Hello All... I have some questions! (Page 2): And yes, i do have a canon.. rebel xs ... thanks for all your help, it has been wonderful!

Erin

And yes, i do have a canon.. rebel xs ... thanks for all your help, it has been wonderful!

iowatruckdriver Loc: Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hi Erin and welcome. You can buy a manual at Borders or Barnes and Noble that are specific to your camera with a lot more information then the one that came with your camera. I use mine all the time.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Erin wrote:

Last night i played around with trying to photograph my Christmas tree, in low light, to try and get the lights on the tree. I was at 1/3 f/4 ISO 800 I did put it on the table to steady it, but i had on the zoom lens (75-300) i should have switched it... what could I have done differently?
Thanks :)

I think the 75 was probably a little tight. Depending on what kind of shot you want, a wider lens, with the camera tilted into portrait mode, a 1/8 second shutter at f/6.3 and ISO 1600 would give you something about like this.

1/8 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600, 18-135mm lens

Lucinda Loc: Columbus, OH

Thank you for for the "(very) Basic Lens~~Aperture~~Shutter Speed~~ISO Primer". Just starting with a bridge camera, my head was spinning with all of the info that I had no clue about what it all meant. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have printed it out and will read it over and over until every thing is clear.
Happy Holidays,
Lucinda

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Lucinda wrote:

Thank you for for the "(very) Basic Lens~~Aperture~~Shutter Speed~~ISO Primer". Just starting with a bridge camera, my head was spinning with all of the info that I had no clue about what it all meant. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have printed it out and will read it over and over until every thing is clear.
Happy Holidays,Lucinda

You're welcome, and glad it helps.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

Hi Erin - welcome! I have a Canon XTi and love it - have taken over 5,000 picture with it and no problems at all. I'm kind of one sided you might say but you'll love your Canon once you get it figured out. I'd say from your photos above you have a good start already. I mostly use the 75-300 lens and in the tv mode so I can do my own setting. I use the little guy on skis for motion type photos. I learned my camera mostly by trial and error. Your ISO counts alot for how your pictures will come out. For low light and night time I usually have it at 1600 and there you're shutter speed will determine the outcome. Alot of people on here will give you all the help you need.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

i also rercomend bryan petersons book (he is my favorite pro photog) in very easy to understand language he explains f-stops, shutter speed and iso and their relationship to each other. i reread my copy every 6 months. i also recomend his book "learning tosee creatively" opened up my eyes to a world of photographic possibilities. also, if you have to ask what apeture priority is, you really need to READ YOUR CAMERA MANUAL. It is the guru on the mountaintop to answer all of your basic questions. Take your camera in one hand and your manual in the other and touch every button or switch untill you are comfortable with what it does. also remember google is your best bud.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

Thank you JimH for making the difference between AV and TV better understood. I've always used TV but am going to try the AV my next time out. Thank you

Erin

sinatraman wrote:

i also rercomend bryan petersons book (he is my fa... (show quote)

HI ... yes i bought the book .. should be here tomorrow, Merry Christmas to me :)
I knew that the button on my camera meant aperture BUT i didn't KNOW what it actually MEANT -- my manual is worn from trying to figure it out... the manual said what the buttons were for, but not what they are used for etc... Thanks for your thoughts!

Erin

JimH wrote:

quote=Erin Last night i played around with trying... (show quote)

Ohhhh beautiful... i'm going to try tonight again!

Erin

Lucinda wrote:

Thank you for for the "(very) Basic Lens~~Aperture~~Shutter Speed~~ISO Primer". Just starting with a bridge camera, my head was spinning with all of the info that I had no clue about what it all meant. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have printed it out and will read it over and over until every thing is clear.
Happy Holidays,
Lucinda

Same Lucinda! -- i order the Understanding Exposure book, which has been recommended... I'll let you know how it is!
Happy Holidays to you to :)

Erin

prestonphoto wrote:

Hi Erin - welcome! I have a Canon XTi and love it ... (show quote)

Thanks! I am loving it already, and wanted the XTi one... but price was a factor, and being a beginner, I figured the xs would be alright... My brother has a Rebel and I loved how his pictures turned out.. so went for it... I'm happy I have found this site... everyone has been so helpful, and GREAT tips, ideas and overall information !

Nikon13 Loc: North Carolina

Erin wrote:

Great. Thanks Jim.

Last night i played around with trying to photograph my Christmas tree, in low light, to try and get the lights on the tree.

I was at 1/3 f/4 ISO 800 I did put it on the table to steady it, but i had on the zoom lens (75-300) i should have switched it... what could I have done differently?

Thanks :)

You are going to see more camera shake (blurred image) with the zoom lens on and a slow shutter speed. If you don't have a tripod or a remote shutter release, try setting it for a timed release so you are not manually pushing the shutter button.

Erin

Thanks Nikon13... I tried again last night with better results using my other lens :)

Nikon13 Loc: North Carolina

Erin wrote:

Thanks Nikon13... I tried again last night with better results using my other lens :)

You are welcome! I was where you are a year ago. Keep practicing and reading. It will come together soon.