Canon 500D (Rebel T1i, Kiss X3)

[Frantasmic]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/msf61_fwtx/sets/72157619027450167

This set was mostly with the 55-250. The spot on the podium worked pretty well, and I was happy with the dark pictures from the Potter motif in the middle. I did shoot some raw, and had some issues with light on the students' faces when they weren't in the spotlight, but overall, I was happy with the 55-250,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/msf61_fwtx/3554960863/in/set-72157618652760924

This set is the best and worst of our dslr shooting. My wife shot the first shots (inside a jumping place birthday party) with the wrong lens. Notice how dark it is. However, the last part of the set with the kids in the colored t-shirts was shot with my 85mm f1.8. I'm on the last row, about 100 feet from the stage and got some clear shots. If you load the maximum pictures, the kids' faces are all fairly clear.

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks for sharing your photos Frantasmic! I'm hoping to have an XSi soon!

 

[bob100]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/msf61_fwtx/sets/72157619027450167

This set was mostly with the 55-250. The spot on the podium worked pretty well, and I was happy with the dark pictures from the Potter motif in the middle. I did shoot some raw, and had some issues with light on the students' faces when they weren't in the spotlight, but overall, I was happy with the 55-250,
.

the pics look very good with the 55-250 at f5.6, ISO 400,
I thought the 55-250 "budget" zoom was for daytime but I see it's capable of good indoor pics as well

 

[Ellen]

I finally made the decision went to the local camera store and just got back with my Xsi and 118-55 and 55- 250 lens.

I did look at the Nikon D90 and it was tempting but the canon deal with the extra lens and cost is a big factor. Now I need to learn how to use it by DD graduation on friday.

I also need to make sure she doesn't pack it off to college with her as she is majoring in art and wants to take photography classes. She was drooling over the lens before she ran out to work

Thanks for help with picking out the camera now any advice on settings for the indoor graduation pictures?

Ellen

 

[bob100]

I finally made the decision went to the local camera store and just got back with my Xsi and 118-55 and 55- 250 lens.

Thanks for help with picking out the camera now any advice on settings for the indoor graduation pictures?
Ellen

look at the posting above from "Frantasmic", (the Flickr pages has the settings) looks like some good graduation pics with the 55-250

 

[scoot241]

Perhaps shutter priority (Tv) with a shutter speed that's the inverse of your focal length. For example, if your focal length is 100mm, the shutter speed should be 1/100 of a second. Leave ISO on Auto since you're just starting.

Since you need to use it Friday, I think this would be a simple but effective way to get some good shots. Someone else chime in if you have a better solution.

 

[webshark3]

Just starting? I'd live in the P mode (heck, I still spend a lot of time there). Use the Center focus point only (focus and re-compose). Don't trust the camera to "choose" it's focus. Auto ISO is great on the XSi.

I'd also shoot RAW. Exposure is easy to screw up for newbies (and easy to correct if you shoot RAW). A little extra works saves a lot of photos which would have been useless as JPEG.

 

[Frantasmic]

Congrats on your purchase. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

The best advice on graduation pictures is like real estate: location, location, location. Usually the grad has to be at the site early. My suggestion is to go there then and get a good, close seating place. Get as close as they will allow the non-graduates to sit.

If it's an outdoor stadium, most of your White Balance (WB) issues will be taken care of (except washout if it's too sunny). If it's indoors in a gym or auditorium, you'll need to choose tungsten or fluorescent for WB. If you get close enough that you don't have to use the total zoom (250) you'll have more f stop to play with (i.e., use the lower settings) at max zoom you are stuck at 5.6 as your lowest, which, if you are in a dark auditorium like I was, you might be out of luck.

Since this is a once in a lifetime event, I'd splurge on an 8gb or 16gb SDHC card and take both raw and jpeg. With 8gb, you'll have about 475 raw only and about 250 raw and jpeg together. But, you'll have the raw files to play with later when you either have time or when you learn to manipulate the raw files. Your camera comes with a pretty good RAW converter (it is a RAM hog on the computer though).

So, know your venue and plan accordingly. Hopefully, you can print some of your good photos this weekend.

 

[Ellen]

Thanks for the advice. The graduation is in a gym the students sit in chairs on the floor and family gets the bleechers on the sides. I just went to best buy they had a 8 GB sandisk extreme 3 on sale of course it was sold out I have to try another best buy.

Ellen

 

[Frantasmic]

think of the gym as a long square clock then, with the podium, diploma receiving area as 12 o'clock. You want to be at 10 or 2, depending on how they cross the stage. That way, you will get a good shot of the crossing and the receiving.

 

[jpeka65844]

Be gentle....

Seriously, this camera is almost easier to use than my Canon S5. It's more intuitive and I do way less "fiddling"! I'm LOVING it! Here's just a few fun ones I've shot so far:

 

[KCmike]

Love the spiderweb shot.

Looks like you made an excellent choice with your new camera.

 

[scoot241]

They look good to me.

Congrats on the new camera!

 

[jann1033]

glad you like it, cool colors on the spider web. any one know what caused that? do you think it is some kind of lens flare/refracation or what? was it colored when you saw it or just afterwards?

 

[jpeka65844]

I'm sure the rainbow in the spiderweb had to do with the sun shining through the back of it. I saw those colors even with the naked eye......

And I just love the pic of my cat. I want to just reach out and rub that chin!!!

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

I am looking to make a purchase on a new camera and was looking at the Canon Rebel T1i.
Does anyone have one of these? What do you think?

TIA

 

[MissRoseRed]

I just got my T1i on Saturday and I am so excited! I am a complete amateur -- have been using Canon Elphs for the past few years. Haven't touched a "real" camera since the days of film... But, for what it's worth, I'm loving the new camera Here is one of my first test shots...

 

[jann1033]

it's been reviewed really well. ( don't have it)

 

[scoot241]

I thought about getting the T1i, but decided I didn't need the video and chose the XSi instead.

 

[jpeka65844]

I'm currently at GCH and while on my balcony taking pics of DCA at night, while fumbling with my battery, my battery cover door popped off and went flying over the balcony into the 5 foot high bushes below. Needle in a haystack...it is gone, baby, gone.

Any ideas how I can trip the sensor to fool the camera into thinking the door's shut? DH was trying to Magyver it but to no avail.....I am rendered powerless without my new toy that I bought specifically for this trip.

Anyone close to the parks that could loan me a battery cover?