Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[Cheeky in TN]

I bought an infrared remote off ebay for my XTi and it works great. It has a instant and 2 sec button so i can choose how soon the shutter goes off (the 2 sec is great for self portraits with the family). Only downside is the IR is on the front of the camera so you would need to be in front of it to shoot (although I saw something on ebay that put a reflector on the camera so you could use ir from behind, looked a little funky though.)

 

[Boss Hogg]

We've got the RC-1, and use it with our 400D and it works well. Not a huge range, but I do find it extremely useful for fireworks where you've got the camera on a tripod.

Also, if you've a standard strap it fits on to that well.

 

[boBQuincy]

We also bought the RC-1, it works well and is not very expensive.
Groucho, one of our own Disboard members, came up with a homemade cable release that looked pretty good and cost almost nothing.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1260500&referrerid=&highlight=cable+release

 

[carolina_yankee]

If you're just starting out with a dSLR, I wouldn't recommend getting a camera without all of the accessories. Personally, I can do without the software (use my own) and memory card (too small), but I'd need the battery and charger right off the start.

That said, you don't have to the Canon software if you have other software, and even the Windows or Mac operating systems have enough for you to at leasat view .jpg and you can download Picasa to do the rest. Personally I would recommend Photoshop Elements for a PC (even with the Canon software) and it does have a RAW converter, I believe. You can also get a version of PE for a Mac, but iPhoto will also handly the basics, inlcuding RAW.

If price is a big concern, have you considered getting the Rebel XT, the predecessor to the XTi? The only real quality difference is the 10 mp vs. 8 mp for the XT, and 8 mp is just fine for most amateur/home use. I'ts still available and probably less than the body only XTi you were looking it.

You can get the XT with the kit lens and all factory included software/accessories at bhphotovideo for $569. If you aren't familiar with B&H, it's camera mecca, and quite often the best price.

Costco is also a good place to pick up great deals on the XT or the XTi, but you might have browse their website since they don't always have the models available in the stores. (Just checked, they currenlty have the XTi with kit lens for $749 in silver body).

Good luck - for an investment like this, you deserve to get exactly what you want and need. Unreliable equipment/service or inadequate software will only frustrate you.

Dirk

 

[pixiedustforever]

Hi experts!

I am taking my new Canon Rebel XTI to the World in a couple of weeks.
Can y'all make any suggestions on taking nighttime pictures - fireworks and all? Will changing from automatic setting to manual make that much difference? What ISO should I use?

Words of wisdom, anyone?

Thanks in advance!
Pixiedustforever

 

[ukcatfan]

You are talking about multiple situations and yes you will need to try out the manual settings. Auto will not give the best results. The scene settings might work if you pick the correct one for the situation. Also, you are going to need a tripod. If you do not have much $$ for one, a Wal-mart special will work, but they certainly not the best. It sounds like you do not have time for an online purchase. You might also see if your local Best Buy has a DSLR model Gorillapod.

For fireworks, the important part is to have a good depth of field (DOF) and a moderately long shutter. I would say to start out at around f/11 and a 2 sec. shutter. You should be able to keep the ISO low. I would not go to a faster shutter or a wide open aperture. If you have the chance to see them twice, you can experiment the first time and then get better the second time.

For low light static shots, you will need the tripod and might not have to bump the ISO up too much. If you can stay near the sweet spot aperture setting, then you will get sharper images. It is usually around f/8 to f/11 depending on your lens.

For motion low light shots, you have to sacrifice and use a wider aperture and/or higher ISO. The quick shutter speed must be maintained or it will blur. Getting closer to the subject helps. These setting will result in a smaller DOF and more noise, so be prepared for that. Situations like this are things like Spectro.

For night portraits, use the scene setting and a tripod or you can do it manually by manually setting the exposure to correctly capture the background and then pop up the flash and insert people. Make sure that they know that the image is not over as soon as the flash is done or there will be motion blur.

Also, your XTi does not have an extra settings LCD display, so you will likely have to use the regular LCD to be able to see what changes you are making to the settings. Just be aware that it can be disturbing to others around you.

Kevin

 

[treynolds]

I have recently purchased a Rebel xti. I have the canon nb-2LH battery that comes with it. However, we are leaving for WDW in 18 days and I would like to take a back up battery. I do not really want to pay another $50 for another canon original. Has anyone tried one of the generic batteries that they found worked good. I have looked on ebay, but I do not want to order a lemon. HELP!!

