Just 3 questions regarding the DRebel

[Blitz]

Sorry if these seem obvious to most of you, but I'm really trying to get better with my DRebel. It's enough that no one takes a 16 year old seriously (the fact that most think of the Rebel as a "toy" because it's silver doesn't help), but it's far worse if I don't learn to make good use of such a great camera.

1. When I set the camera to Av or Tv mode, the Automatic Exposure is +2. I have no idea how to get it back to 0, and have tried playing with the menu. Should I just reset to Default Settings?

2. What exactly does the Sensor Clean option do? I've yet to try it in the few months that I've had the camera. Should I be doing it every now and then?

3. This is the big one. I have absolutely no idea what RAW means. What are the advantages to shooting these files? Am I missing out by not using them? I'll happily admit I'm just an amateur. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance! :D

[vfilby]

Hiya,

1. Hold the Av[-+] button (right above the light and the directional pad) while scrolling the wheel.

2. Sensor clean only flips the mirror up so you can clean it. For you I would not recommend it until you are much more comfortable with the camera.

3. RAW is athe data captured directly from the sensor with no in camera processing. The advantages are 12bit instead of 8bit colour, not compression artifacts and a larger dynamic range. Probably more that I don't know about.

You might want to sit down with the user manual and give it a good thorough read.

Cheers,

Vince

[Paul_B]

1. Hold Exposure Compensation down, while holding, use Main dial to adjust. See page 11 in manual if u don't which button it is.

2. Page 34 of the manual explains what and how. I've yet to try it as I've only had mine 1 month.

3. http://oceania.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=28019
Raw setting kind of takes two pictures, 1 raw, and a Medium quality jpeg. Canon software for Extracting the jpeg files.
Raw is kinda like some settings are not Final in the photo. White Balance, Exposure, contrast,.... can be adjusted in say PhotoShop CS 8. Then saved in jpeg, tiff....

[Andy_T]

3. RAW is athe data captured directly from the sensor with no in camera processing. The advantages are 12bit instead of 8bit colour, not compression artifacts and a larger dynamic range. Probably more that I don't know about.


RAW is a 'digital negative'. The disadvantage in using is that you have to convert your RAW files to files you can print or process in Photoshop, e.g. TIFF or JPG.

the advantage of TIFF over JPG is that it is not compressed (like RAW). Whenever you open a JPG file, make changes to it and save it again, the picture is compressed new and some information is lost.

Another advantage is that the White balance is not applied to your JPG file but can be changed later. E.g., if you shoot in a room that is lit by tungsten or halogen lamps, the colours might be way off in the picture. If you save as JPG, you can't change that any more. With RAW, you just enter the parameter in the conversion program and have authentic colours.

Best regards,
Andy

[Andy_T]

From the (now locked) duplicate thread:


1) AEC is +2 in Av/Tv. To correct this (I think it's essentially the same on the DR), depress the shutter release part way and spin the back wheel (is that the 4 buttons around the "Set" button on a DR?), watching the AEC setting move back to normal.
2) If you start seeing evidence of dirt or dust on the sensor, this will lock the mirror up and the shutter open so you can use the proper sensor-cleaning tools to remove it. THere are several threads on that here - you can find them with the "Search" function.
3) "Raw" is the unaltered information directly as it's captured by the camera's sensor. It's not directly usable under normal circumstances, although PhotoShop CS and PS Pro 9 have the ability to read Canon Raw. The advantages are that, because it's unprocessed, you can apply much more precise and extensive controls to the data, thus getting a better-quality image in dificult conditions. The disadvantages are that fewer programs can read it, and you'll have to do a lot of work to get the most out of it. Many people find it's just not worth the effort. If you do, or find yourself wanting to do, a lot of post-processing to your photos, though, it's probably the way to go. If what comes out of the camera, using the parameter sets Canon makes available to you, is good enough, stick with Jpeg Large Fine.
_________________
Jon -

[Jon]

Thanks, Andy. I was browsing two forums at once and just answering when I hit something. Didn't mean to encourage multiple posts.

And CDS, thanks for the kind words on the other post.

[Blitz]

Thanks for all the info, and sorry about the double posts. I figured the original would just be deleted because I thought I made in the wrong forum.

[Blitz]

PS, any comments about my gallery are always welcome! :D

[robertwgross]

2. What exactly does the Sensor Clean option do? I've yet to try it in the few months that I've had the camera. Should I be doing it every now and then?


I think the Sensor Clean mode also kills power to the actual sensor while the mirror is out of the way. That's kind of a good safety mode to be in if you are in there dabbling around with the most expensive component of the camera.

If you shoot a clear, bright sky, and then on the computer you see dim little round spots, always in the same location, then you have sensor dust. It's easily cleaned off as long as a good measure of care is applied.

---Bob Gross---

[Andy_T]

[quote=Blitz]
If you shoot a clear, bright sky, and then on the computer you see dim little round spots, always in the same location, then you have sensor dust.

Shoot at the smallest aperture available to you ... e.g f/32 or f/16.
The dust will be more visible on smaller apertures.

Best regards,
Andy

[scottbergerphoto]

I believe that in addition to using a small aperture, it is recommended that you do an auto levels in PS.
Scott