Why is my Canon doing this? I just got a Canon EOS Rebel XS with no manual. I have taken several test shots with it, but sometimes I get a blinking green light in the viewfinder and it...

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

I just got a Canon EOS Rebel XS with no manual. I have taken several test shots with it, but sometimes I get a blinking green light in the viewfinder and it won't take a picture right away, but eventually does, and this is on auto everything. I have tried different settings, like aperature, and shutter speed, and it still happens. I got David Busch's Rebel XS/1000D book which is very good, but nothing about this problem. Can anyone give me a hint as to what is going on?

EstherP

AuntieM wrote:

I just got a Canon EOS Rebel XS with no manual. I have taken several test shots with it, but sometimes I get a blinking green light in the viewfinder and it won't take a picture right away, but eventually does, and this is on auto everything. I have tried different settings, like aperature, and shutter speed, and it still happens. I got David Busch's Rebel XS/1000D book which is very good, but nothing about this problem. Can anyone give me a hint as to what is going on?

I don't know why your camera is doing that, so no help there.
But as to the manual:
http://downloads.fotosource.com/public/camera_manuals/Canon/DigitalCameras/canon_eos_rebelxs_manual.pdf
Just having a quick look, there are a lot of things that can blink in that camera, I suggest you open the manual, then do a search with Ctrl+F rather than using the index.

Happy reading ;-)
EstherP

olcoach Loc: Oregon

The blinking green light is the camera saying there is some-thing wrong with the picture you are trying to take. To verify this when it happens put it in manual and take the shot. Sometimes the shot will be OK but most of the time you will see what the camera was trying to tell you.

Aldebaran Loc: Florida

Isn't it on some sort of delayed shooting mode? For example, 2 seconds delay?

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Aldebaran wrote:

Isn't it on some sort of delayed shooting mode? For example, 2 seconds delay?

I cleared all the safed modes that the previous owner had, so I don't think that is it, but I will certainly check.

Gibar

The flashing green light indicates that the auto focus has not locked on.

RaydancePhoto

The flashing green light means you do not have focus lock. Without focus lock it will not take a pic.

This can be one of 2 things. You are too close to the object you are wanting to shoot and the lens can't focus to that distance.

OR - you are in very low light.
When that happens, move your focus point slightly and push the shutter button 1/2 way down and see if you get focus lock. Low light will make the camera strain to focus. In low light, focus on the edge of something, using an edge the camera can focus faster, gives the sensor something definitive to lock onto.

In an example of shooting a person, you focus on the eye if possible, in very low light, you may need to focus on the edge of the eye to get focus lock.

ioptfm Loc: Isle of Palms, SC

Mine has done that on occasion and I've found that it is usually something in the scene the camera is having a problem centering in on for auto focus.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Thanks to everyone. Will download the PDF manual, and check to see what focus the camera currently has. I thought that I had it center-weighted, but maybe not. I noticed that the pictures that I did take were not as sharp as I would have liked them to be, which could also have been caused by the focus problem. Looks like I have a lot of practice ahead of me.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

AuntieM wrote:

I just got a Canon EOS Rebel XS with no manual. I have taken several test shots with it, but sometimes I get a blinking green light in the viewfinder and it won't take a picture right away, but eventually does, and this is on auto everything. I have tried different settings, like aperature, and shutter speed, and it still happens. I got David Busch's Rebel XS/1000D book which is very good, but nothing about this problem. Can anyone give me a hint as to what is going on?

Hi AuntieM: I'm not certain about a green blinking light but there is a possibility that the cameras ability to process the photos being taken has reached it's maximum capacity. Some times this will happen after some rapid fire shooting. Some older memory cards have slower writing speeds. So that is another possibility.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

AuntieM wrote:

Aldebaran wrote:

Isn't it on some sort of delayed shooting mode? For example, 2 seconds delay?

I cleared all the safed modes that the previous owner had, so I don't think that is it, but I will certainly check.

I think the light means you are not in focus; change to continuous or servo focus.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Gibar wrote:

The flashing green light indicates that the auto focus has not locked on.

Yes, untill it locks it will not shoot. Common causes are low light. Or a plain non texture surface, such as a solid colored wall.
Find a detail at the same distance such as a corner, a line or other high contest feature. Hold the button half way down and let it lock. Keep holding it, then move it over your subject and fire away. Usually works. You could also focus on manual if you have that feature. Good luck

Mmatu

I would give Canon a call. did you take the battery out and put it back in?

LaughBrian Loc: Tn

RaydancePhoto wrote:

The flashing green light means you do not have foc... (show quote)

This is the right answer my t4i did the same thing wrong lens I was to close . just needed to learn the right lens for the job lol.

Normanicus Loc: Glasgow : Scotland

Seems that your lens has trouble focusing in auto mode and the green light will only go out after successful focusing. Try switching the lens to manual focusing mode and see if that works.