BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Questions

Photography Question 

Deborah
 

New to Canon Rebel 2000


Hello: I'm new to my Canon Rebel 2000 and want to know if anyone has tips for using the more advanced (creative) functions. My problems lie mostly in understanding the different concepts. This is my first advanced camera. All my life I have used point-and-shoots! Thanks for any help.

Great site, by the way! I've learned a lot on technique just by browsing the Q&A.


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June 13, 2001

 

John A. Lind
  Deborah,
Welcome to the step upward in flexibility. As you grow with it you'll find your creativity less constrained.

In general, the "creative" functions for exposure bias the combination of shutter speed and lens aperture to favor a faster shutter speed, or favor a wider lens aperture in setting exposure. They also determine how the camera sets exposure and weights various areas of what you see in the viewfinder to set the exposure. The ones for auto-focus are a little more complex and will bias how the camera selects which portion of the image to use in focusing the lens.

1. Start with the "default" ones for general photography. Work first at composition and understanding light, light direction and perspective so you can visualize what you want a photograph to look like when you make it. Part of this will be thinking about where you want "critical focus" (the exact focus distance) to be in the image. See the book cited in this Q/A; it's a good one for beginners:
http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.php?threadID=1991

2. Then begin thinking about the shutter speeds you need; how slow you can effectively hand hold and how fast you need to stop action of various types.

3. Finally, consider how lens aperture affects depth of field for focal lengths and focus distances.

Don't do this all in one day! Shoot film and take it step by step. The "creative" functions are great if you have a good feel for what you need and for what the camera will do in each of the modes. As you grow with understanding all of the above, try several different creative functions for the same shot, observe how that changes what the camera does, and how that affects what you see in the photographs. Then refer between the book cited and your camera manual's description of the creative modes.

IMO, all the automation in modern camera bodies might be very sophisticated and convenient. It doesn't replace the human operator thinking and knowing about how the combination of shutter speed and lens aperture for exposure should be biased, or where the focus point should be.

Finally, keep at it. You may get frustrated at times; persistence pays off in the end.

-- John


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June 17, 2001

 

Deborah
  Oh man! Thanks so much! You made a light bulb go off in my head. I took some pics for fun at a friend's daughter's b-day party and some of the pics were terrible and others were great! I was a bit nervous and felt a lot of pressure. I tried doing everything at once.

The things you said made me realize how the pics could have been A LOT better. I'm so glad I didn't let her pay me! I have more camera than I can handle, to tell the truth.

I am printing out your response and will look up the info on the URL.

Thanks again!

Deb


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June 18, 2001

 

John A. Lind
  Deborah,
Instead of thinking you have more camera than you can handle, think of it as having a little more capability than you can make use for the moment. If you keep at it and work at learning more about photography you'll find yourself pushing the envelope of its capabilities in a year or two.

Concentrate for now on composition: "point of view," perspective, light direction, light "quality" (harsh, soft, etc.), and visualizing in your mind the photo you want to make (instead of take). Eventually you will start to "see" the world around you for making photographs. Chip away at the "technical" (shutter speed, lens aperture, depth of field, etc.) and apply it to enhancing composition as you begin to understand it and gain experience.

Most important, make photographs and analyze the them afterward thinking about what you did at the time. Do this with the shots from the b'day party (if you haven't done so already). Compare terrible ones with good ones and look at what's different between them. Don't worry about it if you don't understand everything about them. That will come with time and experience. Work on what you do understand about them. Don't forget to have fun while you do it and celebrate the excellent ones when you make them.

-- John


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June 18, 2001

 

john matteson
  After a twelve year break from photography, I bought an ElanII (Canon) an soon realized camera technolgy had moved on without me. Canon's manuals are o.k. for someone who knows what the features/functions of the hardware are. If you don't, the best money you could spend to educate yourself about the Rebel 2000 is twenty dollars on a Magic Lantern Guide! Lots of knowledge and practical use tips from photographers that use that camera. You won't regret it.


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August 19, 2001

 
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