azycray

I really have 2 topics here. The first is about camera noise. And I mean audible noise here. Other than putting the camera in video mode, is there anything you can do to avoid spooking the animals when they are close enough to hear the AF and shutter noise. I'm guessing there isn't but it doesn't hurt to ask. Second, I was in my backyard right at sunrise, still very dark but starting to get enough light to see things with the human eye. I tried a few pictures of my dog in auto mode. I could see through the viewfinder that ISO was 3200 but didn't understand what else I saw. To begin, the camera didn't take a picture, not enough light I suspect. I set it to no flash since since I was testing for my first trip to the woods with my camera. On the far left I saw 2" blinking. What does that indicate. On the right there was a 6 blinking next to a white circle. Any clues on that one? What I'm guessing is that without a flash I'm simply not going to be able to take pictures when I can see the deer (my main subject) but the camera still needs more light. This is based on the fact that I won't be able to carry a tripod along with my crossbow and other gear that would allow a slow shutter speed, High ISO and large aperture. Even then the animals don't stand still.
Any comments appreciated.

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

Try setting the camera to M for manual mode. Set the iso to 200 and the f-stop to the lowest number you have to start and then adjust the shutter speed until you see a correct exposure. If the shutter speed is too slow to hand hold ex. 30th of second then you will have to raise the iso to a higher setting until the shutter speed comes down to at least 125th of second or more.
All these settings depend on the lens speed and whether you have image stabilization.
As far as the noise the camera makes, some cameras have a silent mode which reduces the shutter sound. Other than that I have not had any experience with the noise question.

azycray

The lens is a EFS 18-55 IS II
Speed is 1:3.5-5.6 so 3.5 would be my largest aperture or fastest speed, right?
I'll check the manual for a silent mode (Rebel T3i)

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

Yes the 3.5 is the largest aperture you have so start with that.

Nightwatch Loc: Missouri

You're using a zoom lens so keep in mind that the max aperture will change with focal length. 3.5 would be max at 18mm but at 55mm max would be 5.6 & somewhere in between for other focal lengths for example probably about 4 at 24mm.

patrick28 Loc: Port Jeervis, NY

If you have "Mirror UP" in your custom settings, try that. Most of the noise comes from the mirror slamming up out of the way very fast when you release the shutter.. The Nikon D700 mirror slap sounds precisely like a rifle being cocked!

Note that with Mirror up, you will not have an image on the LCD display.

Nightwatch Loc: Missouri

Basically the mirror bounces the image to the camera eyepiece. If you don't mind using the LCD instead of the eyepiece, you should be able to shoot in "Live Mode" (what it's called on my Nikon should be something similar on Canon). That will raise the mirror out of the way but you won't be able to see through the eyepiece, only the LCD screen. Also most DSLRs have a quiet setting that reduces some of the noise after the shutter fires and the electronic beeps. You are still going to have shutter noise though.

Nightwatch Loc: Missouri

Why would you not have an LCD image?