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EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi Anonymous
So, /p/, I just got my first proper digital camera: the Canon 400D (as it's known here), otherwise known as the Digital Rebel XTi.

The CF card hasn't arrived yet, so I'm stuck with toying with settings and leaving review mode on hold so that I can see how it looks.

Anyway, do you guys have suggestions on what to do to get used to the camera and see how all the settings work out? Or just any general comments about the camera?

By the way, I got it with the 18-55mm EF-S zoom lens, but also have a 50mm, 1.8 fixed focal length lens and a 80-200mm zoom lens (both EF style, which means the 50mm is kinda telephoto and the zoom is really zoomy, 320mm or so).
>> ac
Go take lots of pictures with it.
>> Anonymous
mess around with P mode, then Av and Tv. then you could try some M...

:)
>> Anonymous
>>50765
No, go manual first.

I've never heard an explanation of why not to learn how to use a camera manually first. It takes less than fifteen minutes on Wikipedia to learn all the technical aspects of working in manual mode.
>> Anonymous
>>50771
Once you realize how the camera works, You won't use manual much

Its all these elitist tools on here that think Manual is better because you have "full control"
>> Anonymous
I bought one a little while ago too, great camera. :]

Go manual right away, don't bother with the other functions.
The others will only slow down the learning curve. :]

The 400D will last you a long time~
>> ac
>>50771
>>50773
>>50774
Pfft. It's stupid to use [mode I don't use my camera in] because all real photographers use [mode I use my camera in]. And it's objectively better, not just personal preference!

There, I've just had this entire argument by myself, so you don't have to. Now let's move on.
>> Anonymous
>>50785
Signed. Don't listen to pretentious noobs.
>> eku !8cibvLQ11s
>>50771

M might be confusing to a newbie. Av and Tv modes would be much better. Then there's only one factor to mess with, and it's easier to see what affects on what.
>> Anonymous
OP here, I'm still just taking pics and playing with them in review mode (I figured out how to zoom in while in review, although the screen still isn't quite as good as my desktop).

I'm mainly using the 50mm/1.8 lens, mostly with Tv. I've got the hang of setting the ISO speed (although I still don't know why the higher ISO speeds make larger pictures?), and I'm reading about the aperture although I think I'll need more practise before I quite get it.

I read that this 50mm lens is going to be best for portraits, since it's slightly telephoto and blurs the background nicely, which I've definitely noticed.

I was also wondering what one does for wide angle on the digital cameras. I found a 28mm wide angle lens, but since all focal lengths on this are 1.6x the norm, I figure that's not very wide angle. And I'm yet to see an EF-S wideangle lens, but I might just be not looking hard enough.
>> ac
>>50860
ISO doesn't make the picture bigger. It might make for a slightly larger filesize because noise is harder for JPEG to compress, but the resolution's the same.

As for real wides, Canon doesn't make any real wideangle primes for an APS-C sensor. They do, however, have some wide zooms--notably, their 10-22mm zoom for really wide shots, but the 18-55mm kit lens is the cheapest lens Canon's got and it's got a nice amount of wideness on it.
>> Anonymous
>>50862
Sorry, I did mean larger file size.
And thanks for the advice about the wide angle, I guess I'll stick to the 18-55mm for that.
>> ac
>>50862
>Canon doesn't make any real wideangle primes for an APS-C sensor
Disregard that, I suck cocks. Canon's got the EF 14mm f/2.8L USM.

It's an L, though, so expensive as fuck.
>> Anonymous
>>50865
>expensive as fuck

Damn, I see what you mean. I'll certainly be sticking to the 18-55mm, heh.
>> Anonymous
10-22mm wide angle, not too expensive:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00065GZL2
>> Anonymous
>>50862
Whoops, didn't see that.
>> Anonymous
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I too just got an EOS400D and was smart enough to buy a CF card to be able to use it straight away >:) Just messing around with it too having a blast, it's great fun.

I like this photo the most of all the ones I have taken so far (except the SHQ n00dz of my g/f which I will post in /b/ later :P)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 400D DIGITALLens Size18.00 - 55.00 mmFirmware VersionFirmware 1.0.5Owner NameunknownSerial Number1280611979Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:05:25 19:28:46Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/5.6Exposure ProgramNot DefinedISO Speed Rating400Lens Aperturef/5.6Exposure Bias0 EVFlashFlash, AutoFocal Length49.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width1000Image Height666RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeSharpnessUnknownSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeMacro/Close-UpImage SizeLargeFocus ModeOne-ShotDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeAutoCompression SettingFineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance0.590 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed224Camera Actuations-1878720448Color Matrix129
>> Anonymous
>>50902
:P I bought the card at the same time, it just shipped from some backwards country where the postal system involves ponies or something.

Nice picture though.
>> ac
>>50902
I had several CF cards already, since my previous three digital cameras also used CompactFlash.
>> Anonymous
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I also just bought a 400D last week. It is my first Digital SLR so I'm still getting used to the settings and how I can manipulate them for my own purposes. This is the only picture I really like that I've taken so far with the kit lens.

Also by the way, other buyers of the 400D, where did you purchase yours? I bought mine from BeachCamera and I was wondering if you guys got any good deals from other places. I heard NewEgg had a good special on it also.
>> Anonymous
>>50988

50902 here.... i got mine in the UK from Jessops. It cost £510 including a 2GB card, just the body and stock 18-55mm lens. There is also a £50 cashback offer so I send off a form to Canon and they send me a cheque (check USenglish).
>> Anonymous
>>51011
OP here. Similar to you, I got mine from amazon.co.uk and sent off for the £50. Haven't had the cheque back yet, though.
>> Anonymous
>>51011

you MUST have got owned. havent checked the prices recently, but i used to work for them, and they REALLY sucked.
>> Anonymous
>>51023

Just checked the online prices. I don't see any including the standard 18-55 lens any cheaper than 479.99 which is what that package was. 30 quid for the card at Jessops was probably a bit over the odds but I wanted one there and then and there weren't any other shops selling CF cards nearby.

For a backup card I will head to www.picstop.co.uk which ships VAT free from Jersey (Great site).

http://digitalcameras.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/sbs/124901/17118932.html