesome camera...and I absolutely LOVE it, but have no clue what to do with it other than the standard settings that it came set on. We are making a trip in 2 weeks, and DH bought me a new 28-135 IS lens today, and I'm sure it can do amazing things, but I'm clueless. I've been reading posts and taking notes, and I found that to take fireworks pictures I need to have the ISO set low, and I see the ISO button on the camera, but can't figure out how to change it. (Note: Users manual got highly decorated by DD3 and a replacement in ordered, but it won't be here in time to prepare for my trip) Is is reasonable to switch ISO settings back and forth or should I stick with a specific setting? also, the f/4.5...no clue what thats about. In my handy dandy tip notebook that I've started, it says to take night pictures, I should be at 1/8s f/4.5 ISO 1000...can some very patient person help me to understand my camera? I know this is asking alot, but I've tried doing the research online and it is written far above my level of understanding.

Thanks!!!!

 

[maccagerl]

you can go to the Canon website ( Canon dot com) and download the manual and print it out on your printer, or just print out the chapters you need.
There are also small books available at most bookstores which are basically a Rebel manual only written and explained so it is more easily understood- probably cost around $12 - $20.
Get the manual or the book, look up the sections on the photos you want to take, and practice the settings at home so you will know what you are doing when you actually use the camera at WDW.
If you don't have time to learn how to use your camera before you go, you will get pretty good photos using the automatic mode in daylight.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[MonoManBlue]

Also, rotating one of your dials should change the Iso. I assume the Xti has dials.....my D80 does.

For fireworks, I've never had good luck with the seconds exposure. Terrible luck actually, normally I shoot Iso 200 or 400, set my stops between 5.6-16 and then put my shutter speed on bulb. Bulb mode works the best for me for whatever reason.

 

[ukcatfan]

Also, rotating one of your dials should change the Iso. I assume the Xti has dials.....my D80 does.

I do not have a Canon, but the XTi has one dial and I am almost positive that it does not control ISO. I believe there is a dedicated button. If the OP is still in auto, then that ISO button does nothing. Switch to P mode. That is basically auto with ISO control. You could also control the white balance, but I suggest a basic user to keep that on the auto setting. For fireworks, make sure to have a tripod and remote shutter release. I think you would need to use at least shutter priority mode to set the shutter speed to about two seconds. Manual mode is preferred, but you would have to make adjustments to the settings to get it right, which might be too much for a beginner.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I have the Rebel XT. Not sure if they changed anything from my model to yours, but I will tell you how I do it.

In all of the basic or automatic modes, the camera sets the ISO for you. To control it yourself you have to be in one of the "creative" (as they call it in the manual) modes such as P, TV, AV, M, A-DEP. In any of those modes, press the ISO button on the back of the camera (the top, or up, button in the circle of buttons). This opens the ISO menu. Then use the up & down buttons to get to the ISO you want, and the set button to select it.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

also, the f/4.5...no clue what thats about. In my handy dandy tip notebook that I've started, it says to take night pictures, I should be at 1/8s f/4.5 ISO 1000...can some very patient person help me to understand my camera? I know this is asking alot, but I've tried doing the research online and it is written far above my level of understanding.

Thanks!!!!

When you see a number like f/4.5, it refers to the aperture. The aperture is the opening of the shutter, the different aperture numbers tell you how wide the shutter will open. The larger the openening, the more light that gets into the camera. The lower the F number is the larger the opening, the higher the f number the smaller the opening. So f4.5 is a larger aperture & will let in more light than f16.

When I want to control the aperture, I set the camera to AV (aperture priority) then look through the viewfinder & press the shutter release half way down. You will see the shutter speed, and aperture in the bottom of the viewfinder. Turn the little dial right behind the shutter realease. The aperture number will change. For low light go to the smallest f/number your lens can. In this mode, you are setting the aperture & the camera will set the shutter speed for you.

Before your trip, try playing with AV in low light to get a feel for how it works.

 

[maccagerl]

There is also a sticky at the top of this forum titled camera equipment and techniques. Check out that thread for instructions on shooting fireworks etc.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1450061

 

[pixiedustforever]

thanks for your replies!

I'm not the OP, but I had the same question & have an XTi, too!
And I leave tomorrow morning for WDW!

