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Category: All About Photography

Photography Question 

Ken Currie
 

Camera won't allow me to take picture in low-light


At times, the camera does not allow me to take a photo. 1) I am unclear how I override and make it take a phone. 2) I am also unclear how I force a flash. I know there is a setting to say flash is on but at times it doesn't come on or pop up when I enable that setting. Camera is Rebel T4! EOS650D.


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October 24, 2012

 

Lynn R. Powers
  You can start by raisng your ISO. If you are using Aperture Priority open your lens more, and if you are using Shutter Speed priority decrease your shutter speed. Read The Manual that came with the camera.

There should be a small button on the prism section nerar the flash for making the flash pop up. Again RTM! Flash can only be taken a 1/250" or slower. That is fast enough to stop nearby motion since the minimum speed of the flash is 1/10,000".

I suggest that you take a course from BP to learn your camera. If they do not have one for the T4i take the one for the T3i since there isn't that much of a difference between the two.

I also suggest that you get yourself free from using any of those other pre-programmed scene programs. If you are new to photography I suggest that first you start learning in good light before you get into these situations.

For some reason people new to photography want to take photos closer than the minimal focus distance of the lens and at rediculous low light situations that are difficult for the best of cameras.


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October 24, 2012

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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  We'd likely need a bit more info to pinpoint the cause (what Shooting Mode you're in, particularly) but it sounds at first pass like you're not able to achieve focus - and in AutoFocus mode, the Rebel won't fire if the lens can't achieve focus. (You'd see, I believe, a small solid-color circle or dot, in the viewfinder probably on the far right, blinking, when focus can't be achieved. When focus can be achieved, that circle/dot would be steady/not-blinking.) If you're in low-light and can't get focus, AND the flash is not up to provide some assist light, it isn't going to work for you at all. Lynn is right---there should be a small round button near the lens-mount area on the camera body, that pops the flash up...
It does sound like you need to gain some added familiarity with your gear and settings/operation, too---either an SLR basics class here, or one of the model-specific camera guides you can buy (if the Canon manual is too dry/unclear for your tastes.)


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October 25, 2012

 
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