Rebel XT on Vacation

OK, I have had the Rebel XT for a few weeks now and I am still in the learning mode ( the only time I really have to really use the camera is weekends). I am going on vacation in 3 days and instead of shooting the entire trip using the auto modes I would like to use the manual mode. Any good recommendations for outdoors on a sunny day as to what the shutter speed, etc. should be? I know each situation varies, I guess I am looking for a general rule of thumb. If any one can lend any advice I would appreciate it very much!

I jsut want to make sure I come back with some decent photo's! Of course I will experiment while shooting. But I also want to enjoy things as well and not spend 60 mins trying to get one good shot.

Thanks!

When I got my XT, I left it in the automatic modes, typically either "no flash" or "green box", for at least the first three months. I spent my time just getting used to the camera itself. Took literally thousands of snapshots before I started fiddling with the manual modes.

For a new camera and a vacation... assuming the vacation is anything more interesting than going to visit Aunt Tillie in Kennebunkport, I'd recommend leaving it on an auto setting. The canned program is actually pretty good, and for just some scenery and snapshots, it'll be fine.

Leave it on large JPEG and don't worry about RAW yet.

Doc.

Play with AV mode and TV mode......AV mode to adjust your aperture (if you want the entire frame to be in focus of to have one object in focus and a blurry background). Tv mode if you are shooting action and want a fast shutter speed to freeze the picture or a slower shutter speed to blur the action. Use ISO 200 unless good light is hard to come by then bump up the ISO to 800 or 1600 (might be a little noisy). Good luck and take lots of pics

What lense are you using?

I won't try to take credit for this suggestion but it might work out for you if you have a chance to experiment some. Set your camera in AUTO - the green box. Make a note of the settings you get. Then switch to one of the creative modes, start with the AUTO settings and experiment with adjusting one way or another -- see what happens. Don't forget to adjust the ISO. AUTO changes that also. If you shoot one shot using the AUTO settings, it should be usable.

Jim

EF 118-55 Lens Kit
EF 70-200 f4 L
10-22mm Wide Angle

Thanks for the advice!

Well if your using the 70-200 I try to always use AV, Try it between 5 and 8 and TV at least over 1/250.

I'm no expert, and pretty new to this myself, but I agree with WildWolf - Tv mode if you want to freeze (fast shutter) or blur (slow shutter) motion, and Av mode most other times (low F stop for blurry backgrounds, higher F stop for more of the image in focus). ISO is important too, but I generally get away with 100-400 outdoors in the day time and 200-800 indoors with lots of light.

What's good about Tv and Av (for a beginner like me!) is that whatever value you set for the shutter speed or aperture, respectively, the camera automatically selects a good corresponding value to get a good exposure. E.g., you set a fast shutter to freeze some motion, and the camera goes with a wider aperture to get enough light to expose right. In contrast, using straight manual mode (M), it's all on you to choose both of those - a much trickier task for my inexperienced mind.

Of course, you can bump into limits of the lens - aperture can only go so wide, and this can mean dark photos if you set shutter too fast with insufficient light. Similarly, if you set a small aperture when there's not enough light, the shutter value will go so slow that your image will be blurry if you try to hold it in your hand. You'll learn all about working within limitations, too, which I've found useful.

Also, jimsolt's suggestion is really great too. I started doing something like that on my A80 before I upgraded to the rebel xt. Just pay attention to the information about the shutter / aperture / ISO settings the camera is choosing for you in automode and use that as a starting point (in playback mode hit the info button a few times until you see the histogram - also good to know about!).

Oh one other thing - if you have time, learn to read the histogram. This will help you figure out if your exposure is about right even within the limitations of the LCD playback screen.

I usually use the semi automatic mode. "P" You control the flash and the ISO. I select the centre focus for still subjects and variable focus for moving objects.

Those 70-200f/4 lenses just are not sharp!!

you could always (if you have the time) shoot one in auto and another in Av or Tv. there is no real "setting" for all shots. it just depends on what you are metering off of. you could also try to bracket your exposures and learn to blend them on the computer later on. good luck and don't stay behind the viewfinder the whole time--remember to soak in the view, as well.

I did the same, and recommend others to do that. I used Opanda's iEXIF to help me determine what settings the camera uses aswell.

Have fun and start off with the Av and Tv modes. I just returned from a Europe vacation for two weeks and was always in these two modes. Also, shoot in RAW + Jpg if you are not storage space constrained. Gives you lots to play with and learn RAW when you're done with the trip.

Just to be on the safe side, you may want to make sure you have the shot safely captured - capture the shot in the Green mode.

You have gotta be from Maine, or at least New England!