What do you think of this situation?

[Allnightquilter]

I purchased my XSi at the end of May.
There were a few dead pixels in October so I sent it in for repair. I don't know what the heck they did to my camera but when I got it back, it did not work right. they said they adjusted the sensor.
The pictures were flat, bland, dull color, blurry, grainy and looked like they'd been taken with an el cheapo camera.
I returned it to where I purchased it (for the 2nd time) and had them send it back in to fix the problem.
Today, I got it back with a note saying they reset the color to canon specs and adjusted the sensor. What a frigging joke. They didn't do ANYTHING to it. The pictures still look like crap.
So, I've called canon and they want me to send a picture to show them what I'm talking about.
I'm so disappointed as I saved so long for this camera. I saved over Christmas last year and didn't have a camera for the holidays now here we are, Christmas fast approaching and I miss out again.
What can I do here? It's been gone to repair longer than I had the silly thing.
Do I really need to send it in for the third time? Will they know what to do with it? Any chance they will replace it and will I wind up with a refurbished one? Would that even seem right to you? I have a feeling I might get offered a refurbished one.
I'm kicking myself because I could have bought the extended warranty and had them replace it with a brand new camera. I'd gladly pay and extra $160. the insurance, now that I know how my camera was going to be messed up by canon.
What should I do? I'm worried because I'm hearing so much about how their customer service sucks.
Please give me good news.
L.

[number six]

First off, how about posting an example picture? We'll try to figure it out.

Secondly, what picture style are you using? What ISO? What shooting mode?

-js

[Allnightquilter]

Everything I'm taking is in Auto to eliminate "user error". Here's a pic, hopefully it'll show up.
This photo has such inaccurate color. The wall is a beautiful buttery yellow color. Here, it looks messed. The berries are blurred and the photos on the wall, well, no explanation needed. *sigh* I'm so upset.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/mypics/cid_131562BB251B4195AABAEC2D1CCC911.jpg

[Allnightquilter]

Here is another shot.
The red candles are actually a burgandy color. It completely changed the red yet the table and the placemat which are deep rich colors have been flattened. This is definately not the camera that I sent in to Canon to have a few dead pixels fixed. I really wish I had just lived with the pixels. My beautiful XSi camera is such a disappointment to me now

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/mypics/cid_D364BF825E4848FB9D5BC2C401DE18D.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

Everything I'm taking is in Auto to eliminate "user error" IMO, Auto mode IS "user error". You need to learn how to tell the camera what you want it to do. Like Secondly, what picture style are you using? What ISO? What shooting mode? as has been said. The wall is a beautiful buttery yellow color. Here, it looks messed. Custom white balance. It's in your manual. Have you read it. I read mine three times the first week.
Then follow up with this:
Canon Rebel XT Newbie needs help! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=513743)

[Allnightquilter]

Okay, I'm getting shots like this in every mode. :(
Custom white balance is not something I ever touched. When I got the camera, it was perfect right out of the box. Why is it necessary to change it now?
I'm not trying to be flip with you, I really wonder why, when it was perfect before, would I have to adjust anything now?
Thanks so much,
L.

[number six]

Our suspicion is that Canon changed some of the settings and ended up with settings you hadn't used before. If so, you can change them back. That's why we're asking questions.

What picture style are you using? What white balance setting?

Both of these pics look underexposed - is EC set to something other than 0?

You don't have "image editing OK" checked in your profile so I haven't adjusted your pics. I'd be glad to if you like.

-js

[Allnightquilter]

yes, please, go ahead. I'm so happy for the advice. You're giving me hope.

[Allnightquilter]

I just don't get it since I've used auto a lot and always had results that couldn't be beat.
As for settings I've never used...I'm now doing the same things that I've always done but the results are really bad.
I've even set the camera back to manufacturers settings, just like when I bought it and started to use it with perfect results.
Auto never gave me shots like this before.

