Just bought the Rebel XT!!

[damom2daboyz]

:cool1: :banana: :cheer2:

I have been wanting this camera for a long time and finally took the plunge. Any helpful hints for a newbie owner would be appreciated.

TIA.

Debbie

[amid chaos]

http://www.amazon.com/Short-Course-Digital-Photography-eBook/dp/1928873588/sr=1-3/qid=1158498049/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-6987366-5785641?ie=UTF8&s=books

These books are the absolute best...read it a couple times with camera in hand and then use it as a resource book. Fantastic reference.

Enjoy your new camera.

[MarkBarbieri]

Awesome. Welcome to the DSLR world.

First, don't become a gear freak. A lot of people get caught up in a constant cycle of trying to get better and better lenses. You are much better off shooting with what you have for quite a while before you consider whether or not you want more glass. Until you've really learned how to use what you have, you won't know what else you really need.

Shoot a lot. Lots and lots. You learn a lot more from shooting and reviewing than you do from reading.

Get decent photo editing software and learn to use it well. Working with your photos on the computer not only makes the photos better, it can make you a better photographer. Nothing has helped me learn to avoid mistakes more than trying to correct those mistakes on the computer.

If you are new to photography, learn the basic rules (fill the frame, rule of two thirds, correct exposure, correct DOF, etc.). Then learn when to follow the rules and when not to.

Don't just point and shoot. Sometimes you don't have time for anything else. When you do have time, think about your shots. Try different compositions. Play with different apertures, shutter speeds, and exposure levels.

Once you've gotten comfortable with your camera, don't get into a rut. Every month or two, try to learn something new about it or about photography. That can come from rereading the manual, reading websites, or just experimenting.

Above all, have fun.