Rebel XTI - what settings to use?

[jeangalt]

We just bought a new camera - the Rebel XTI, and am wondering what settings are the best to use for taking pictures of beads outside. Pictures of our dogs turn our clear and crisp, but we are having a hard time getting the same clarity on beads. Camera is on a tripod. Also. all pictures seem to have to be edited alot to brighten up the photo.

[ChristyPhelps]

If you find out ANYTHING about this camera, will you let me know? It's my first SLR and so I haven't updated my site in 6 months.

[Cosmo]

I have the regular Rebel digital, but the settings should be pretty much the same...

First of all, I never take pictures outside. Yes, you can get good results, but if the weather is different the photos will be different. I prefer to take my photos inside where I can control everything.

First, shoot on full Manual. That will let you control everything about your camera. I'm going to suggest a good bit of "trial and error" stuff, but once you get it close, you have a good foundation. And, you aren't wasting film, which is a good thing. Just delete the ones you don't like.

I shoot at the highest f-stop and slowest ISO or film speed the camera offers. Set your timer to take the picture as well. The first adjustment is exposure time. Take a picture with your exposure value set at 0. Then take a picture one exposure value step below that, and one one step above. Then look at them on the computer. If you are lucky, the first one will look right, the the second will be too dark, and the third will be too light. If not, find the one that looks best, and start there for your next picture (of the same item with the same lighting). Take a picture there, then one step below, and one step above. Again, looking at them on the computer afterwards. Eventually you will come to an exposure value that will look pretty good. Remember that value.

Then check your white balance. I find that with my setup, shooting on "incandescent" works best, but for outside, it may be different. I find that I don't like the "sunlight" white balance setting for much of anything. However, take a picture of the same thing with every other setting the same, just changing your white balance each time. Then look at the photos on the computer and see which ones you like best.

From then on, your photos should require only a slight bit of tweaking each time (probably exposure value).

Again, though, I'm basing it off shooting in a controlled environment and not being at the mercy of the time of day, the angle of the sun, clouds, or anything like that.

[ziggys]

Hey Cosmo, This is good information. I bought a "fool proof" camera, or so I'm told and I still don't have the hang of it.
There is lot's of good photo-editing information out there but not much about how to figure out the right camera settings.
Thanks!
PS: Maybe you should teach a camera class too....

[jwelsh]

we have a digital rebel and we shoot in program iso 400, white balance is on cloud. i take all our pics outside direct sunlight but when i stand over them they are 100% shaded with no glare. we have no problems. we also take pics inside on auto with flash on a gray background and my pics come out great as well.