just got a new SLR..but got a few questons..

[Skyline4life]

So i just got a Rebel XT and yes i did take that over exhaust, ima wait untill spring..

But my question is how do i set it up to take nice pics of my car? Like Night pics? what are the settings, what do you set it on? Day pics also..

I know a few people have taken some night pics were it basicly looks like your really there..its REALLY sharp pic..

any help would be lovely im a n00b with it.

[marc-o-lishuz]

night shots are tricky...

go for high ISO (100), use a tripod, use the timer, set it to "Av" (aperture priority) on the dial, and use RAW images so you can photoshop later.

if your pics look a little yellow (or "warm") on the LCD on the camera, don't worry... it'll look much better on a computer screen.

you got a nice dSLR there. just practice.

check out the forums on dpreview.com

[Skyline4life]

Originally Posted by marc-o-lishuz

night shots are tricky...

go for high ISO (100), use a tripod, use the timer, set it to "Av" (aperture priority) on the dial, and use RAW images so you can photoshop later.

if your pics look a little yellow (or "warm") on the LCD on the camera, don't worry... it'll look much better on a computer screen.

you got a nice dSLR there. just practice.

check out the forums on dpreview.com

ok if i set the ISo to 100, then what do i do about the whole aperture or what ever the hell i can modify in there hahah

[marc-o-lishuz]

modify? you don't modify anything. you just set the dial to "Av"

here's an article on Aperture

[Skyline4life]

Originally Posted by marc-o-lishuz

modify? you don't modify anything. you just set the dial to "Av"

here's an article on Aperture

idk, i have the option to change some stuff..Like shutter speed and som ething eles i think.. I'm so lost with this camrea hah.

[marc-o-lishuz]

your camera will calculate how much time to expose the sensor based on the aperture and the amount of ambient light.

[dannn]

i have the xt also and use av setting for most of my pictures

[JerrfyLube]

First thing, go buy a GOOD tripod before even attempting it. Also, a shutter release of some sort(i have a remote for my 350D) is a must unless you want to use the timer to keep from moving the camera when you release the shutter. Other than that, stick it on M and play around with aperture and shutter speed till you find good exposures...you can use Tv also if you want to let the camera select the aperture for you...those exact settings depend on ambient light, what your taking pics of and a million other factors so its impossible to give you exact settings. Since you will be using a tripod, keep the ISO setting low, like at 100 to keep the noise(digital grain) to a minimum. The camera has a built in noise filter that will minimize artifacts and the likes when the exposure time gets longer. Other than that, just play around with it...but above all, a good solid tripod is most important.

For day pics, under normal conditions where i just want pics with no effects, i usually use the Program(P) setting...the little index finger wheel will allow you to adjust shutterspeed(aperture will adjust accorindly) if you need a little more or less speed. When you start wanting to create illusions of motion and other things, start playing around with the other settings. For portraits or macro shots i will usually use the Av setting with the smallest aperture possible to give a blurred background effect. Its all trial and error and dont get discouraged if your pictures just dont look like you expect at first.

[ethlar]

i have the original rebel but its still pretty much the same, i use P for most of my shooting, puts everything in mostly automatic except the flash, and i play with the Av+/- exposure setting to change what i want

Another random tip is set your autofocus to the center point instead of everything, put the center on what you want in focus, focus the camera then frame your shot, it gives it more depth.

[marc-o-lishuz]

^ good tip on the autofocus points. i keep mine in the middle (for the most part).

don't forget to use good framing... "Rule of Thirds" google it.

[Skyline4life]

ok so i played around with it this morning..2 pics i kinda like..nothing great, i'm wereing my glasses so its hard for me to focus and crap. (i wear contacts)




edit-There shuld be another pic..idk why its not loading, heres the link
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5002/1216062nz6.jpg

[marc-o-lishuz]

nice.

increase exposure on the first pic to show more detail.

[ethlar]

another good thing with the rebel and if your good with learning new software, and if you have a card big enough. Shoot in RAW mode, it affords you much more control over the pictures after you take them in terms of color and exposure correction, it also will provide a lot of information to help you figure out what settings worked and what didnt. All in all a very helpful tool

[ILL FG2]

IMO, M mode is much more effective, as it allows you complete control. Really just read the manual that came with the camera, that's the best way to learn the features of the camera.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by ILL FG2

IMO, M mode is much more effective, as it allows you complete control. Really just read the manual that came with the camera, that's the best way to learn the features of the camera.

Certainly...always shoot in manual if you can. It sounds like the poster is very new to this, though, so Aperture priotiy is probably a good place for him to start.

[sickyute]

reading .... learning ... about to buy

[JeShUa]

My rebel will be here tomorrow.. hopefully someone'll be here when it comes in to sign for it!! I'm prolly gonna get the 60mm macro lens.. but yeah.. what is a good tripod?? I dont want to spend too much on a freakin tripod.. lol.. are there good ones on the bay? :]..
I'll be sure to turn out some nice pictures.. and yeah.. I'm taking a photo class now.. so I'll learn all of my features pretty well

[sickyute]

i bought a lens ... i have no camera !!!!!

EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

[marc-o-lishuz]

ooooohhhh... and IS L-series lens! yummay!

[sickyute]

whatever that means ...
just though it would be a good starter lens with image sbabilization ...