First pics with new lens-- Need advice if possible (Page 2): In my manuel ... Page 105 discusses ... Downloading images with a card reader...

3Nancy3 Loc: Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

Anvil wrote:

Look at page 105 of your camera's manual. (I found a downloadable PDF manual for your camera.)

In my manuel ... Page 105 discusses ... Downloading images with a card reader...

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

3Nancy3 wrote:

Oh Wow!!! lol How can u see my settings That alone is cool!!! Thank you!!!

I saved a copy of the file to my computer, and then I looked at the file properties with Window's browser. There are any number of programs that can read an image's EXIF data, if it hasn't been stripped away, or modified/hidden by the user or a web site's software.

3Nancy3 Loc: Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

Rick36203 wrote:

The feeder appears in focus in the first 2 shots a... (show quote)

I will try this!!!

3Nancy3 Loc: Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

3Nancy3 wrote:

New Lens and practicing..! Feedback would be appreciated.. good or bad,,,,,, I NEED to hear what I am doing wrong in order to improve, am a newbie...!! The last pic is my fave lol I like the smudged view of the other bird looking up... it was a Chickadee :?:

Wow!! Now I can see it!! With everyones help! The feeder and seed are by far front and formost... The bird should be the subject and not the other.... Also absolutely NO clarity... no sharpness!!! I should have been able to see this before posting but I guess it also is something to learn? Thank you!!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

When I used to shoot images of this type, I'd have my camera on a tripod with a cable release hooked up, and make sure your speed is set fast enough (depending on your focal length). Approximate Rule of thumb for speed is 1/(focal length). Be sure to have IS turned off (if it has it) and do some tests with mirror lockup/delay. Single point small or diamond pattern for focusing.

Practice, practice, practice.

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

3Nancy3 wrote:

In my manuel ... Page 105 discusses ... Downloading images with a card reader...

I used Google, and found the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 user manual, as a downloadable PDF file. Page 105 of that manual is "Selecting the AF Point." The AF Point is the autofocus point. You will see, on that page, that you can only select an AF point if you are not in any of the basic zone modes. You will have to use either P, Av, Tv, or M.

donnieb55 Loc: Greensboro, NC

3Nancy3,
I have the same feeder with some of the same shots. I thought I was looking at my work for a minute, except I only have a 55-200mm. There is some good advice in the responses, but you could also manually focus the lens on the Cardinal. You probably have a switch on the lens barrel that says auto or man.

alissaspieces Loc: New York

The responses that you are getting are very good. I would use a tripod, make sure that my shutter speed is at least the same as the length of your camera lens (ex if you are shooting with a 200mm lens distance then you must have at least a shutter speed of 1/200th of a second. Anything less hand held and you will see blurring due to camera shake. And use that single point focus as so many have suggested. If you use the tripod then you can use less of a shutter speed. Remember, a faster shutter speed will freeze motion. A slow shutter speed will show motion.

Jaime Loc: Los Angeles

Yes, focus is an issue, but also it seems especially with the last shot, it's motion blur. The seeds are in focus because they are stationary... the bird is moving. There is a rule of thumb that your minimum shutter speed should match your focal length. 50mm 1/50th of a second. 85mm 1/100th of a second and so on. You are very close on this shot but for the focal length of the shot, 277mm your shutter speed is half of what it should have been. Have to agree with Rick.

Jaime Loc: Los Angeles

Hey alissapieces, I was typing my response when you were posting yours. Great minds...

alissaspieces Loc: New York

So funny Jamie...I just read your answer and thought..that's what I said! lol!! Yes..great minds and all that! :)

Jaime wrote:

Hey alissapieces, I was typing my response when you were posting yours. Great minds...

alissaspieces Loc: New York

Jamie, I just checked out your website..your are awesome! Why don't you hang out in the People section once in a while on this site? You input would be so valuable! People could really learn from you! :)

Jaime wrote:

Hey alissapieces, I was typing my response when you were posting yours. Great minds...

3Nancy3 Loc: Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

Anvil wrote:

It looks as if the seeds are in focus, but the bir... (show quote)

Thank you ..Am curious in my camera menu .. it has "metering mode" evaluative metering---partial metering---spot metering--center weighted average...... are these my focal points or am I way off base and need to study it up a lot more?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

3Nancy3 wrote:

Thank you ..Am curious in my camera menu .. it has "metering mode" evaluative metering---partial metering---spot metering--center weighted average...... are these my focal points or am I way off base and need to study it up a lot more?

No, that's going to be your exposure metering, not your AF points.

If you haven't read it, you should really give it a perusal :-)
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Edition-Photographs/dp/0817439390

3Nancy3 Loc: Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada

Anvil wrote:

I used Google, and found the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 user manual, as a downloadable PDF file. Page 105 of that manual is "Selecting the AF Point." The AF Point is the autofocus point. You will see, on that page, that you can only select an AF point if you are not in any of the basic zone modes. You will have to use either P, Av, Tv, or M.

I have been on mauel creating some disasters but am trying so hard to get this .... so if on manual setting... does this mean I use the lens to focus by myself? I this the focal point or am I way off base?