Pixiedustforever

 

[mabas9395]

Try these two Canon websites to learn your XT better.

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/index.html

http://www.usa.canon.com/content/rebelxt_tutorial/rebelxtlessons.htm

 

[DVC Jen]

it is extremely easy to change the ISO on teh XTi. It does NOT have a dail - it has a round area that can look like a dail but instead contains 4 buttons. These buttons are for ISO, metering, auto focus and white balance.

To change your ISO just push the ISO button and the ISO choices will appear on the screen, then use the arrow buttons (that are also the 4 buttons on the circular area) to adjust your ISO higher or lower. When you have the ISO you want selected - push the small button labeled set that is in the middle area of the circular area or the middle area of those 4 buttons.

Hope that helps.

 

[bnorm27]

Here is a pretty good book you can get. Maybe they have it at Barnes & Noble by you. I ordered it from Amazon.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide
by Charlotte K. Lowrie

It really breaks down the XTi, and gives you a pretty good understanding of all of the features. It is really good if you have never used an SLR or DSLR camera before.

I know it won't help if you are leaving tomorrow night, so my best advice would be to keep you camera in the auto mode (the green square on the dial). You'll love you camera, and you'll love the pictures too!

 

[mabas9395]

it is extremely easy to change the ISO on teh XTi. It does NOT have a dail - it has a round area that can look like a dail but instead contains 4 buttons. These buttons are for ISO, metering, auto focus and white balance.

To change your ISO just push the ISO button and the ISO choices will appear on the screen, then use the arrow buttons (that are also the 4 buttons on the circular area) to adjust your ISO higher or lower. When you have the ISO you want selected - push the small button labeled set that is in the middle area of the circular area or the middle area of those 4 buttons.

Hope that helps.

Just don't forget to change it back to a normal setting after you make an extreme change. Last time we were at DL, I set the ISO to 1600 for some low light shots, then we were walking in front of the castle and got some nice impromptu shots of the kids in front of the castle but I forgot to lower the ISO. They're not bad, but could have been a lot better.

 

[DVC Jen]

Just don't forget to change it back to a normal setting after you make an extreme change. Last time we were at DL, I set the ISO to 1600 for some low light shots, then we were walking in front of the castle and got some nice impromptu shots of the kids in front of the castle but I forgot to lower the ISO. They're not bad, but could have been a lot better.

I do that sometimes too - so frustrating. Glad I am not the only one.

 

[WindyLea]

Thank you sooo much! You guys have no idea how helpful your replies are! I will be so much more comfortable with my camera now! There are buttons on this camera that I never would have touched because I didn't want to mess anything up!

Now, while there are such wonderful helpful people around, can somebody tell me what the metering mode is used for, as well as the function of the A-DEP and Tv mode? Also there is a button on the back of the camera on the top right of the display screen that has AV with + - on it...what is this for? And how about the two buttons on the top far right?

I'm definitely going to Barnes and noble today to look for that book...I can't wait to read more! I was sooo excited to see that there were replies to my post!!!!!

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Now, while there are such wonderful helpful people around, can somebody tell me what the metering mode is used for, as well as the function of the A-DEP and Tv mode? Also there is a button on the back of the camera on the top right of the display screen that has AV with + - on it...what is this for? And how about the two buttons on the top far right?

TV is Shutter Priority, you set the shutter speed, the camera sets the aperture.
M is Manual
A-Dep is automatic depthe of field. The camera uses the 7 autofocus points to make sure the nearest & furthes subjects are in focus.
The AV button is used in M mode, you set the shutter speed first (using the little dial behind the shutter release) then hit the AV button to set the aperture

Not sure about the other 2 buttons, I have never used them.

 

[bnorm27]

Now, while there are such wonderful helpful people around, can somebody tell me what the metering mode is used for, as well as the function of the A-DEP and Tv mode? Also there is a button on the back of the camera on the top right of the display screen that has AV with + - on it...what is this for? And how about the two buttons on the top far right?

Those buttons allow you to overexpose or underexpose the picture when in some of the manual modes of the camera. If you push the button, and then turn the wheel, you will see the exposure compensation meter move.

The book will really help you out with a lot of these questions, much more detailed then the owners manual. Good Luck!