 

[DueyDooDah]

These might help. There may be more. Try searching fo the battery type.

http://www.batterydepot.com/battery/CC-0905/CANON/DIGITAL CAMERA BATTERIES

http://www.duracelldirect.com/canon_digital-rebel-xti_digital-camera_accessories.aspx

And yes, I did but from Duracelldirect for my second battery. They were on sale at that time for 22.00

 

[gruZ]

I bought a second from Sterlingtek about a year ago. I've been very happy with it, and it seems as if it holds a charge longer than the original Canon battery.

Sterlingtek

Here is some general information and reviews about 3rd party batteries and Sterlingtek specifically.

 

[jann1033]

i've personally never used it but i think the rebel xti( the rebel xt does anyway) has a night setting( some similar name, my camera isn't handy right now) in auto that is supposed to help properly expose the background while using flash for the people or whatever in the forground. you might want to try that before hand for things at night other than fireworks, spectro. if it works post some photos so i can see if i want to use it sometime

 

[boBQuincy]

None of us want to spend more $$$ than necessary, and certainly not for something as ordinary as a battery. However, there may be reasons to go with the OEM Canon battery.
I recently took apart an older (5 years) BP-511 that no longer holds a charge. There is a lot besides batteries in that pack, like fuses and electronics.
***The Canon battery has a lot of protection devices, does the aftermarket battery have them as well?***

I looked at the referenced article on batteries and found a number of holes in it:
>Another important thing you should know is that mah stands for milliamp hours. The larger this is the longer it will last in your Camera.

*Not exactly. Milliamp hour ratings mean little without knowing how they were measured. There is no standard, I can test a Canon battery and come up with ratings from 100 to 2000 mAH. Most of the battery sellers buy their cells from one of only a few sources, and there is little difference in cell capacity.


>when the battery is fully charged it will show well over 8v..and when it is drained it shows around 7.4. I would personally never allow a single cell lithium battery to get below 7.4v.

*A single lithium cell has a nominal rating of 3.7V, not 7.4V. All of our batteries are two cells in series to produce a nominal 7.4V. Open circuit voltage does not mean much anyway, it is the voltage under load (as when it is being used in a camera) that tells how much charge is left in a battery.


To conclude, Canon does not have a lock on battery quality, anyone else can make a high quality battery pack with excellent protection. The question is, who does? Advertisements and endorsements don't mean much unless someone has taken the pack apart and checked to be sure all the protection devices are present.

I may be extra picky about all this but the videos of batteries bursting into flames are pretty impressive, not as good as "Wishes" but not bad!

 

[gruZ]

BobQuincy from above definitely raises some good points to consider, and what you choose to do is entirely up to. From a personal standpoint, I haven't had a problem with the 3rd party battery, and from the many reviews I've read of the vendor I listed above, very few people have had issues as well.

I would purchase a 3rd party battery again, and obviously don't have any hesitations recommending others do as well. But again, what you choose to do is your choice!

Have fun either way - and good call getting an extra battery, regardless of make.

 

[DVC Jen]

I recently bought a wolf camera brand and it is working just as well as the original canon.

 

[mabas9395]

I bought a second from Sterlingtek about a year ago. I've been very happy with it, and it seems as if it holds a charge longer than the original Canon battery.

Sterlingtek

Here is some general information and reviews about 3rd party batteries and Sterlingtek specifically.

The sterlingtek batteries have also worked very well for me.

 

[JR6ooo4]

No problems with my sterlingtek either. and for the same cost of one canon I got a combo deal. Two batt.s and an AC/DC Charger

Mikeeee

 

[mmessler]

My secondary battery is a maxell brand, never had any problems, and it didn't seem to last any less time than the original Canon.

 

[treynolds]

I just ordered a sterlingtek extra battery. I am now equipped with a 2GB memory card, a canon battery, and the extra battery. I hope I am prepared to take enough pictures. This will be my first WDW trip w/digital. It was hard to give up my trusty Rebel film camera. I will probably take it as a back up. It's like a security blanket.lol

 

[ukcatfan]

It was hard to give up my trusty Rebel film camera. I will probably take it as a back up. It's like a security blanket.lol

That is not a bad idea. Also, film is still better for black and white. One other thing to mention. You might already know through your research, but the digital Rebel has a crop factor of 1.6X, so you get effective focal lengths that are the film one times 1.6. If you do not already have a lens that goes as low as ~17-18mm, then you might want to consider another lens.

Kevin

 

[ndelaware]

I am with Bob on the battery question, It's Canon all the way for me.

Unless you are taking your laptop to download pics onto, I don't think one 2 Gig card will be enough.

I still have my old film Rebel. It hasn't seen a roll of film since I got my first Digital Rebel. I did haul back and forth to WDW for no reason though. LOL!

 

[donaldduck1967]

You may want to pick up another card or 2. 2gb may not be enough unless you are going to download to a loptop every night.