My new Rebel doesn't like me...

[pine red]

and the feeling is mutual.

Hi forum users. My husband surprised me with a Rebel XT for my birthday. He and I both thought it was what I wanted. I used to shoot strictly manually with film (Mamiya 645 and an EOS ElanII) and completely auto mode for digital (Nikon Coolpix 4800). I wanted more megapixels and some depth of field. I am not a super technically minded person but can usually bumble my way through, finding just what I need to do what I want. I wanted a DSLR that would work great in auto and be available in manual when I want it. The problem is, I don't like what my Rebel is doing and don't even know where to start. I got the Magic Lantern guide for it and am just starting to go through it. I loved the color tones on my Nikon and don't on my Canon. I also love a lot of saturation. But from what I can tell, there is no way to set the parameters when in auto mode. The whites look too blue, it seems overexposed, and i'm unsure about needing to set the ISO in auto mode, AND the focus seems off. For the record, I have used carious lenses including the kit lens. I am very disappointed. I thought I'd be getting something decent until I could gradually learn the camera. I thought it would make SOME sense. Does anyone have any suggestions? I could post pics from it if necessary.

Thank-you
-Ellen

[aparmley]

Ellen - Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions that take the heat off of the user, like switch this button on and all your problems will go away. I think what you are experiencing here is a result of being unfamiliar with your camera. The XT is a very capable camera. It sounds like you are having some difficulties with understanding the metering modes, white balance settings, etc etc. Take some time to learn it inside and out. Spending the time to learn how to shot in the manual modes will certainly pay off. I've never used the XT in auto mode so I can't say what is causing you problems. Unfortunately the camera is tool and not a learning aid. You'll need to learn how to use it rather than learning from it. Perhaps the biggest change coming from a point and shot to a DSLR is that the point and shoots apply extremely aggressive sautration and sharpness boosting to its images where the DSLR does not.

It would help though if you did post some images, share the exif with us and also explain why you are disappointed in that particular image. . . You've certainly come to the right place to get some help. . . lots of knowledgable people around here and they're always willing to help out.

[Shosta]

Hello Hellen, I don't own a Rebel but I thing you just need the program mode (P in de dial). It's like the auto mode but you have control of some parameters and you can get more saturation through menus.
Good luck!

[Rhys]

I have the XT. I was initially disappointed with its performance also. I've now got used to the way it works and have fine-tuned it to suit me.

Try maxing sharpness, contrast, saturation etc. Set the AF point to centre only. Ignore A-Dep as it doesn't work well.

If you want to shoot on program then shoot on program and use the top wheel to adjust the aperture/shutter speed combo - it's a program shift. Very handy.

If you still get problems with focus, try mounting the ST-E2 on top of the camera. That gives the AF assist that Canons otherwise lack.

Are you shooting JPEG or RAW? I do recommend RAW.

[drew_viii]

welcome to the forum!

umm... this is what i can say, generally people buy SLR cameras because of the versatility of it. Most DSLR users uses manual controls or aperture mode or shutter mode. Since you mentioned that you like auto modes for digital cameras, somehow i think its useless to have a DSLR camera.

But i can say that XT is a great camera, lots of people love it and used it for long time. I think you should try to go through different settings and try different shots and you will discover the great picture quality came from that camera. I sometime felt that my GF's fuji compact camera takes better results than my DSLR, then i realized that i just have to learn more about my camera settings in order to achieve a better quality pictures and colors as well.

IMO, try to explore more about the digital SLR world. Like try different settings, apertures, different lens, effects as well. there are so many things you can do with DSLR cameras compare to compacts or bridge cameras. Hence the reason why professional use DLSRs. So dont get disappointed that fast, maybe someday you will realize things you never expected. good luck then

[adam75south]

you should probably read your manual and try different things on the camera as you are reading it. it will take a couple of hours but you'll begin to learn how to use it.

i know when i first got my 30d i was completely in the dark as to how to use it and stuff like that. i must've read the manual 3 or 4 times before i started to learn the camera...then i had to figure out what the hell aperture and shutter speed and ISO was.

it gets overwhelming but it is worth it once your pictures start turning out exactly the way you want them to.

[kjosker]

Ellen,

As with all things photographic, there is a learning curve. The best advice you've been given so far is the "P" mode, try it, get into your parameters and bump some of them up.

Something else that isn't clear from your post is whether or not you post process. When I moved to digital from film (also from Nikon to Canon), I too was extremely disappointed with the results. I was adamant in my refusal to accept anything less than perfect, out of the camera. Why should I? I didn't have to with my film Nikons and Nikkors. Post processing, hah! That was for geeks.

After posting several complaints on various boards, someone took the time to explain why post processing was necessary, the light went on in my head. I tried it, and almost instantly my pictures were better. When I understood what I was doing in post processing, I was able to fine tune my camera settings to achieve nearly the same results.

I would recommend a good book on digital photography, not on equipment, but on the actual processing. Regrettably, I don't remember the name of the book that was recommended to me, but I think the author's name was Scott Kelby or something similar. It really helped me.

So there is a learning curve. Fortunately it's not that long. Soon you will be back to that point where when you trip the shutter, you don't even have to look at the LCD screen, because you know you got it, just like the old film days.

Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.

[pine red]

First, I'd like to sincerely thank you all for your kind and thoughtful responses. Very helpful! It helps to know others have had problems also. I see now I was going about the thing the wrong way. I just got overwhelmed (still am ) but at least feel somewhat hopeful now. I will work on the program mode as well as your other suggestions. For the record, i do shoot in RAW and do PP (in Photoshop CS). But I import to iPhoto first. Still unsure what happens there and also how to link up my color profiles. So I do think a general book on dig. photography would be key. I also didn't know that the point and shoots were souped up in terms of sharpness and saturation. Good to know. I seriously thought something was wrong with my camera. Again, I really appreciate the help! I will be referring back to your suggestions...

Here are (hopefully) a variety of recent beach images that have not been altered in any way. Thanks again
-Ellen

[drew_viii]

the third shot looks fine, but the rest looks terrible, i wonder, are there any dust inside your camera sensor? it looks like some white thing on it. im not sure cuz the pictures bit small, but i think there is really a problem with the camera, think you've got a bad copy of xt, or maybe the lens, or it might be the dust, funny though, your thrid shot looks nice and clean... umm...

could you try to post more pictures like, put the camera on the table and put some object and take it with the following settings, lets say, aperture priority mode then set the aperture to f11, it should give you some shutter speed readings around 1 sec maybe, depends on the light, thats why you have to put it on the table, then post the pic here, maybe we could figure out whats the problem in it

[D Thompson]

the third shot looks fine, but the rest looks terrible, i wonder, are there any dust inside your camera sensor? it looks like some white thing on it. im not sure cuz the pictures bit small, but i think there is really a problem with the camera, think you've got a bad copy of xt, or maybe the lens, or it might be the dust, funny though, your thrid shot looks nice and clean... umm...

part of the problem may be that in shots 1,2, & 4 the lens is pointed toward the sun, especially in shot #1. Shot #3 is a a good angle is why it looks so much better than the other 3. Not sure of what lens she is using, but a hood may have helped. Just my .02.