[DStanic]

Did you take indoor pictures before? Outdoor shots in the sun always look good, even with a cheap P&S. What I'm saying is summer=generally nicer pics then winter (for beginners anyways). I'm not sure what you are comparing the pictures you posted against(?).

My suggestion- take 2 memory cards and bring your camera to the store you bought it from. When you are in the store put a memory card in a brand new XSi and then take some sample/test pictures in the store with both cameras set to factory default settings. This way you'll know if your XSi is different than a fresh one out of the box.

[number six]

This photo has such inaccurate color. The wall is a beautiful buttery yellow color. Here, it looks messed. The berries are blurred and the photos on the wall, well, no explanation needed.

Well, as you know I have never seen the color of the wall. So I guessed. This was done simply by increasing brightness, contrast and color saturation. And a bit of sharpening.

The berries are out of focus because the focus is on the stair rail. That can be set in camera too.

These are all settings you can make to your camera - you can get the same results without post processing.

324523

[number six]

Here is another shot.
The red candles are actually a burgandy color. It completely changed the red yet the table and the placemat which are deep rich colors have been flattened.

First of all, remember that I'm a guy. Guys know only 16 colors, the ones that we learned from the Crayola box. Burgundy is wine and peach is fruit. :lol:

So I don't know what burgundy is supposed to look like - here are two versions.

The first I processed just like the other shot - increased brightness, contrast, saturation and sharpness. Again, you can set these same things in your camera.

324525

This version is the same as the first except that I changed color balance. You can do this in camera too:

324526


Most importantly, you can select one of several picture styles that do this automatically. My bet is Canon changed picture styles.

-js

[number six]

Oh, yeah, I forgot: don't worry about my questions about white balance. The WB was right on in both of your pictures, just a bit dim.

-js

[Allnightquilter]

LOL, okay but both of those pics are pretty bad. I guess the first one is about the closest. What do you mean by picture style? And what is the difference? I'm a bit confused as I see they've changed the firmware.

[Naturalist]

I'm not familiar with XSi but I am wondering if there is a reset button to return the camera back to factory presets and if it is not set on sRGB?

[AndreaBFS]

These look absolutely right on for auto mode indoors with flash on any camera. :::shrug::: You've ignored the question about the photos you took before you got the camera back. Do you have examples of indoor photos with similar lighting from before? They honestly could not have been any better.

[Allnightquilter]

I already reset to factory presets and yes, it is on sRGB.

[Allnightquilter]

Oh, I wasn't ignoring, just preoccupied. :)
The other pics that I've taken in this room have more vibrancy. I don't have anything on this pc to post, unfortunately.

[egordon99]

Unfortunately, using Auto (along with the kit lens) is the sure-fire way to make the pictures look no different than a photo taken with a point-and-shoot.

That picture is more or less what I would expect from ANY camera in auto mode with the kit lens and the the pop-up flash.

As for the wall being a little blurry, the camera most likely focused on the stair rail as in Auto mode you have NO control over the focus point and the camera usually just focuses on the closest object.

Not to sound snide, but it seems like you are expecting the camera to take excellent pictures without any input from you (aside from where to point the lens) Unfortunately, a DSLR requires MUCH more input from the operator than a Point-n-shoot to get excellent pictures (especially inside in low light)

Pick up a book or take a class to learn some of the basics of photography (shutter speed/ISO/f-stops, metering, focusing, etc....) or hang out here to learn. But I really doubt there is anything wrong with your camera.

Everything I'm taking is in Auto to eliminate "user error". Here's a pic, hopefully it'll show up.
This photo has such inaccurate color. The wall is a beautiful buttery yellow color. Here, it looks messed. The berries are blurred and the photos on the wall, well, no explanation needed. *sigh* I'm so upset.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/mypics/cid_131562BB251B4195AABAEC2D1CCC911.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

yes, please, go ahead. I'm so happy for the advice. You should turn on "Image Editing OK" in your Sig. There's an easy way to set this in your User Control Panel under EDIT PROFILE
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=950642