Canon EOS Rebel 300D

Mary Sparrow · 01-31-2005, 08:17 AM

I am getting very frustrated with trying to figure this out. It isn't like they are so blurry that I could't paint from them if I had to, but I shouldn't HAVE to. And considering I didn't have this problem with my fuji point and shoot, it is wearing my nerves down. When rooting around on Rebel forums they are telling me I need another lens. A 55mm 1.8? I know, that in the long run, if I ever get the hang of an slr that I will be glad I did this, but right now I want a point and shoot..especially since I have to take pictures tomorrow....maybe I'll be using the fuji for the time being and erasing the dots in photoshop until I get the hang of the slr.

Beth and Janel..what other lenses do you have besides the 18--55?

Elizabeth Schott · 01-31-2005, 09:53 AM

Mary I have a 28 x 200 to help with distortion, your lens shouldn't be causing any bluring. I'll send you a pm for more details.

Terri Ficenec · 01-31-2005, 09:57 AM

Hi Mary... I've got a Rebel with the 18-55 and a 55-200 lens. There's a little AF/MF switch on the camera side of each lens, you might want to check that yours is set to AF (Auto-focus). Set the dial at the top of the camera to 'P' (no flash) and you should be able to basically point and shoot.

When I first got the 55-200 lens, I thought I'd gotten a bum lens because just about all of my photos where just slightly blurry. Realized later on that the heavier lens was a bit much for the tripod so the camera was vibrating when I pushed the shutter button. I've since tightened all the adjustments on the tripod and now use only the remote trigger release to trip the shutter and the pictures come clear. (If I need to adjust the camera, I'll give it a slow 10 count once done before taking any pictures.) Hope this helps!!!

P.S. If you press the shutter button half-way down, the camera should beep and if you're looking through the viewfinder, the autofocus 'dots' that are activating will blink red. You can use this to see what your camera is focussing on. (this works on the on the wired remote too) Unless you manually change the settings, I think the camera will focus on the nearest contrast that's in one of those dots.

Kimberly Dow · 01-31-2005, 10:57 AM

Mary,

When I got my Rebel the photos were all blurry at first as well. I had to learn how to hold it correctly first of all (like it shows in the manual - as to not interfere with the focusing). I also had a good tip from a friend when holding it yourself - bring your elbows in and rest them against your body tightly. It gives you a bit of support. It seemed to me that it was just getting used to the weight mostly.

I still havent gotten a great tripod for my longer 70-300 mm lens. Necessity has taught me how to hold that monster myself and get a fairly clear shot though. Well, maybe 50% of the time. I havent had a shoot yet where I needed the longer lens so I am just practicing. I got this one yesterday from our vehicle and kind of rested it against the window that was half way down. I have no idea the distance, but I was pretty far away it seemed.

Mike McCarty · 01-31-2005, 11:11 AM

There is nothing inherently blurry about "SLR" images. Also, you should not need a different lens. Take the camera outside in the daylight (set it up as Terri suggested) find something specific to focus on and take some pictures. Compare the focus to the ones you are complaining about.

My memory is that focusing in low light is not a strength of the Canon digital rebel. However, in the type of light that would be adequate for your purposes the camera should perform OK.

Mary Sparrow · 01-31-2005, 11:23 AM

Mike, You must have been posting while I was resizing that picture. That one was much better than anything else so far, so there is hope that I will get used to it.

Today is the last day for the canon rebates, if I do buy another lense it will be a 200 instead of 100 rebate. So, I am trying to decide if it is a necessity or not to go ahead and get something in addition to what came with it.

Mary Sparrow · 01-31-2005, 11:19 AM

Kim, I didn't realize you had one too, maybe between the three of us I will get this.

Beth, thanks for the instructions. How do you like the only model available this morning?..LOL. She was VERY cooperative.

The manual focus thing still didn't turn out so great, but putting it in autofocus and turning off the flash produced this.

I did it this way with my children, and didn't get anything nearly this clear in the same light, so Im not sure what that means.

Mike McCarty · 01-31-2005, 11:24 AM

My guess is that your children are moving. It only takes a little and children do not understand the concept. When you are shooting at 1/30 of a second It doesn't matter how still the camera is if the subject moves a silly millimeter.

Mike McCarty · 01-31-2005, 11:28 AM

I would make your decision based on whether or not you want another lens, not on the expectation that another lens will fix a blurring problem.

Mary Sparrow · 01-31-2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

My guess is that your children are moving. It only takes a little and children do not understand the concept. When you are shooting at 1/30 of a second It doesn't matter how still the camera is if the subject moves a silly millimeter.

So then what is the answer? A better lense that will shoot faster in low light? I think that is what the canon people were trying to explain to me about the 50mm 1.8 lens. I mean, lets face it, children are what I do, and they do MOVE.