Canon T2i

[lupi]

So after my recent camera woes I ended up picking up on the amazon sale for the T2i. Package has already arrived and was promptly wrapped and tossed under the tree.


Now the question is, what do I need to know to have at least a competent basic use of the camera on the day it is opened. Any good on line use and operating guides?

 

[tvdang7]

Hi i am assuming you purchased a T2i DSLR camera.
go to this forum and you will have to read alot of stickies on how to work the camera takes a little time and alot of shooting around and then you will learn to get decent pictures. I recently got a t1i and its a pretty good cam.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

 

[angry hampster]

Read the manual. Find one online for it. Manuals with cameras are more than just a dummy guide.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yeah. Read it. I have a 7D and a T1i. I never read the manual for the T1i because I had a Rebel XT before. It wasn't hard to figure out a lot of stuff on my own, but to me the Rebel series are pretty easy.

The 7D was a totally different beast. some of those AF mechanisms are like WHAT???? Very good to read the manual despite my somewhat advanced knowledge already.

So yes, in short, read the manual. It really helps. POTN forums also helps.

 

[twistedlogic]

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera
by Bryan Peterson

 

[ivan2]

green door FTW

 

[speg]

Pick up any photography magazine, they typically have a section for beginner's every month. I learned a lot from them when I was starting.

 

[speedy2]

A better way to grasp things.....and what I always do...Just start pushing buttons lol.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera
by Bryan Peterson

I think this book is overrated. It's a definitely good beginner book but at the same time it's all about exposure. Like it does help to reinforce that exposure is a triangle you balance, but after that, it's more about learning about composition and technique and what not.

 

[reallyscrued]

Just got a T2i a week ago, my first DSLR. Was torn between this and the 60D but at a $300-400 price difference, I figured I can save that money for tuition and upgrade in the long run if need be. Fortunately, I don't feel like I'll need to upgrade anytime soon.

1. I know everyone says to charge the battery off the bat but a word of advice: pop the battery in and shoot a few pictures just to make sure the camera is functioning properly. That way you know out of the box whether or not anything's wrong. You'll probably get carried away and keep shooting until you get a low batt signal, but that's okay. Try not to run Li-Ion batteries too low and if you want to store them, don't store at full charge. 40% charged is where it's at.

2. Read the manual. I suggest playing around with the camera first and trying to figure everything out (which you probably won't) then putting it down and reading the manual. If you read the manual before even touching the camera, unless you've got photographic memory (...pun intended?) you're going to forget where all the settings are located.

3. If you plan on shooting movies at all, get a Class 10 SDHC card. I think they say you can get away with a Class 6, but better safe than sorry. I accidentally picked up a Class 4 and it records about 20 seconds of 1080p video at 24 frames until the buffer overflows and it stops recording. Will be returning the card soon.

4. Register your camera with Canon.

5. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=847939 < Good thread for inspiration.

6. Have fun.

 

[Icepick]

I received this camera for Christmas. Is the lens that is packaged with it any good? Do I need to upgrade the lens for decent photos?

The lens is "EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS."

 

[RKS]

I received this camera for Christmas. Is the lens that is packaged with it any good? Do I need to upgrade the lens for decent photos?

The lens is "EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS."

That's actually not a bad kit lens. Upgrade depends on what you want to do whether you go with a zoom or prime.

 

[lupi]

wow this thing is a blast. even though it will probably see 85&#37;++ use as a glorified p&s, the quick focus, shots and reshots are amazing. read just enough to use it in auto so far. after looking at first couple dozen shots I figured the focus point things as a couple images got focused more towards objects (normally in the foreground) than what I was intending to.

 

[PUN]

wow this thing is a blast. even though it will probably see 85&#37;++ use as a glorified p&s, the quick focus, shots and reshots are amazing. read just enough to use it in auto so far. after looking at first couple dozen shots I figured the focus point things as a couple images got focused more towards objects (normally in the foreground) than what I was intending to.

I also thought it would be a glorified P&S, but HD Video (i have the AI Auto Focus enabled), continuous shots and awesome indoor shots are unmatched.
The only setting I use is M, as I feel like the AI doesn't push the numbers to the extreme to get the ideal image. For instance, it'll push for 1/125 shutter when I can take a perfect shot with 1/60 under the same aperture and and slightly high ISO.

 

[Lotheron]

I also thought it would be a glorified P&S, but HD Video (i have the AI Auto Focus enabled), continuous shots and awesome indoor shots are unmatched.
The only setting I use is M, as I feel like the AI doesn't push the numbers to the extreme to get the ideal image. For instance, it'll push for 1/125 shutter when I can take a perfect shot with 1/60 under the same aperture and and slightly high ISO.

What lens are you using to get that 1/60? A good rule of thumb is to never go below 1/<focal length>, as in, if you're at 50mm, never go below 1/50.

With my T1i, as it does not have a minimum shutter speed, the shutter would begin going quite long and my shots would become soft due to microscopic movements. I started using manual and keeping it above 1/100 indoors with the flash and my shots are much better. I just lowered the aperature when I could and upped the flash when I could.

 

[PUN]

I was using the kit lens (18-55) 18mm f/3.5 under 1/60
If you get the IS lens, you can shoot it at much lower focal length without sacrificing the picture. Most of my shots are indoor, and I always use 18mm under the lowest aperture. I would just play around with the ISO and the shutter speed.

 

[JMapleton]

I have a T1i and I learned it pretty well by just trial and error. Anything I could not figure out I just Googled to get the answer. The camera is pretty simple to use after a few days of playing around with it.

 

[Lotheron]

I was using the kit lens (18-55) 18mm f/3.5 under 1/60
If you get the IS lens, you can shoot it at much lower focal length without sacrificing the picture. Most of my shots are indoor, and I always use 18mm under the lowest aperture. I would just play around with the ISO and the shutter speed.

Yeah, I guess I should have added caveat that IS makes a world of difference, although, some question the reasoning for IS between the 18-55mm focal lengths, but I use mine all the time. I primarily use the 50mm f/1.8 though cause the shots are quite a bit better indoors.

 

[Lotheron]

I have a T1i and I learned it pretty well by just trial and error. Anything I could not figure out I just Googled to get the answer. The camera is pretty simple to use after a few days of playing around with it.

Simple to learn, difficult to master